Carlos Beltran is next up on the Yanks' wishlist

After wrapping up the top free-agent catcher on the market, Brian McCann, to a five-year, $85 million contract, the Yankees are ready to move and to quickly fill the remaining holes on the roster.

According to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News, the Yankees have set free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran as their No. 1 priority while they wait for talks with Robinson Cano to heat up, Hiroki Kuroda to make a decision on whether or not he wants to pitch again next season, and for Masahiro Tanaka to be posted by his Japanese club.

Feinsand says that the Yankees prefer Beltran over the other top outfielders on the market, like Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz and Jacoby Ellsbury, because they feel Beltran would be more of a bit to improve the lineup.

Beltran, who turns 37 in April, is looking for a three-year deal, but the Yankees are trying to wrap him up for just two-years. Several other teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners has shown interest in the eight-time All-Star.

A source told Feinsand that even though the Yankees aren't willing to give Beltran the third year he's looking for, it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker.

Beltran, a switch-hitter, posted a split line of .296/.339/.491 in 145 games for the Cardinals this past season, hitting 24 homers with 84 RBIs.

He has expressed interest in the past about joining the Yankees, and it would seem that they could be one of the frontrunners to land him. The Yanks wanted to sign him in 2004, but because Bernie Williams was already the everyday center fielder, there was no room for Beltran, so he then signed a seven-year deal with the New York Mets.

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