Former Detroit Tigers infielder is joining the Seattle Mariners after agreeing to a minor-league contract.
According to Beisbol FR’s Francys Romero, the 33-year-old utility player has signed with Seattle following his release by the New York Mets. He appeared in 31 games for Triple-A Syracuse this season, batting .269 with four home runs and 18 RBIs before becoming a free agent.
The New York Mets designated him for assignment earlier this week after he fell out of the organization’s plans.
New York had acquired the utility infielder off waivers from the Athletics in April. The Mets then designated Ibáñez for assignment on May 12 before outrighting him to the minor leagues. He ultimately spent time with Triple-A Syracuse before being released, paving the way for his move to the Seattle Mariners on a minor-league deal.
Ibáñez spent much of the season on the minor-league injured list, limiting his opportunities to make an impact. During his brief stint with the Mets, he appeared in three games and went 0-for-6 with two RBIs and one strikeout. Earlier in the season, he struggled to find his footing with the Athletics, going 2-for-17 over 11 games.
At Triple-A Syracuse, however, Ibáñez produced more consistently. Across 31 games, he posted a .269/.295/.429 slash line while recording four home runs, seven doubles and 18 RBIs.
Looking at Andy Ibáñez’s Career
Ibáñez, now 33, reached the majors for the first time with the Texas Rangers in 2021. He put together a respectable rookie campaign, accumulating 1.7 bWAR while batting .277/.321/.435 with seven homers, 15 doubles, two triples and 25 RBIs.
His playing time decreased significantly in 2022, as he appeared in only 40 games for Texas. Later that year, the Detroit Tigers claimed Ibáñez off waivers from the Rangers in November.
Ibáñez enjoyed a productive three-season stretch with the Detroit Tigers, recording 3.8 bWAR across 304 games from 2023 through 2025. After becoming a free agent following the 2025 season, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, his time in Los Angeles was short-lived. The Dodgers designated Ibáñez for assignment in February, and the Oakland Athletics subsequently claimed him off waivers.
Detroit Tigers Right Now
The Detroit Tigers endured a rough weekend at Comerica Park, getting swept by the Chicago White Sox.
At 60-64, Detroit sits just one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the final American League Wild Card position. The Tigers are also 5.5 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central race.
Despite sitting four games under .500, Detroit has maintained an impressive +83 run differential, the second-best mark in the American League. Only the New York Yankees, at +85, rank higher.
