Yankees sign outfielder Carlos Beltran

The New York Yankees and outfielder Carlos Beltran have agreed to a contract, according to reports. Beltran's new contract is over three-years, and is worth $45 million. Expect Beltran to help in the Yankees outfield, as he has done with many other teams in the past.

Beltran, 37 next season, hit .296/.339/.491 with 24 HR and 84 RBI in 145 games last season with the St. Louis Cardinals. He went to his eighth All Star game, and really helped the Cardinals down the stretch into the playoffs. He hit .268/.388/.464 with 2 home runs and 15 RBI in the playoffs with St. Louis. Beltran was an equal opportunity hitter last season. He hit 171 ground balls, 161 fly balls, and 137 line drives. That type of success can really help as a player gets older, which has been the case with Beltran. 

Over his career, Beltran has hit .283/.359/.496 in sixteen years with the Kansas City Royals (1998-2004), Houston Astros (2004), New York Mets (2005-2011), San Francisco Giants (2011), and St. Louis Cardinals (2012-2013). Beltran is a good defensive outfielder as well, posting a career .986 fielding percentage there (league average: .985). Although a center fielder by heart, Beltran played right field in 2013. Beltran will provide offense and defense, making him a double threat, and more irresistible on the free agent market. 

The Yankees received little production from their right fielders in 2013, as they posted a league-worst OPS from that position. The signing of Carlos Beltran should definitely help bring that number up, and improve their team overall.