MLB rumors: New York Yankees top free agent target is Carlos Beltran?

Oct 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran (3) warms up prior to game three of the MLB baseball World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

For weeks now, we’ve heard the New York Yankees were interested in outfielder Carlos Beltran. But how interested they were, remained unknown.

It was presumed their interest was pretty high, but after forking out a potential $100 million dollar contract to catcher Brian McCann, it was possible the Yankees may have opted to spend their dollars elsewhere. But not according to the New York Daily News who says Beltran is the Yankees top free agent target now that McCann has signed:

"According to sources, the Yankees have set Beltran as their No. 1 target while they wait to reignite talks with Robinson Cano, for Hiroki Kuroda to decide whether he wants to return next season and for the Japanese posting system to be hammered out so righthander Masahiro Tanaka can be made available."

Beltran won’t come cheaply as he’s still one of the better offensive weapons in the league (despite his age) and will be able to pull an extra year or two out of a contract in the American League as he’ll be able to eventually become a full-time designated hitter. Add in that he was given a qualifying offer by the St. Louis Cardinals and the signing team will also have to forfeit a relatively valuable draft pick.

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