Outfielder Ibanez Agrees to $1.1 Million Contract With Yankees, AP Reports

The New York Yankees have signed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a one-year, $1.1 million contract, Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the agreement.

Yankees spokesman Michael Margolis would not confirm the report. MLB.com reported that the deal hasn’t been announced because he hasn’t taken a physical yet.

Ibanez, 39, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies the past three seasons, is expected to be the Yankees designated hitter against right-handed pitchers, the AP said. He played in 144 games last season, hitting .245 with 20 homers and 84 runs batted in.

The signing came a day after the Yankees traded A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh. The Pirates will pay $5 million of the starting pitcher’s salary this year, AP said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Curtis Eichelberger in Washington at ceichelberge@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net