Hunter, 37, may have lost a step since he won nine Gold Glove awards as one of the league's elite center fielders, but he has proven he can still be a good fielder since moving to right field for the Los Angeles Angels.
He can still swing the bat as well, hitting .313 with 16 home runs and 92 RBI in 140 games this season.
Nick Swisher hit 24 home runs along with 93 RBI as New York's right fielder this year, but he struggled in the postseason and is looking for a long-term deal through free agency so he's not expected to return.
Hunter would fill New York's need for a power-hitting corner outfielder, while also providing solid contact-hitting, speed, and fielding.
Adding another aging veteran to the lineup does not help the team's desire to get younger, but he would be willing to take a short-term deal, which the Yankees would prefer at this point. The Yankees front office has made it known they would like to get the team's payroll under $189 million by 2014, so a one-year or two-year deal would be in New York's favor.
Along with Hunter, the Yankees have expressed interest in bringing outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez back.
Ibanez, who serves primarily as a designated hitter, hit 19 home runs with 62 RBI in 2012 with the Yankees.
Ichiro was acquired late in the season from the Seattle Mariners, but made a strong impact on New York's playoff run, batting .322 with five home runs, 27 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in pinstripes.
Dan Benton
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