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Speaking to reporters while at the Times Square Modell's in New York to donate Giants NFC Championship hats to Children's Alopecia Project kids, Yankees manager Joe Girardi expressed a preference for a left-handed hitter to fill the DH role vacated by the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda trade.

"I think it's important to our club that you add that other bat," Girardi said. "Because of our ballpark, it makes some sense that it would be a lefty."

Out of the name free agent hitters available, Raul Ibanez, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon are lefty hitters.

"There have been a bunch of names that have been talked about," he said.

In addition, Girardi said he will be exploring Robinson Cano batting in the three hole, an alignment he unveiled late last season. In 27 at-bats, Cano was .296-1-5, .355/.444/.799. In the five-game ALDS loss against the Tigers he went .318-2-9 (six RBIs in Game 1), .375/.682/1.057.

Just for fun, here's a projected lineup with Cano hitting third and Ibanez the DH:

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Raul Ibanez DH
Nick Swisher RF
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC