Friday, the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates reached an agreement in a trade involving starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. After today’s physical, the deal should be made official and the Yankees are expected to enter phase two of operation salary space. New York is reportedly hoping to add a pair of free agent bats with the money saved in the Burnett deal, and Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweeted that the Yankees are “negotiating exclusively” with Raul Ibanez.
Do the Yankees have enough budget room to sign both Raul Ibanez and
Ibanez has appeared to be New York’s primary free agent target for some time now. Following the Jesus Montero trade it seemed as if the Yankees would be on the prowl for a new designated hitter. Several names were floated, including Carlos Pena, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, but New York reportedly likes what the left-handed Ibanez has to offer.
Beyond Ibanez, the Yankees were said to be eyeing free agent Eric Chavez. New York would reportedly like to bring back the veteran to fill a reserve role. Most assumed Chavez and Ibanez would sign deals with New York soon after the Burnett trade was made official.
However, Joel Sherman of the New York Post has heard that the Yankees may not have the room in their budget, even after a Burnett trade, to acquire both Ibanez and Chavez. For the time being, Sherman believes it will be an either or decision for the Yankees. While this could be the case, Sherman noted that Yankees executives are expected to meet and discuss if additional salary room can be made that would allow the club to sign both free agents.
For more on the Yankees, be sure to check out Yanks Go Yard.
You can follow Call to the Pen on Twitter at @FSCalltothePen or like us here on Facebook.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.
Tags: A.J. Burnett, Carlos Pena, Hideki Matsui, Jesus Montero, Johnny Damon, New York Yankees, Raul Ibanez
Blaine joined the crew in April of 2011. He covers current news and notes from around the baseball world for Call to the Pen.
You can reach Blaine at 
Loading ...
Around the Foghorn
Birds Watcher
Blog Red Machine
BoSox Injection
Chicken Friars
Climbing Tal's Hill
Cubbies Crib
District on Deck
Halo Hangout
Jays Journal
Kings of Kauffman
Lasorda's Lair
Marlin Maniac
Motor City Bengals
Nolan Writin'
Puckett's Pond
Rays Colored Glasses
Redbird Rants
Reviewing the Brew
Rising Apple
Rox Pile
Rum Bunter
SoDo Mojo
Southside Showdown
Swingin' A's
That Balls Outta Here
Tomahawk Take
Venom Strikes
Wahoo's on First
Yanks Go Yard
[...] Yesterday we found out that the New York Yankees were negotiating exclusively with free agent Raul Ibanez. New York has targeted Ibanez as their designated hitter for 2012, and it looked as if the Yankees would be adding Ibanez and fellow free agent Eric Chavez. But yesterday, reports came out stating that New York might not be able to afford both players. After the A.J. Burnett deal was finalized, Yankee brass was scheduled to meet to decide if both Ibanez and Chavez could be brought on. The Yankees reportedly have the framework of a deal in place with free agent Raul Ibanez. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE [...]