The Oakland Athletics have made an interesting move by claiming infielder and outfielder Andy Ibañez off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, as reported by Francys Romero of BeisbolFR. Last month, the Dodgers secured Ibañez with a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, hoping to later send him through waivers to keep him as an option in Triple-A. However, the Athletics have stepped in, assuming his contract and adding this versatile left-handed hitter to their roster.
At 32 years old, Ibañez is out of minor league options, which means he can no longer be sent down without risking free agency. This was a key factor when the Dodgers signed him, as they were likely hoping to retain his services for depth despite having a packed infield and bench. Had he cleared waivers, it was expected that he would accept an assignment to the minors since he lacks the service time necessary to reject it while keeping any guaranteed salary from his deal.
Now, Ibañez will be relocating to West Sacramento, where he will play at the hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park, home to the Athletics' temporary setup. With the A’s still searching for a solid solution at third base, Ibañez will look to earn playing time there while also serving as a valuable backup across various positions on the diamond.
Throughout his five seasons in Major League Baseball, Ibañez boasts a batting average of .254, along with a .304 on-base percentage and a .389 slugging percentage. While his performance against right-handed pitchers has been less impressive, he shines against lefties, hitting them with an impressive average of .280 and a .372 on-base percentage, complemented by a .452 slugging percentage. He will be vying for playing time at third base against competitors like Darell Hernaiz, Brett Harris, Max Schuemann, and Max Muncy—yet Ibañez stands out as the only candidate among them who is out of minor league options, making it highly probable that he will secure a spot on the Athletics' Opening Day roster.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development!
