The Yankees are in serious discussions with free agent Raul Ibanez, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. The ACES client is willing to take less money to play for the Yankees.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported earlier tonight that the Yankees could add a left-handed hitter such as Ibanez, Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui within a week. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said last week that he would like to see GM Brian Cashman add a bat before Opening Day.
Ibanez posted a .245/.289/.419 line with 20 home runs in 575 plate appearances as the Phillies' everyday left fielder last year. The 39-year-old could provide the Yankees with an option at designated hitter or in the corner outfield positions. He owns a .286/.351/.488 line against right-handed pitching in 16 MLB seasons and appears to be a possible platoon partner for Andruw Jones.
Rrrraaaaaaaaauuulllllll!
It’s good that the discussions are serious. I hate when they have discussions and they are just goofing around.
Kinda like when Ellen told Kristen Bell that there was a sloth backstage, huh.
its too bad that he doesnt play right field cuz anything would be better for the Sox than Cody Ross
already tired of him? its going to be a loong year for you man..
one of the few things not better than cody ross is raul ibanez
id take ross over ibanez any day..
……What can Ibanez do what Damon can’t do!? Besides maybe have a better arm
besides definitely have a better arm
Hit for more power.
So far we’ve figured out that Raul Ibanez is absolutely no better than Damon except that he hits for more power and has a better arm. No difference there whatsoever, huh.
I’d take the ability to get on base and not get out all the time and have any range whatsoever over a few more homers and the ability to throw the ball hard.
I agree… i also think that ibanez is more of a free-swinger than damon. damon waits on his pitch, makes the pitcher work harder, fouls off pitches… at the plate, i think damon is more of a presence than ibanez’ bat.
but damon can’t throw.
2011 vs righties (which is what matters since they are looking for a platoon situation).
Damon: 7.7 BB%, .314 OBP, .401 Slug and .255 Bat
Ibanez: 6.9 BB%, .307 OBP, .440 Slug and .256 Bat
not a major difference.
Boils down to Ibanez hr ability vs Damon’s speed.
As it, the Yanks have 2 lefties and a switch hitter in the OF. Damon nor Ibanez shouldn’t sniff the OF…ever. In case of a DL stint then I’m sure they’ll call up someone from AAA.
And DH’s sure do need those arms.
Damon has more upside. He’s really good at working the count, getting on base, and in clutch spots. He also allows more flexibility on the bases, with which they can call steals, hit&runs, etc.
Try throw.
Make lots more outs?
Willing to sign for less money to Play for us……
Would be a good signing for the Yanks. He’s a pro hitter who still good pop left. It would also give my Phils an extra comp draft pick, so everybody wins 🙂
Unless it’s a minor-league deal.
Losing Posada and adding Pineda was a big hit to their average age. And the Yanks have to have someone talking about how they’re all getting too old to keep winning. So adding 40-year-old Ibanez definitely makes perfect sense.
Because average age is really important for a bench piece.
It’s good for clubhouse chemistry.
Because young guys ALWAYS get along better than older guys.
I think this went too far without anyone realizing that I was joking…
i mean..look at the guys name that replied to you…
champion^
THey can have Adam Dunn for the low low cost of AJ Burnett…actually could help both teams…Dunns odd of bouncing back are better than him having another historically horrible season. Plus the Launching pad that is yankee Stadium for left handed hitters could really benifit him. Also that line up offers much more protection for him than the whitesox did last year allowing teams to not pitch around him. Plus he could spell swish in right (i know he is horrible but its a short right field and would only be like once a week) And it gives the whtiesox rotation insurance. And a low pressure situation could benefit AJ. Also Cooper might be able to fix him. I literally think its a good idea for both teams…maybe even have either side to make the money match up perfectly.
A Raul spotting at the Sixers game.
Pffft… no way he hits better than Prince.
Fielder? Um, he probably doesn’t taste better than a really good creme brulee, either; would you have Cashman park a white ceramic dessert tray in the DH slot? Fielder was never a fit for the Yankees because they need to be able to rotate their aging infield through the DH spot and they don’t need to add that much payroll.
Rauuuuuul!! was kind of an after thought in the M’s system coming up. Jose Cruz Jr. Got the attention as the hot new prospect. Now he’s vying for 300 HRs and 2K hits.
Definitely a guy that out played his ability and willed himself to be better.
While I hate the Yankees it’s kind of cool that he’ll return to his hometown to finish off a long and surprisingly productive career.
as cool as bringing back damon or matsui would be, ibanez makes much more baseball sense as an addition because of his platoon splits.
Ibanez road 2011: .210/.261/.317
Damon road 2011: .280/.345/.463
… it’s Yankees stadium. Raul will be fine there.
YS would help Damon as much as Ibanez. The point is that their numbers are skewed because of their home parks last year, and Damon is a better hitter.
Maybe but Ibanez is also going to be cheaper and offers more power potential. Regardless of his home/road splits… they’re not a factor because Ibanez is going into left handed hitter’s heaven.
bro i was talking about LHP/RHP platoon splits. andruw jones still rakes against lefties (.923 OPS). Ibanez/Jones as a non-strict DH platoon could be cheap and effective.
Can’t see him too much in the field. Gardner IS one of, if not the BEST defensive LF in baseball. Swisher is good enough in RF. DH it would be.
OF is definitely *not* a part of the game where the Yanks need help right now.
According to just about any stat besides the gold glove, Gardner is the best defender in baseball.
Welcome to the discussion man, your observation skills astound me. I mean how did you ever come up with this brilliant idea? 🙂
could hit 30 bombs playing half his games with that little league porch out there in right
matsui’s the better choice
Mariners should not have let him leave.
Raully Fries.
The GIDP king. Enjoy him.
damon will be a yankee cuz the yanks want him. he wants 5 mil or so which he isnt getting so yankees are just putting pressure on him saying there interested in raul. yanks know what there getting in damon. his swing is made for that stadium.