Carlos Beltran and the New York Yankees are having two very different Octobers, but could be linked in the months following the MLB postseason. While Beltran and the St. Louis Cardinals are one win away from the World Series during a best-of-seven NLCS matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Bronx Bombers are mulling their offseason options and reports indicate there is a mutual interest between Beltran and the Yankees should the team have to replace free agent Robinson Cano's bat in the lineup.
If Beltran ends up signing with the Yankees due to the team's need to replace a star free agent in the lineup such as their All-Star second baseman in Cano, it will be just what the Cardinals did in response to losing star slugger Albert Pujols. As Pujols signed his 10-year $240 million deal before the 2012 season, the Cardinals inked Beltran to a two-year deal worth $26 million to fill the void in their lineup.
Cano, 30, who has developed a reputation as one of the best second baseman in the game, will command top dollar this offseason, and if the Yankees aren't willing or are just unable to match another team's offer, Beltran could be donning pinstripes in the Bronx. Beltran, who will be 37 once the season gets going in April, may have a lower price due to his age.
The New York Daily News reported that Beltran would "strongly consider" a move to the Bronx if the two sides can agree, and Brian Cashman knows his duty as general manager is to try and make the Yankees as strong up-and-down the lineup as possible.
"Ultimately, the truth of the matter is, it's my job to always find better than what we already have," Cashman said at the end of the season press conference, according to CBS Sports.
If Cano does walk, he'll be hard to replace as he led the team with a .314 average with 27 homers and 107 RBIs this season in his walk-year. Still, Beltran has remained consistent over his career at the big league level and hit .296 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs this season,
Another attractive part to Beltran's resume is his knack for postseason hitting as he's a career .327 hitter and is eighth all time with 16 homers while knocking in 34 RBIs during the playoffs through nine series. In the 2013 playoffs, Beltran has two homers and nine RBIs through nine games.
While the offseason promises to be a busy one for all of baseball, the Yankees moves will prove to be interesting. Carlos Beltran is willing to land in pinstripes should Cano walk, but hopes to do so after winning the World Series with St. Louis. The Cardinals are one win shy of that chance.
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