Yankees Biggest Moves (and Misses) at the Winter Meetings

Signing Matt Holliday

The team also filled their vacant DH spot via free agency, signing Matt Holliday to a one-year $13 million right off the bat on the first day of the Winter Meetings.

Rather than commit four or five years to one of the top available bats like Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo, or Yoenis Cespedes, Cashman attempted to buy low on one of the National League’s biggest stars from the last decade on a one-year deal.

Even if he doesn’t bounce all the way back to the form that made him a seven-time All-Star with the Cardinals and Rockies, Holliday should be a capable clean-up hitter for a team badly in need of a proven power hitter next year.

Last season was the worst of his 13-year career, and he still put up a respectable .246/.322/.461 (107 OPS+) with 20 home runs and 62 RBI in 426 plate appearances.

I’d expect considerably better from a professional hitter like Holliday now that he doesn’t have to worry about playing the field, but I could live with a repeat performance of that production in 2017. It would certainly be a big step up from what Alex Rodriguez gave them at DH last year.