Rumors literally out of left field: Raul Ibañez

by 55 Comments

Doing the Sabathia dance in Vegas
Kennedy showing signs of life in PR

According to Larry LaRue, one of the sports writers at the Tacoma-based News Tribune, the Yanks are one of ten teams interested in Raul Ibañez. This is an interesting, if random, rumor. Ibañez turns 36 in June and has put together three straight 20-HR, 100-RBI, 121+ OPS+ seasons while playing half of his games in Safeco Field. He would probably be a one- or two-year stop-gap, but whichever team signs him has to give up a draft pick. The Yanks could do a lot worse than Ibañez. I, however, don’t think much will come of this one.

Doing the Sabathia dance in Vegas
Kennedy showing signs of life in PR
  • Jorge Steinbrenner

    If that was the case, I would have kept Abreu.

    This team doesn’t need stopgaps.

  • Steve

    Just what we need, another over the hill LF.

    We collect them, the way some people collect stamps.

    • RustyJohn

      Ibanez’s fielding is absolutely terrible- you’d have a better fielder is you just put a glove on a stick in left field.

  • Steve

    This makes slightly less sense than Tex to the Red Sox, but not much.

    • Ron

      How does Tex to the Sux not make sense?

      • http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

        They have Mike Lowell under contract (2 more years @ $12M per), and trading him now would again be selling low on Lowell. This is not to mention that he has a NTC.

        • Ron

          Cot’s says he has “no-trade protection”. I take it that means he can veto certain teams, not a total no trade clause. Even if he has a total NTC, you would let that prevent you from signing Tex? That makes no sense at all, especially considering the fact that Ortiz missed significant time last season, and is clearly on the downside.

          • Steve H

            As is Lowell on the downside, so there’s not much to the “selling low” aspect. This isn’t trading a 23 year old who struggled last year. The Sox, if they want, will have no problem eating a ton of Lowell’s salary and moving him to get Tex. Certainly would be worth it to them.

    • Miles Roche

      I don’t get your issue with the Red Sox going after Teixeira. I think moving Youk to 3d and obtaining Tex for 1st makes a whole lot of sense. What’s your problem, Lowell? Passing up on an opportunity of Tex for 7 or 8 years because of 2 for Lowell would be lame, IMHO. I’m sure they’ll figure out what to do with Lowell. . .

      (Especially if It’s true that Bill James figured out that – Sabermetrically – Mark Teixeira and Fenway Park would be a great fit.)

      • Reggie C.

        If Tex is a RS next year … Yanks will be playing for second place. No lineup should be that stacked with hitters who’ll thrive at Fenway. The RS lineup is already more potent than the Yankees, but Tex would make that advantage a significant one.

        • Miles Roche

          Uhu. . .

    • http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=594331910&ref=name Jamal G.

      Really? I see Mark Teixeira on the Red Sox as a perfect fit.

      • Eric

        Tex on any team is a perfect fit because of how good he is but realistically, the Sox probably can’t get him. They can’t move Lowell anywhere on the field and I don’t think anyone’s gonna take him in a trade.

  • http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

    Why give a contract to Ibanez when you could have just re-signed Abreu without the cost of a draft pick? I don’t think there’s much to this rumor because it makes no sense.

    • Reggie C.

      Its likely Ibanez is an upgrade defensively over Abreu. Ibanez’s numbers though were only slightly better than Abreu’s, so its a slight offensive upgrade in terms of pop but Abreu still gets on base more. To lose 2 draft picks for someone not any younger and only slightly better isn’t good mgmt… (imo)

      • Miles Roche

        Question is, how much cheaper than Abreu will he come? Let’s not forget that all signs this offseason are pointing towards a tightening of the purse. . .

        • Miles Roche

          And it also seems like the Yanks aren’t exactly concerned about losing draft picks this season. see: Arbitration offers. . .

          (I’ve heard that the ’09 draft class is perceived to be a weak one. Maybe it has something to do with that. . .)

        • Reggie C.

