Report: Yankees want Raul Ibanez back to DH against righties

Is a Raul Ibanez-Yankees reunion coming? (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees are interested in bringing back Raul Ibanez to serve as their designated hitter against right-handed pitchers, the New York Post's George King and Ken Davidoff reported Monday.

From the report:

The Post has also learned the Yankees have an interest in bringing back the popular and productive Raul Ibanez to be the DH against right-handed pitching.

Some voices within the organization believe it was a mistake to let Ibanez leave following the 2012 season, when Ibanez grew impatient waiting and signed for a second stint with the Mariners.

In his brief first stint with the Yankees, Ibanez hit 19 homers and had 62 RBIs while gaining a reputation for coming through in significant times — particularly in the playoffs, when he became the only player in MLB history to hit three home runs in the ninth inning or later in a single postseason. All of those homers either tied or won the game.

The 41-year-old Ibanez didn't slow down last year with the Seattle Mariners, batting .242 with 29 homers, 65 RBIs, and a .793 OPS. The Yankees signed Travis Hafner to be their DH last season, but after a good April he was bogged down by injuries and played in only one game after July 26.

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