Outfielder Andruw Jones is officially back with the Yankees, finalizing a one-year, $2 million deal yesterday, and pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is expected to join them soon.
But as Brian Cashman said repeatedly this week, he’s hardly finished with his offseason.
The Yankees GM said he is continuing to look for a left-handed bat and has said he’d rather acquire one through a trade for a pitcher instead of free agency, where Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon — among others — remain available.
With the addition of Michael Pineda and the impending signing of Kuroda, the Yankees admittedly have an excess of starting pitching.
And with Cuban defector Yoennis Cespedes reportedly now a free agent after establishing residency in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees could be in on the outfielder, though his price will likely be too steep.
Jones figures to play an important role off the bench again for the Yankees. The 34-year-old outfielder hit .247 with 13 homers and 33 RBIs in his first season in The Bronx a year ago. He performed better after the All-Star break, hitting .291, including .344 (21-for-61) off lefties in the second half.