Yankees Rumors: A.J. Burnett, Bill Hall and the DH
By Editorial Staff
It was announced yesterday that the New York Yankees reached a minor league agreement with Bill Hall. This deal doesn’t appear to change anything regarding the Yankees hunt for another bat, as the club continues to eye possible additions such as Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported yesterday that the Yankees are currently working with a tight budget but could look to free up funds by dealing veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett.
Yesterday Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Yankees continue to be in contact with free agents Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez. Heyman noted that the club has “a little spending money” remaining to add a position player or two. Chavez and Ibanez could fill bench roles, though Ibanez could also slot in as New York’s primary DH.
Sherman added a figure to Heyman’s “a little spending money”, noting that the Yankees are currently not offering more that $1-2 million to prospective DH’s. Sherman said that New York’s initial talks with Ibanez surrounded a low base salary deal with built-in incentives. Ibanez is said to be willing to take a smaller deal to play in New York, but the veteran figures to be holding out for more than $1-2 million guaranteed.
Beyond Ibanez, Sherman reported that the Yankees continue to kick the tires on other DH options such as Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. Yankees manager Joe Girardi recently came out publicly requesting an additional bat, naming specifically Ibanez, Damon and Matsui.
This morning Sherman added that in order to loosen their budget, the Yankees are quietly but diligently working to trade veteran starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. Sherman added that the Yankees know they won’t be able to move Burnett’s entire albatross of a contract, though the club could free up a few million dollars this year and next. This would allow them to add Chavez and another veteran hitter before the spring.
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