5 months agoInfielder
Andy Ibanez and the Detroit Tigers avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million deal, according to sources. Ibanez gets a raise after earning $633,900 in his second year with Detroit in 2024. The 31-year-old veteran from Cuba wasn't quite as good this past season, though, slashing a very mediocre .241/.295/.357 with a below-average .652 OPS, only five home runs, 32 RBI, two stolen bases and 30 runs scored in 99 regular-season games. Ibanez's greatest asset is his glove and his ability to play pretty much anywhere on the infield besides catcher. He also makes plenty of contact with the lumber, but there's very little power to speak. Ibanez will likely be in a utility role again for the Tigers in 2025, which limits his fantasy value to AL-only leagues as depth. He has a career .256/.305/.396 slash line with 24 homers in four MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Francys Romero
6 months agoDetroit Tigers utility player
Andy Ibanez came on as a pinch-hitter during the eighth inning of Wednesday's Wild Card matchup with the Astros and broke open a tie ballgame with a three-run bases-clearing double, putting the Tigers ahead 5-2. That would go on to be the final score, securing the Tigers' series win and a date with the Guardians in the ALDS. The 31-year-old hasn't received many at-bats lately, slashing just .174/.248/.239 in 101 plate appearances since the All-Star break, but the Tigers will surely hope for similar results should he get additional opportunities in the next round.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
11 months agoThe Detroit Tigers reinstated infielder/outfielder
Andy Ibanez (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned infielder
Buddy Kennedy to Triple-A Toledo after Sunday's game in a corresponding move. Ibanez didn't play at all in the 2-1 loss on Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of a doubleheader, but he's starting at second base and batting second in Game 2 against Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz. The 31-year-old is back from a stint on the IL due to a strained left hamstring and should see starts against left-handed pitchers moving forward. The Cuban infielder returns to a .267/.235/.267 slash line with no home runs and three RBI in just 15 at-bats in 2024. Ibanez is only an option in AL-only leagues for middle-infield depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tigers PR
1 year agoDetroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the team is planning for "optionality" at third base in 2024 between
Matt Vierling,
Andy Ibanez and
Zach McKinstry. Prospect
Colt Keith, who signed a long-term contract extension last weekend, will play second base and is expected to be an everyday contributor. The 27-year-old Vierling should be the primary third baseman coming out of spring training. The Tigers moved Vierling from the outfield to the hot corner in August of 2023. He's unlikely to be an above-average contributor on offense without hitting for more power. Ibanez, 30, responded to a bad start last year by hitting .294 with 10 homers in his final 87 games. Ibanez, who hits right-handed, and McKinstry set up as natural platoon partners at third base, but McKinstry struggled at the plate in 2023. Prospect
Jace Jung could become the team's regular third baseman by the end of the 2024 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
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