Dan Martin of the New York Post reports that the Yankees have had "preliminary discussions" with Raul Ibanez about returning in a platoon role. Ibanez hit 19 homers and slugged .492 against right-handed pitching this season, so he's still a useful player if used correctly. If re-signed, he would be used as a DH against righties again while also seeing occasional time in the outfield. Ibanez will turn 41 next June.

Raul Ibanez struck again in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night, smashing a game-tying two-run homer off Jose Valverde with two outs in the ninth inning. Ibanez finished 2-for-5 with a double and that critical blast. The Yankees trailed 4-0 entering the ninth inning but inched closer when Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-run homer off Valverde. After Mark Teixeira battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a two-out walk, the stage was set for Ibanez. He's hitting an absurd 6-for-14 (.429) with three homers and five RBI in the postseason. The Yankees would eventually lose in the 12th.

Raul Ibanez hit a game-tying, pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth and a walk-off solo homer in the 12th in Wednesday's 3-2 ALDS Game 3 win over the Orioles. Yankees manager Joe Girardi chose to pinch-hit Ibanez for the struggling Alex Rodriguez, and the 40-year-old became the first player in postseason history to homer twice in a game he didn't start. Ibanez's first longball came off O's closer Jim Johnson, and his second was against lefty Brian Matusz, who was one of Baltimore's best relievers down the stretch. The dinger off of Matusz was particularly surprising, as Ibanez hit .197 with zero home runs in 65 plate appearances against southpaws during the regular season. With Joe Saunders starting Game 4, Ibanez might be back on the bench.

Raul Ibanez came up big for the Yankees Tuesday, blasting a game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth and a walk-off single in the 12th in a comeback win over the Red Sox. The Yanks entered the ninth inning down 3-1, but Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey gave up a leadoff single to Curtis Granderson before Ibanez knotted it up after pinch-hitting for Eduardo Nunez. Ibanez then beat the shift in the 12th with a single through the left side. The Yanks will enter Game 162 up one game on the Orioles in the AL East.

Raul Ibanez had a huge day at the dish in Saturday's 10-9 victory over the A's, smashing a pair of homers including a game-tying two-run blast in the bottom of the 13th inning. Ibanez finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with a double, two homers, two runs scored and three RBI. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning and promptly delivered a solo blast off Jim Miller. The veteran outfielders' two-run shot off Pat Neshek in the 13th capped off a four-run inning to tie the game at 9-9, after the A's had struck for four in their half of the inning. It kept the Yankees in the game, and allowed them to scratch out a run in the 14th to steal the victory.

Raul Ibanez belted a three-run homer Saturday in the Yankees' 4-3 victory over the Mets. The seventh-inning shot tied the game at 3-3, then Eric Chavez put the Yankees ahead for good a couple of batters later with a pinch-hit solo home run. Ibanez has blasted 11 big flies and tallied 35 RBI in 58 games this year alongside a .476 slugging percentage. He carries some value in deeper AL-only fantasy leagues.

Raul Ibanez (elbow) is back in the Yankees' lineup Wednesday. Ibanez was in the right elbow by a pitch Monday, but he was going to sit out Tuesday anyway with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen on the hill for the Orioles. It shouldn't be a concern moving forward. Ibanez will start in left field Wednesday while Eric Chavez serves as the DH.

Raul Ibanez connected on a three-run homer, helping to lead the Yankees to a 6-2 win over Felix Hernandez and the Mariners on Friday. Ibanez finished the night 1-for-4 with the home run. He's had quite a resurgence in the early part of the season, hitting .267 with six homers and 19 RBI on the year. Those who gambled on Ibanez late in drafts have to be pleased with the results to this point.

Raul Ibanez homered and doubled in Wednesday's loss to the Rangers. The extra-base hits were Ibanez's first in seven games. Ibanez has more-or-less done as expected for the Bombers, batting .271/.294/.500 while roping five extra-base hits and driving in 11 runs across 50 plate appearances. He's a fine AL-only league option.

Raul Ibanez is getting the start in left field on Thursday against the Twins. It's just Ibanez's third appearance of the year in the field, and first in left. Platooning as the Yankees' designated hitter, Ibanez is in line for more at-bats during Brett Gardner's (elbow) absence. Andruw Jones should get most of the playing time in left field, however.