Yankees Sign Raul Ibanez
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Harry How/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez is trading his red pinstripes for blue ones. According to ESPN, Ibanez has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Yankees worth $1.1 million, plus incentives. Ibanez can make as much as $4 million in incentives.
According to reports, the Yankees plan on using Ibanez as a left-handed designated hitter. The Yankees also liked Ibanez because he can play the outfield better than the other veteran outfielders still on the market, like Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Vladimir Guerrero.
Last season, the 39-year-old Ibanez (who will turn 40 in June) hit .245 with 20 home runs while driving in 84 runs for the Phillies. Ibanez had an on-base percentage of just .289. Even though the Yankees think Ibanez is still a viable outfielder, Ibanez had the fewest defensive runs saved (DRS) among MLB outfielders.
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