When the New York Yankees traded away Carlos Beltran, they did so knowing they were making a move for the future. Four months later, Beltran could potentially be a part of the Yankees future again.
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With the DH spot being possibly open for the 2017 season, the New York Yankees are reported to being interested in bringing back the All-Star outfielder and designated hitter for a second tour of duty with the team. The Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros are also expressing interest in Beltran as well, as per Rob Bradford of WEEI.
“According to a source familiar with the negotiations, four teams have currently shown the most interest in the 39-year-old outfielder/designated hitter — the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros. The Rangers, once thought to be in the mix for Beltran, are not involved at this point. And with the Yankees seemingly willing to deal Brian McCann, who would currently figure to slot into New York’s lineup as a designated hitter, Beltran could offer a logical replacement.”
Beltran, who signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Yankees in December of 2013, spent almost three years with the Yankees before he was dealt at the trade deadline from New York to the Texas Rangers for prospects. Beltran loved his time in New York and enjoyed being a Yankee and it would make sense for him to consider a reunion with the team in 2017.
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Many might forget that before the 2005 season, Beltran was willing to sign with the Yankees and even went as far as willing to take a discount on a contract to come to the Yankees to play in the same outfield with his idol, Bernie Williams, but the Yankees chose to sign other players, and Beltran went to the New York Mets instead. Beltran was a free agent again after the 2011 season and some had said that Beltran would have loved to sign with the Yankees, but they still had Nick Swisher, and thus, Beltran signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for two seasons.
Once Curtis Granderson departed via free agency after the 2013 season, Beltran landed with the Yankees and chose them over returning to his original team in the Kansas City Royals because the Yankees sweetened their offer with the third guaranteed year in the deal as opposed to the two-year offer from Kansas City.
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When Beltran was traded over the summer, he left the Yankees on good terms, as he knew the move was being made for baseball reasons only and the Yankees were forced into the move because of their record. Beltran is a veteran of the business, as he’s been traded a few times before and knows how it goes. He knew the Yankees were in a youth movement and he didn’t fit in the plans for 2016.
But in 2017; Beltran fits as a DH only type; something he thrived in when Alex Rodriguez was recovering from injuries during the 2016 season. Even if Beltran is an older player, he can fit on the 2017 team, both as an on and off the field leader. Before 2016, Beltran was mentoring Aaron Judge during spring training and trying to get him ready for major league life; Beltran could continue to do the same things for some of the other younger Yankee players if he were to return.
If the Yankees end up trading Brian McCann, there’s a clear opening in the lineup for a DH. What better way for Beltran to look to end his career than by coming back to New York to play for the team he always wanted to in the Yankees (again) and helping the Yankees try to win a championship in the 2017 season.