Raul Ibanez Reportedly Set to Sign with New York Yankees

The New York Yankees can always be counted on to make some last-minute moves before the season starts. They finally have that left-handed bat they wanted in the lineup, and they get it in the form of 39-year-old Raul Ibanez. 

ESPN reports the New York Yankees are set to sign Ibanez as a designated hitter and Eric Chavez as a back-up infielder. 

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports via tweet that the moves are in motion, but that nothing will be official until Sunday when a set of physicals is finalized. 

You can close the book on the Yankees' dealings this offseason—and there were a myriad of them—which are sure to make New York, yet again, a contender for the World Series. 

The deal comes on the heels of an A.J. Burnett trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates for two prospects. That particular deal is slated to save the Yankees $13 million, according to ESPN. 

These two deals do not make or break the Yankees, but provide insurance and added depth to an already star-studded lineup. 

Ibanez has lost a step or two at his age, but is vital in certain matchups. He hit .256 with 16 homers and 60 RBI against righties last season. 

New York now has a solid veteran to hit from the left side in the DH spot. With Chavez, you get a low-risk addition who can be of great importance if he can stay healthy. 

While this is the latest news on the pinstripe front, it's not nearly the greatest. The Yankees went a long way to overhaul their rotation and had great success in doing so. 

They added Michael Pineda, who could be the next great right-handed pitcher. They also signed Hiroki Kuroda, who will go a long way to eat innings and save some of the arms in the bullpen. 

Ibanez is a fine addition to a lineup littered with veterans hungry for another trip to the promised land. This is a far more balanced Yankees squad than last year, and one that has to be among the favorites in the very deep American League. 

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