TAMPA — The Yankees reached agreement with Raul Ibanez this morning on a one-year, $1.1 million contract plus incentives, pending a physical.
Ibanez is being brought in to be the primary DH against righty pitching. The Yanks were looking for four items, in particular in this role: 1) A veteran who would come relatively cheap. 2) A lefty pull hitter who could take advantage of the dimensions at Yankee Stadium. 3) Someone who did well against righty pitching. 4) Someone who could at least play the outfield a little if the need arises.
The framework for a deal with Ibanez was done a few weeks back. However, the Yankees had been waiting to sign Ibanez wanting to make sure they did not add a lefty DH as part of dealing A.J. Burnett. There were trade possibilities in which the Yanks would have obtained either the Angels’ Bobby Abreu or the Indians’ Travis Hafner.
The Burnett trade to Pittsburgh was finalized Sunday with the Yankees getting two minor leaguers. They also saved $5 million in 2012 as part of the transaction and Hal Steinbrenner permitted GM Brian Cashman to use a percentage on Ibanez. Steinbrenner may do the same to allow the signing of Eric Chavez, also to a deal in the $1 million range.
Ibanez, 39, had his average fall to .245, but he still had 20 homers and 84 RBIs last year for the Phillies. Ibanez had a .747 OPS against righties, which is not sterling, but better than, say, Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui, also free agents the Yankees were considering. He also had an .833 OPS at Citizens Bank Park, which like Yankee Stadium is hitter friendly. So the Yankees imagined him doing some damage batting almost exclusively against righties, especially at home.
Ibanez is a poor fielder, but he has been playing the field regularly for Philadelphia. Damon and Matsui, also poor defenders, had been relegated to almost exclusively DHs in recent seasons. The certainty that Ibanez could physically play the field a lot appears to have mattered to the Yankees in their decision making.