Yankees rumors: New York held "preliminary discussions" with Raul Ibanez

The New York Yankees have held preliminary discussions with outfielder/designated hitter Raul Ibanez about returning to the Bronx next season, reports Dan Martin of the New York Post:

The Yankees have had preliminary discussions with Raul Ibanez about coming back next season in a platoon role.

Ibanez was used more than the Yankees would have liked because of injuries last year, but he showed he was still a dangerous hitter.

The 40-year-old Ibanez had an up and down season for New York in a part-time role, but came through for the Bombers when it mattered most in the postseason, cementing his name in Yankees lore for years to come. Ibanez hit .240/.308/.453 with nineteen home runs in one hundred thirty games on the season, but his three late-inning playoff home runs are what his season will be remembered by.

With Brett Garner returning from injury and the club looking to replace Nick Swisher with a (slightly) younger outfielder like Torii Hunter, the veteran Ibanez's playing time would probably take a significant hit were he to stay in New York, but his lefty bat could still provide some pop off the bench.