5:15pm: The Angels are talking with Ibanez but there's no deal yet, tweets Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. GM Jerry Dipoto has said that the Halos aren't closing in on a deal with anyone.
5:01pm: Raul Ibanez appears headed for a deal with the Angels, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It would seem that Ibanez signing with the Halos is a ripple effect of the Corey Hart signing and the Mark Trumbo trade, Stark adds.
Ibanez, 41, has picked up interest from the Yankees, Rockies, Braves, Mariners, and Rangers this offseason. The Bombers didn't see re-signing the veteran as a top priority, however.
The veteran slashed .242/.306/.487 in 496 plate appearances for Seattle last season. Over the course of 18 big league seasons, Ibanez has slashed .276/.338/.471. Ibanez is represented by ACES, as shown in the MLBTR Agency Database.
Will miss Raul in Seattle. He is a class act and a leader. Good luck Rauuuuul
You forgot about 9 more “U’s”
Interesting..
I suppose they do need a DH without Trumbo. Depending on cost, could be okay. He can still hit decently, just can’t field worth a lick.
Iannetta, Pujols, Kendrick, Aybar, Freese, Shuck/Calhoun/who?, Trout, Hamilton, Ibanez has the potential for an awesome set of position players.
More like they just need PA’s in between Pujols and Hamilton DHing. Ibanez would be perfect for that role. And if he slows down he can just play part time and off the bench.
good player for the angels
Reserving judgment for cost.
Pujols healthy enough to avoid the DH this year? Ibanez makes sense if Pujols has wheels.
Ibanez is old enough that he likely plays part time anyways.
It all depend on if Pujols is pulling a Piano around the bases this year. He’s reported to be healthy. Sure hope so.
Great move. Got two starters for trumbo. Get same player pretty much in return for cheap
I can’t complain. He’s defying the odds of age if he’s not juicing, which I don’t think he is. Potentially a great move, Dipoto.
Mark Trumbo’s replacement is….Mark Trumbo. Plus two young talented pitchers with upside. Not bad Jerry, not bad.
Left handed Mark Trumbo
From my seat, the real Trumbo couldn’t hit a curveball
Funny thing is that Ibanez gets more love for being roughly the same player with slightly less power.
I wouldn’t say that at all. If this happens it will only be a one year deal for a 41 year old. Trumbo has many good years left.
*many more mediocre years left.
As opposed to 1 last mediocre year with Raul?
Trumbo and Ibanez are both awful one tool players. Trading Trumbo lead to Skaggs and Santiago. That’s all that matters.
“That’s all the matters” What? Trumbo is an excellent 1B who will be playing the corner OF well for AZ. Ibanez can’t play any OF and will only be a DH. A good DH, but don’t go telling me he’s better than Mark Trumbo.
Somebody needs to explain to me how Raul Ibanez = Mark Trumbo. ‘Cause I’m not seeing this 42 year old hitting 33 dingdongs in the middle of the order.
I have no idea. I’ll take Trumbo over Ibanez any day. But the Trumbo deal gave us extreme value back.
I hated losing Trumbo…but it was a good deal for us to make. I don’t really care how great a guy Ibanez is. Trumbo was a great guy too. So?
Just for information. 2013:
Trumbo 678 PAs, 34HR, 54BB, 184SO, .747OPS, 109 OPS+
Ibanez 496PAs, 29HR, 42BB, 128SO, .793OPS, 123 OPS+
I assume that Dipoto’s thinking here is that a 42yo Ibanez, a healthy Pujols, an adjusted Hamilton, addition of Freese will make up the difference in HRs, plus they added two young club controlled arms.
“dingdongs” are over-rated.
Problem is, I’m a mathematician. I can extrapolate. I actually watch the games too. Not equal…not matter how much you wish it otherwise. Sorry, man. It’s not about the home runs…it’s about age, expected performance, and these two individuals. If you want to add and subtract, that’s fine…but don’t make it about these two players equaling each other.
Just replied to your post. Ibanez last year had a higher HR rate than Trumbo. I know we’re all attached to Mark, I am sad to see him go too, but to win baseball games you got to have pitching, and Trumbo was traded for just that. I was just pointing out that Ibanez is not an ordinary 42yo and his recent performance compares favorably to Trumbo’s. Never said “equal”, not once.
Ibanez does not = Trumbo but Ibanez-Blanton+Real SP >> Trumbo
Blanton isn’t worth the cost it took to make his uniform.
Great career for a guy that didn’t start playing everyday until he was 29-30.
Raul Ibanez is a great guy and a hard worker.
Angels will be lucky to have him even at 41, he can hit really well.
Makes the Trumbo trade look even better now.
JeDi what are you doing? “This is not the player you are looking for”
So he’s using the Jedi mind trick on himself?
This would be perfect. And if he slows down, they only would need him part time anyways because Pujols and Hamilton likely will need to DH more. The Angels seem to be getting deeper and deeper this offseason.
Trout better watch out, he’s got some competition in the outfield now.
funny
Please don’t let him near the OF, DH is ok.
Why spend $$$ on a DH when you need pitching Dipoto?
Give CJ Cron as shot to fill in for Trumbo…
Ibanez should be cheap, but I totally agree on Cron.
I think the only way Cron starts in the bigs is if he just kills it in ST. DiPoto already said he thinks Cron could help towards the end of the year, but I could see him coming up in May/June if he tears it up
Can Ibanez play 1B? Who’s goign to spell Pujols at 1B? Kendrick? What if Pujols goes down again? Do they rush in Cron?
I’d don’t think they’re “rushing” Cron. Just let him have a shot in spring training. Calhoun can play 1B.
They need some good veteran leadership for sure..
Why do my posts keep disappearing. So frustrating. Shorter version …
Signing Ibanez is a bad deal for the Angels. He can’t field (and that’s putting it nicely) so his value is only with his bat. Steamer and Oliver are both projecting a below league average bat in 2014. The reality is that to be valuable as a DH you need to be significantly BETTER than league average. Ibanez is not likely to do that.
If we were talking about a $1-2M as a flyer then sure – bring him in. Maybe he replicates 2013 and isn’t a total disaster. Anything more than that and this will be an awful signing.
Most home runs from a player that age since Ted Williams (whom he tied)