The New York Yankees have signed veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez to a one-year contract with an eye toward using the left-handed power hitter as a designated hitter, the Major League Baseball club said on Tuesday.
Ibanez, 39, batted .245 with 31 doubles, 20 home runs and 84 runs batted in as the Philadelphia Phillies' primary leftfielder in 2011.
With the Yankees outfield fairly set, Ibanez would likely take on the role held last season by the retired Jorge Posada, who served as the team's lefty designated hitter.
A 16-year major league veteran, Ibanez has appeared in 1,817 games with Seattle, Kansas City and Philadelphia and has a career batting average of .280 with 252 home runs.
(Reporting By Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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