Just two days after being released by the Tigers, Brennan Boesch has landed with another 2012 playoff team. He has signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal -- plus possible incentives -- with the New York Yankees, reports CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman.
Boesch, 27, finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2010 and then hit .283/.341/.458 with 16 homers in just 115 games in 2011. But last season, he hit just .240/.286/.372 with 12 homers in 503 plate appearances. He struck out 104 times while walking just 26.
Worth mention here is that Boesch is left-handed and Yankee Stadium plays very favorable for left-handed power hitters. In 32 career plate appearances in Yankee Stadium, Boesch has hit .367/.375/.533 with a homer and six RBI.
Boesch has never played first base as a professional, but he gives the Yankees the chance to put Juan Rivera at first. The Yankees desperately need corner infield help with third baseman Alex Rodriguez likely on the shelf for the majority of the season and first baseman Mark Teixeira out for the first four to six weeks. They have Kevin Youkilis to play either corner, so another corner man is needed.
With Boesch able to play left field -- alongside Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki until the also-injured Curtis Granderson can return -- Rivera could be used at first.
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