Yankees News: Carlos Beltran Ready To Go

One of the major issues last season was the fact that Carlos Beltran was injured or played injured a majority of the season. He came out like gangbusters to start the season, but then the fall in Tampa seemed to derail him and he could never get back on track. 

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Since Beltran was injured so much, he was allowed to report to camp early as a rehabbing player and hit and take flyballs in the outfield and that is exactly what he has been doing. Beltran told NJ.com’s Ryan Hatch that he’s ready to go.

"“Every year you have to prove yourself,” Beltran said of coming off a season where he played 109 games and hit .233. “There are always expectations…But physically [now] I feel fine. I have a lot of confidence in myself.”"

A few weeks ago, I talked about how Belran was going to be a key to the Yankees season and there is no reason to waiver from that now. The Yankees don’t exactly have much in the outfield behind Beltran.

Do you want Chris Young in right for 140 games? I don’t. Ramon Flores? Not ready. Mason Williams? Yeesh. Those are some of the options behind Carlos on the 40-man roster. Not exactly Mike Trout.

Beltran is two years removed from a pretty good season with the Cardinals: .296/24/84. He turns 38 in April and has another year after this one left on his contract. The Yankees are going to need him to turn back the clock once more and put up numbers like that.

"Said of the lineup he’ll likely hit in the middle of, Beltran said “I think we’re going to be better than last year, no doubt. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be better if the health is there.”"

For Beltran and the Yankees’ sake, the health needs to be there.

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