          I don’t think Ibanez comes at a cheaper dollar tag than Abreu. If anything, Ibanez’s steadier play makes him the more expensive FA. Ibanez is actually a couple years older than Abreu. Wow. Ibanez has aged remarkably well. He’s still a better bet to be more productive than Abreu on a 2 year contract.

      • http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

        Say what you want about Abreu, but Abreu > Ibanez defensively. Ibanez is low, has a weak arm…

        • sabernar

          Abreu was the 2nd worst fielder in all of baseball. Not outfielder. Fielder. He was unbelievably horrible last year.

          • Eric

            Adam Dunn > Ibanez = Abreu

          • Stryker

            nate mcclouth says what?

            • Mike Pop

              ” I would give up A-Jax and Hughes for this guy no problem, and I’d put Joba in the pen cause thats where he belongs.”

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15305165&ref=profile Doug

                On paper.

      • erik

        you can’t lose two picks buddy
        no one starts with a sandwhich pick

  • E-ROC

    I don’t see this happening.

  • dkidd

    but he’s a native new yorker! name one other free agent left fielder who was born in new york! wait…

  • Reggie C.

    Anybody else steamed at Dixon for having dropped that wide-open, you-already-burnt-the-D touchdown pass?

    Game should be 7-3 G-men.

  • dkidd

    giants forgetting how to tackle

  • http://jobatheheat jobatheheat

    This might be out ther but what do you guys think about Willy Taveras hes on that players list decided tonight by midnight. What is up with that list ? Berdard on it to.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

      Willy Taveras makes Melky look like a perennial MVP.

      • http://jobatheheat jobatheheat

        My bad. Just Thought hes good defensively.

        • Eric

          It does not do nearly enough to make up for the fact that his bat has the power of a little leaguer.

          • http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

            Yup.

            He would basically have to play defense like Bugs Bunny does in this cartoon to make up for his bat.

            • Eric

              Best. Cartoon. Ever.

  • Tommy

    Maybe there is a trade in the works.

  • Eric

    Adam Dunn in left would be 800 times better than Ibanez. Roughly.

    And why the hell are the Giants playing like dog poopy?

  • Eric

    Antonio Pierce needs to pull his head out of his ass right now.

    • Eric

      Clearly he is not reading these comments.

    • Reggie C.

      Its not gonna happen for the G-Men today. I didnt expect a 15-1 season. Did anybody??

      I would however feel alot better if Hixon caught that assured TD pass and the DTs/DEs get more pressure on McNabb.

      Hixon’s drop shocked Eli. Shocked the crowd. Pumped the Eagles.

      • Eric

        That drop was awful.

        The defense just couldn’t do ANYTHING on third down. At all.

  • Pingback: Yanks interested in Ibanez? « iYankees

  • leo

    That is “agent speak” if I’ve ever seen it, haha.

  • E-ROC

    Ben, are you a Giants or Jets fan, or neither?

  • Reggie C.

    Anybody see the MLBTR headline: “Peavy to Cubs on Lifesupport ?”

    Three-team deal or not, Kevin Towers is fast running out of Peavy-preferred trading partners. I can’t blame Towers for stringing this thing out. If the best player the Cubs are giving up is Josh Vitters, then the trade isn’t going to be a fair one.

    With the sheets-yanks rumors supposedly coming to life, I wonder if Cash has completely dropped off the peavy radar…

    • Mike Pop

      Where have you seen Sheets-Yanks rumors ? Im just curious

      • Reggie C.

        Tim Dierkes from MLBTR put up the link. This board discussed it some 3-4 days ago.

        • Mike Pop

          Oh ya I just looked it up.. Not much there but it would be nice to have him in our rotation

      • Steve H

        Jayson Stark mentioned it a few days back. Let’s hope he’s right.

      • E-ROC
  • christopher

    Has the getting 3 pitchers plan been abandoned by the team?

  • Mike Pop

    G-Men played real bad today

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

      Better now than in the playoffs.

      • Mike Pop

        Trust me I hear that

  • Joseph M

    The Yankees shouldn’t go within a country mile of Ibanez. What problem is being addressed here? The Yankees have not one but two old left fielders already (Damon and Matsui). He sure doesn’t address the Yankees need to get younger.