The Yankees hoped there would be a workout at the Stadium yesterday in preparation for Game 6 of the ALCS against the Tigers.
Instead, they came back to empty their lockers and head home following a four-game sweep that ended in Detroit on Thursday.
It also may have been the last time in The Bronx as Yankees for some of them, including Andy Pettitte — who is unsure whether he will keep playing next season — and Nick Swisher, who will be a free agent.
They were not alone in that regard. Raul Ibanez, a free agent and one of the few Yankees to produce in the postseason, also made the trip.
“I love this place,” Ibanez said before entering the Stadium. “I loved my experience here. It was fantastic.”
When asked if he intended to return next season, he said: “I’m not thinking about that right now.”
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Like most of his fellow free agents, Ibanez’s thoughts remained on the ugly end to the season. His game-tying, ninth-inning home run in Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit closer Jose Valverde provided one of the few Yankees highlights of the series.
The 40-year-old played the outfield more than the Yankees had intended when they signed him in the offseason to be a designated hitter against right-handers. But injuries to Brett Gardner, as well as Mark Teixeira, forced Ibanez to have an expanded role.
Though Ibanez faded in early September, he caught fire in the final two weeks of the regular season and showed he had a knack for hitting clutch, game-changing homers to help the Yankees avert disaster and reach the playoffs.
He continued the hot hitting into the postseason. If nothing else, Ibanez will be remembered as being the first person to pinch-hit for Alex Rodriguez in the playoffs. He tied Game 3 of the ALDS against the Orioles with a homer in that ninth-inning, pinch-hit at-bat and then won it in the 12th with another blast.