Low Hopes for Raul Ibanez

In what I can only imagine was an effort to make Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez not feel so old the Yankees went out and acquired the baseball geriatric Raul Ibanez over the offseason. My initial reaction to this acquisition was that it was stupid. After taking some time to absorb it, and to do a little bit of research, I still think it was pretty stupid.

I am a fan first, so let me make it clear that I am rooting for Ibanez to play great as a Yankee. I'd rather he have a great 2012 season and make me look like a dick than I be right. Unfortunately I don't see it happening.

Here are Ibanez's triple slash and HR numbers for the last three seasons. 

Season triple slash stats:

Season	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR/PA
2009	.272	.347	.552	34/565
2010	.275	.349	.444	16/636
2011	.245	.289	.419	20/575

He has declined considerably in his late 30s. Ibanez's production also appears to have fallen off a cliff in 2011. Perhaps this is due in some part to drawing his lowest percentage of walks in this millenium (5.7%). Maybe its harder to draw walks when you are old.

Of course as a Yankee he is expected to serve as the Left handed portion of a DH platoon. So his numbers from that side of the plate must be much better, right?

 Left Handed triple slash stats:

Season	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR/PA
2009	.267	.342	.517	21/398
2010	.277	.366	.455	12/445
2011	.256	.307	.440	16/437

Eh, maybe a little, but not by much. If he repeats 2011 in 2012 that would be pretty shitty for a DH. It would definitely be worse than Jorge Posada's .269/.348/.466 as a Left handed hitter in 2011. But at least Ibanez can provide the Yankees with genuinely terrible outfield defense as a 40 year old, should the need arise.

*All stats courtesy of fangraphs