The rumors proved to be true this time as Raul Ibanez has agreed to go play for the New York Yankees. The deal is worth a reported $1.1 million in guarantees with plate appearance incentives in place that could put it in the $4 million range, per Ken Rosenthal.
I have a feeling Raul is going to make a real nice DH up in the Bronx. There were some rumblings this offseason that he had found a minor glitch in his swing and after making a tiny adjustment was hitting the ball very well.
Rosenthal says that Rauuuuul's offseason work with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo has him feeling fantastic.
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“I know 2012 is going to be way better than 2011,” Ibanez said. “I
didn’t know quite how I was going to do it. But I knew I was going to do
it.
“Now I expect that (2012) is going to be great. That’s the different
level I went to. I haven’t felt this good since I left for spring
training in ’09 – the last time I worked with Rudy.”
As Raul said just a few weeks ago, hopefully he'll meet his former team in October in what would be a rematch of the 2009 World Series.
But no ring for Raul once again.