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Around the Empire
New York Daily News | Mark Feinsand: After trading Brian McCann to the Astros, the Yankees were on the market for a designated hitter. The search is over as the Yankees have agreed to a one year deal with Matt Holliday. Holliday will be bring veteran leadership to a suddenly younger clubhouse, while being able to backup Greg Bird at first base.
ESPN | Andrew Marchand: Matt Holliday makes more sense for the Yankees than signing Edwin Encarnacion would have. “He is an in-between free-agent acquisition for an in-between team.” He fits perfectly because the Yankees most likely won’t be ready to contend in 2017, but he’ll be able to provide a boost to a team that’s in transition.
New York Post | George A King III: Scouts had some positive things to say about the Yankees signing Matt Holliday. Obviously he’s not as good a hitter as someone like Edwin Encarnacion would’ve been, but on a one-year deal this is a good signing for the Yankees. He’s slowed down with age, but has enough speed to be a threat in the Yankees’ lineup. He’s a below average fielder, but still a lot left in the tank as a hitter. With some steady time as a DH, he could be in for a rejuvenation.
New York Post | Joel Sherman: Now that the Yankees have Holliday locked up, they should look to signing Luis Valbuena as a left-handed complement to him. Valbuena could platoon with Holliday, but also provide insurance for the Yankees at third and first. The Yankees were also thought to be shopping Chase Headley, and he could slide right in as a direct replacement and possible upgrade for Headley.
Newsday | David Lennon: George Steinbrenner was once again denied entry to the Hall of Fame. The Today’s Game Era committee announced that only Bud Selig and John Schuerholz were voted in, marking the third time Steinbrenner was denied. Candidates need a minimum 12 out of 16 possible votes to gain entry, but Steinbrenner received less than five votes. With this news and the Holliday signing, I’m sure Steinbrenner is spinning in his grave, so at least we’re working towards a renewable energy solution.
New York Post | Joel Sherman: Jacob Lindren, the Yankees top draft pick in 2014, is expected to miss all of 2017 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery late in August. Because of this, the Yankees non-tendered him and had hoped to resign him to a deal while he was rehabbing, but this way avoid having him “waste” a roster spot when he wouldn’t be able to play. The Braves, however, swooped in and foiled those plans. They signed Lindgren to a one-year major league deal worth $600,000 with bonuses that could bring him close to $1 million.
Fun Questions
- The obvious: What should John Sterling’s home run call for Holliday be? What do you think it WILL be?
- Should the Yankees consider adding Luis Valbuena as well?
Song of the Day
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Billie Holiday
It’s Winter Meetings Week on Pinstripe Alley. To commemorate the winter meetings, we’ll listen to songs about winter (not to be confused with songs about Christmas or the holidays) this week. But with news of the Holliday signing, it only made sense that we had a winter song by someone named Holiday. As always, please link us your song of the day.