Yankees Sign Outfielder Raul Ibanez
The New York Yankees today announced they have signed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a one-year Major League contract.
Ibanez, 39, batted .245 (131-for-535) with 65 runs, 31 doubles, 20 home runs and 84 RBI in 144 games as the Philadelphia Phillies’ primary leftfielder in 2011 (131 starts in left field). During the 2011 season, he reached career milestones in doubles (350th on May 3 vs. Washington), RBI (1,000th on June 5 at Pittsburgh), runs scored (900thon July 8 vs. Atlanta on a “walk-off” home run) and home runs (250th on September 7 vs. Atlanta).
A 16-year Major League veteran, Ibanez has appeared in 1,817 combined games with Seattle (1996-2000, ’04-08), Kansas City (2001-03) and Philadelphia (2009-11). He owns a .280 (1,791-for-6,387) career batting average with 377 doubles, 43 triples, 252 home runs and 1,054 RBI. He has reached the 30-double plateau in each of the last 10 seasons (2002-11), marking the longest such active streak among all Major Leaguers.
The left-handed batter has appeared in the playoffs with the Phillies in each of the last three seasons (2009-11)—and four times overall (also 2000 with Seattle)—batting .231 (27-for-117) with three home runs and 17 RBI in 36 career postseason games.
Born in New York City, Ibanez was originally selected by the Mariners in the 36th round of the 1992 First-Year Player Draft. In 2009, he was named to the National League All-Star team en route to hitting a career-high 34 home runs for the N.L.-champion Phillies.
The Yankees’ 40-man roster now stands at 40 players.