There is a growing sense the Yankees want to complete a deal with a lefty-swinging DH before the beginning of spring training, though team officials keep insisting they have very little financial maneuverability to make a deal.
“The prices are still too high,” one club official said yesterday.
The Yankees are not offering more than $2 million for the slot and might be unwilling to go much beyond $1 million even. A few weeks ago, the Yankees engaged in negotiations with Raul Ibanez that would have been for a low base with incentives, and there was a sense a deal might be near. It was not complete as of last night, but there was an understanding the negotiations could be rekindled and brought to a rather rapid conclusion at any time.
The Yankees also are weighing other potential free-agent candidates for the role, including Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Eric Chavez. All are lefty swingers, and last week manager Joe Girardi said he was hoping the team would add just that entity to his roster.
However, the Yankees are claiming they already went over Hal Steinbrenner’s mandated budget to sign Hiroki Kuroda and will not spend much on a DH. So, at present, they are waiting to see if one of the veterans they have interest in will substantially drop his price.
By keeping the costs low, the Yankees would be in position to more easily cut the player during the season if necessary and seek a bat in the July trade market.
That philosophy underscores how uncertain the Yankees remain about the health and/or production of the main candidates for the job. The Yankees, for example, like that Chavez can play third, but not his medical history. In Ibanez’s case, he is known as a hard worker, excellent teammate and hit 20 homers and 31 doubles in a down year last season for the Phillies.
But he turns 40 in June, really can’t play the field any longer and was a disaster (.577 OPS) away from hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. But at home, he had an .833 OPS, and Yankee Stadium would afford friendly confines to him, as well.