Two Primary Goals? Check.
Heading into the Winter Meetings, Cashman was confronted with two holes in need of filling.
The DH vacancy left by the deal that sent Brian McCann to Houston and an opening at closer — which was apparently unoccupied thanks to Dellin Betances’ conflicts last September.
By the end of the uncontrolled atmosphere at the Gaylord National Resort, Matt Holliday was signed on a one-year, $13 million and Aroldis Chapman was summoned back to the Bronx for five years, costing $86 million.
Holliday will take over the DH duties while being the backup left fielder. He played 84 games in left and 10 at first base a year ago.
This suggests that Girardi can still keep it flexible with Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird, as the catcher and the recovering first baseman can still receive time at DH. Additionally, Holliday’s capability in left field can promote Cashman to deal Brett Gardner — a topic of discussion for later in this piece.
Not to mention his more than a proficient bat (20 home runs in 2016) on the short term, which makes his deal more than reasonable.
Chapman, who struck out 12.6 batters per nine innings with the Yankees before being traded to Chicago, creates a dynamic duo at the back-end of New York’s bullpen with Dellin Betances.
The three-time all-star setup man will return to his natural habitat with Tyler Clippard and Adam Warren providing Chapman/Betances with a formidable middle relief unit — a luxury “No-Runs DMC” never had.
These two moves may help the Yankees accomplish what seems to be their main goal for 2017: stay in the hunt while assessing the highly touted youth making their way up the ladder.
