Yankees sign Matt Holliday to 1-year, $13 million deal

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The Yankees have agreed to a 1-year, $13 million contract with free-agent slugger Matt Holliday, a source has confirmed to SB Nation. Sweeny Murti of WFAN and FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman were first to report the deal.

Holliday, who turns 37 in January, was also linked to the Red Sox and Rockies in rumors this winter. He appears likely to take over the designated hitter spot for the Yankees, who traded Brian McCann to the Astros earlier in the winter.

New York was known to be after free agent Carlos Beltran, though Beltran signed with Houston and left the Yankees looking for a slugger. Their attention apparently turned to Holliday, who had his option declined by the Cardinals at the end of the season.

Holliday spent the last eight years with the Cardinals, and hit .246/.322/.461 with 20 homers and 62 RBI in 110 games at first base and left field last season. He is a veteran of 13 major-league seasons, and has not appeared in the American League since the 2009 season with Oakland.