Carlos Beltran Joins the Yankees

Carlos Beltran, donning the number 36, was officially unveiled as a New York Yankee yesterday, and he signified his excitement for the coming year. The contract is worth three years and $45 million, a move some have questioned. Was it wise for the club to spend that much when, all things together, Cano would have been a wiser investment? Undoubtedly it seems to some to signal the same old formula that has usually not panned out for the New York Yankees: the signing of a veteran player in the sunset or twilight of his career for an amount of money that would be better used to pursuing younger players.

Nonetheless, Carlos Beltran is coming off of two solid years, with a combined average of .2825, 56 home runs, 181 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of .3425. These aren't stellar stats, but they are solid ones, and will certainly help a team which struggled to put runs on the board last year.

That seems to be the main focus of the Yankee office this off-season. The team that's known as the Bronx Bombers, after all, wasn't exactly bombing last year. Perhaps this drove a psychological defense mechanism deep into the heart of the office, creating a reaction originating from a strong need to correct this defect.

Still, with the acquisition of these new bats, and the return of at least Jeter and Teixeira, the offense will be (mostly) fine. What's really needed right now is additional arms to the pitching staff.

We will watch with interest as the off-season continues.

Jacoby Ellsbury is Now a Yankee

Today the newest Yankee was revealed, Jacoby Ellsbury, who is to don the number 22 next season. It was a rapid move for the Yankees and the deal fell through quickly. Ellsbury again and again mentioned how excited he was to be joining the Yankees (he doesn't seem to have a flair for these press conferences, I must say), and that he was committed to being part of the core of the future team.

Some have been rubbing their heads at this quick acquisition by the Yankees, especially when the pitching staff has been so lacking (in an era where pitching is dominant again, no less). These people have generally questioned why Ellsbury was so quick to get a seven-year deal while Robbie Cano was let go so comparatively easily.

Whatever the case, Ellsbury brings a lot to the lineup- speed and a healthy dose of power. If indeed he and Bret Gardner are on the same team next year (Michael Kay and others have remarked that the acquisition of Ellsbury fills Bret Gardner's role, making a trade of him for a decent pitcher a more likely possibility), they will be able to make a lot of things happen to move runners across the field and into scoring position. It will healthily compliment the other new bats that were brought in to plug the gaps in the Yankee offensive line that was so uncharacteristically weak last year.

Only time will tell whether this investment was worth a possible go for more pitching, especially in the bullpen. We will await the next few adventures for the start of a verdict.

"One of the Best Days of My Life"

So said Brian McCann at his press conference yesterday, wherein he was officially revealed as the newest New York Yankee, donning the number 34. Signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the club, it seems to me like a good deal for a catcher approaching thirty.

One of the biggest weaknesses in the Yankees' lineup throughout the 2013 campaign was the absence of a reliable bat behind the plate. While you don't expect a catcher to be a .300+ hitter (this is what makes the Joe Mauers of the world so exceptional), the combined batting stats of the various Yankee catchers last season, led by Chris Stewart due to the omnipresent injury bug, were dismal. A combined average of .242, a total of 8 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a combined on-base percentage of .312. McCann by himself beats all of those.

I take the fact that he's a seven-time All Star with a grain of salt, because as we know, position players in that game are decided by fan voting. Not the most reliable method. Still, it is a nice accolade to have on any player's resumes.

Not least of his line items, McCann has a reputation of working well with pitchers and improving pitching staffs. His presence tends to decrease a pitcher's ERA. This can only be good news, especially with a team that struggled to score runs last year. In that situation, it is imperative to prevent the opposing team from scoring, and this is a role Brian McCann seems to fit.

Overall, I'm please with this move. The Yankees signed a desirable free agent to fill a much-needed gap in the team's line, all without breaking the bank. But these pats on the back are easy, the real test will come next year. Many free agent deals have fell well short of expectations in the past, and this is something to keep in mind.

But for now, congratulations to the Yankees and Brian McCann. Let's play ball!