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Raul Ibanez To Decline Arbitration
Raul Ibanez will decline arbitration today, according to Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune blog. Says LaRue,
"The Phillies, Cubs, Mets, Rays, Yankees and a half-dozen other teams are pursuing Ibanez, who last year made $5.5 million. He wants a multi-year contract, and the Mariners weren’t in position to offer him one."
LaRue praises Ibanez for his work ethic and propensity to challenge, in a positive way, both young and veteran players in the clubhouse.
This was expected since at least ten other teams have interest in Ibanez who will certainly receive a number of multi-year offers. As a Type A free agent, the Mariners will gain 2 draft picks for him.
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Rays is the only team of the five that makes sense, because they actually have an open DH spot.
Ibanez + OF = no.
Posted by: melonis rex | December 07, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I don't know about that melonis, Ibanez is going to play a corner outfield spot if he doesn't DH and corner spots are 2 of the 3 least important defensive positions along with 1b. Frankly if Ibanez is merely adequate defensively then his bat makes him an above average player. Pat Burrell is the worst defensive outfielder in the majors (according to research by Rob Neyer) and Ibanez isn't close to being as bad as him. He may be a below average fielder but for most teams he would at least be considered adequate.
Posted by: pageian | December 07, 2008 at 11:09 AM
The real problem is the "multi-year contract". Ibanez is 36. How long is "multi-year" for him?
Posted by: A | December 07, 2008 at 11:26 AM
A,
Two with a third-year, performance-based option should be the most he's expecting.
Posted by: ink-stained scribe | December 07, 2008 at 11:54 AM
So, 2yrs @ $6M per + a team option at $6M is too much? It seems reasonable to me.
Posted by: A | December 07, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Reading the article about how Ibanez prepares for the baseball season on the mariners main website really makes me feel like if there was any 36 year old to give a three year contract to, Ibanez would be it.
The guy is a freak who trains obsessively and who is a true student of the game.
Ibanez seems like a great teammate to, i think he'd be a great replacement for Cliff Floyd on the Rays, and would be sure to eclipse Floyds numbers from last year. (plus not get hurt)
Posted by: BaseBallz | December 07, 2008 at 12:20 PM
6 millon per? I highly doubt he makes under 8-12 million unless the team commits to 3 years.
Posted by: chicubs25 | December 07, 2008 at 12:56 PM
The Yankees? WTH for?
Posted by: dproc0219 | December 07, 2008 at 03:16 PM
i'm with you dproc0219, the Yankees are the team on that list that makes no sense. Manny Ramirez should be on the radar long before Ibanez (despite any personal issues) and he's way, way off. I would expect we'd draw the line at 5 OF. Unless the Yankees have a bet with the Nats to see who can have more redundancy in the OF.
The Rays make a lot of sense, especially if he'd take a cheaper contract in exchange for more years. The Rays don't have anybody who's looking like an obvious DH candidate in the system, so far as I know, so he wouldn't be blocking the way for anyone (Pena's the oldest one on the team, Crawford is next I think, and both of them are superb defenders).
Ibanez makes some sense for the Mets, but I would worry about his defense and whether you can put him in LF every day. The Mets also have a lot of money already tied up and they need arms more than bats, honestly. The Phils have a greater need in LF, so that could be a fit. I feel like Burrell is a better fit, though, since he's younger and hits righty. Some support for Utley and Howard would probably be nice.
Cubs need a RF, not a LF, and I would think defense would play a part. Isn't Abreu a better target for them?
-JM
Posted by: jagteq | December 07, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Abreu is horrible in RF. Add in wrigley is the toughest RF to play. Whoever the cubs go after theyve already said they understand they will be safrificing defensive. I think whoever you can get for a shorter period of time has the edge. That should be Abreu or Ibanez, unless Dunn is willing to take 2/3 years to build value and hope the economy improves.
Posted by: chicubs25 | December 07, 2008 at 05:01 PM