Yesterday, the Yankees signed outfielder Matt Diaz to a minor league deal. He has an invite to spring training camp and will compete for a bench role. Diaz played the 2012 with the Atlanta Braves before suffering a thumb injury in August that required surgery and sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Diaz, 34, has hit well against lefties in his career. He has a .291 lifetime average and his .269 against southpaws in 2012 in limited at bats. Diaz will earn $1.2 million if he makes the club, plus performance incentives. This signing doesn't mean the Yankees can stand pat and be done with their righty hitting outfielder search. They could still be in on Scott Hairston, who is reportedly seeking a two year deal.
In other news, former Yankee Hideki Matsui will be announcing his retirement in a press conference this evening. Matsui, most known as the 2009 World Series MVP, spent seven seasons with the New York Yankees. He was always a force in the lineup, first as their left fielder and later as the DH. He then spent three seasons with three different clubs but was never the same player he was in New York. He briefly played for the Tampa Bay Rays this season, hitting .147 in 95 at bats and hitting only two home runs. Matsui is an accomplished player who played the better part of his career in Japan. He will always remain a Yankee icon.
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