Harper: Yankees are able to 'justify' trading Carlos Beltran

In a world full of rumors and speculation, Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran has been able to block out the noise and focus on baseball, while flourishing at the plate as New York's most dependable and clutch hitter. But the 39-year-old veteran hasn't been given any confirmation by his employer that his time in the Bronx will continue this summer. According to John Harper of the New York Daily News, moving Beltran before a star reliever should be the Yankees' priority, and the best fit for Beltran could be in Northern Ohio with the Cleveland Indians, who have emerged as one of the hottest teams in baseball and can bring back a top prospect, per the report: The Indians’ stunning 14-game winning streak, which has given them a big lead in the AL Central, should only make Cleveland more willing to pull off such a deal. The Indians still need offense and Beltran, with his history of delivering in October, surely would increase their chances of not just winning the division but advancing in the postseason. Despite that Beltran's recent hamstring injury further evinces his fragility, Harper writes that the latest power surge from Triple-A prospect Aaron Judge has only made Beltran more of a trade piece: Certainly Judge seems to be pushing for a promotion, having revived his season, as well as expectations for his big-league potential, after a horrendous May. On Friday the slugging Triple-A right fielder was named International League Player of the Month for June, hitting .343 with a .477 on-base percentage, and a .686 slugging percentage. Beltran is in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract, which includes a partial no-trade clause that allows him to block trades from 15 clubs. But of the teams that Beltran doesn't need to give consent to, Cleveland appears on the list. However, Beltran's preference is to remain in New York, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com: "I live in New York. I love playing in New York," Beltran said to Hoch. "I think I've proved that I can play in New York. I love the challenge, man. I've been here three years. I love the team, love the guys around. I've gotten the opportunity to get to know different players that I never got the chance to play with. We feel like we get along well. We have good chemistry as a team." While Beltran's overall performance hasn't hinted at retirement, the window of him capturing a championship is closing fast, and if the Yankees are open to dealing, contenders will be listening.