New York Yankees to sign Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui or Raul Ibanez this week?

The New York Yankees are expected to sign a left handed designated hitter who could also serve as a platoon outfielder with Brett Gardner or Nick Swisher this season, and the final three candidates appear to be Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Raul Ibanez. One of those three players could sign by the end of this week, although a lot will depend on what their asking price comes down to as Spring Training draws closer.

I wrote last week that it appeared as if Yankees manager Joe Girardi was pushing for the team to sign Ibanez instead of the pair of former Bronx Bombers. It comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering that Ibanez is the oldest of three and has failed to put up decent numbers for a few seasons.

Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that a deal for one of the three could be completed as soon as the coming days, but nothing is guaranteed. The one thing that Ibanez does appear to have in his favor is that he is probably a stronger defensive outfielder even at this point in his career opposed to either Damon or Matsui.

Still, the ultimate factor could come down to finances. In the end, the Yankees are unlikely to spend more than $2 million on any DH or part time outfielder for the 2012 MLB season. If they do sign one of the aforementioned three players, that will all but end their pursuit of re-signing oft-injured Eric Chavez to occasionally spell Alex Rodriguez at third base.

Personally, I actually see Ibanez, 40, as the worst fit of the three for the Yankees. He did hit 20 home runs last year with the Philadelphia Phillies, but overall, his numbers continue to decline, and he has never played in New York. The media pressure may too much for an aging veteran to handle at this point.

Damon and Matsui have been there before and know what it takes to succeed on MLB’s most grandest stage. They were both key factors on the Yankees’ 2009 World Series Championship team. If we are looking from more of an offensive standpoint, which, face it, the Yankees usually are, then Damon is the natural selection. The 38-year-old hit 16 home runs and stole 19 bases for the Tampa Bay Rays last season. Matsui, 37, hit just 12 home runs with the Oakland Athletics last year.

Either way, whichever player decides to lower his price and join a team with an excellent shot of reaching the postseason will likely be wearing pinstripes very shortly.

Kelley writes for The Pigskin Report as well as Hardball Chat. You can follow him on Twitter @RobKelley24 and Like The Rob Kelley Sports Network on Facebook. Kelley is a former sports reporter for various newspapers throughout the state of Florida, and had his first book published I'm Not a Quitter after moving back to Massachusetts.

Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Brett Gardner, Eric Chavez, Hideki Matsui, Joe Girardi, Johnny Damon, New York Yankees, Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez, Rob Kelley