Report: Yankees have reached out to Kendrys Morales
It has been reported by Joel Sherman of the New York Post that the New York Yankees have reached out to the representatives of free agent Kendrys Morales. He is a likely candidate to join the Yankees in the event that the team deals catcher Brian McCann this winter. According to the report, the Yankees are not the only team in the AL East interested in Morales. The Toronto Blue Jays, who could lose free agents Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, and Michael Saunders, and the Boston Red Sox, who designated hitter David Ortiz retire after last season have reached out. All of the above reported teams have also been tied to Encarnacion, who will seek a much larger contract than Morales this winter. Following his two-year, $17 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, Morales was not issued a qualifying offer by Kansas City. In two seasons with the Royals, Morales hit 52 home-runs and 199 RBI with a slashline of .277/.344/.476. The 33-year-old Morales could provide well for the Yankees as a switch hitter in a pure DH role, but could also back up first base if needed with Greg Bird returning from shoulder surgery.