Raul Ibanez, Yankees Agree To $1.1M Deal
NEW YORK — A day after trading A.J. Burnett, the New York Yankees used some of the salary they saved to add Raul Ibanez as their left-handed designated hitter.
Ibanez and the Yankees agreed to a $1.1 million, one-year contract, a person familiar the negotiations said Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. It includes $2.9 million in performance bonuses.
"He's a guy that's hit right-handers very well over his career, can still play the outfield," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, without confirming the agreement. "Has been a productive player if you look over the last 10 years."
Ibanez is a 39-year-old outfielder who played with Philadelphia the last three seasons and hit .245 last year with 20 homers and 84 RBIs.
With a swing that seems tailored to the short right-field at Yankee Stadium, Ibanez is expected to be the Yankees' primary designated hitter against right-handed starting pitchers. New York decided on him over Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, who also are free agents.
The agreement came one day after the Yankees traded Burnett to Pittsburgh, a deal in which the Pirates pay $5 million of the pitcher's salary this year and $8 million in 2013.
New York also has an offer out to re-sign backup INF Eric Chavez.
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AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.
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RONALD BLUM 02/20/12 04:29 PM ET Associated Press