The Yankees are a physical away from securing outfielder Ichiro Suzuki with a two-year deal but that doesn’t mean their offseason chores are complete.
“We have more work to do,’’ said general manager Brian Cashman, who is looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder and somebody to absorb DH at-bats. “But a lot of the players who were substantial contributors over the last number of years have been January signs.’’
If the Yankees wait until January, chances are good Raul Ibanez, who signed in January last year, won’t be available. The Rangers are interested and there is a chance the 40-year-old Ibanez decides shortly where he will play the 2013 season.
“The bottom line is that tomorrow isn’t Opening Day,’’ Cashman said. “We have a lot of time on the clock here to continue methodically putting this team together and hopefully putting something together that really has a chance to put us back to where we were last year, which is win the [AL East] first and foremost and compete for the [World Series] title.’’
The Yankees contacted right-handed hitting Scott Hairston early in the free-agent process, but the ex-Met has been vocal about wanting a two-year deal and that isn’t likely to come from the Yankees.
While it may not be the perfect situation for a 25-year-old player, one way for the Yankees to get Eduardo Nunez’s live bat and body in the lineup is as the DH.
For $1.1 million last year, Ibanez was a bargain during the regular season and a steal in October. After batting .240 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 130 games, Ibanez hit .318 (7-for-22) with three homers and five RBIs in the postseason. He hit two homers in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Orioles, including the game-winner in the 12th inning after homering as a pinch-hitter for Alex Rodriguez in the ninth.