Officially announce the acquisition of Michael Pineda? Check. Formally sign Hiroki Kuroda to complete the overhaul of the starting rotation? Check.
This clears the way for the Yankees to pursue a designated hitter. You’ve heard the names: Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Vladimir Guerrero, Jorge Vazquez, Andruw Jones. The latter two are in the organization and the Yankees haven’t yet shown any appeal in either their old friends or Vlad the Impaler.
According to Kevin Kernan, the Yankees are interested in lefty slugger Raul Ibanez, whose representatives contacted the team shortly after Jesus Montero was traded to Seattle. While Ibanez’s batting average has taken a dive, he’s averaged 24 home runs and 100 RBIs the past six seasons, including 20-84 last year. Kernan also reports that Ibanez worked out with hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo to correct flaws in his swing.
What’s enticing about Ibanez is his left-handed power tailor-made for Yankee Stadium, one reason why Buster Olney raves about him. Vazquez and his ability to mash makes for an intriguing option, but compared to Ibanez he’s a right-hander with a 166/25 strikeout-to-unintentional-walk ratio in 500 plate appearances, whereas Ibanez is 106/33 in 575 PAs. While Ibanez also turns 40 in June, he keeps himself in great shape and a positive influence who played for a Phillies team that won the National League pennant in 2009. Ibanez enjoyed one of his best seasons that year (.272-34-93, .899 OPS), including .285/13/40/.859 against right-handers.
Seeing that it’s very tough to move A.J. Burnett, and the remaining two years and roughly $33 million left on his contract, for a younger power bat, the Yankees will look to either buy low or take their chances on internal options.
How would you handle the Yankees’ DH spot?
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