The Los Angeles Dodgers signed utility infielder Andy Ibañez to a one-year Major League deal, continuing their offseason focus on depth pieces.
Francys Romero reported the signing on X Friday afternoon. Ibañez, 32, primarily plays second and third base but also made four appearances at first with the Detroit Tigers last season.
He’s coming off a solid year as Detroit’s primary bench infielder, hitting .239/.301/.352 with four homers and 21 RBIs across 91 games. What stands out is his contact ability – Ibañez struck out just 13.5% of the time in 193 plate appearances, well below league average.
The defensive metrics look pretty good too. His six outs above average ranked just outside the top 50 for all defenders last season, which should give the Dodgers confidence using him as a late-inning defensive replacement.
Now that the 40-man roster is full, Los Angeles needs to make a corresponding move. They can designate someone for assignment, release a player outright, or facilitate a trade to open the spot.
The Dodgers also claimed infielder Ryan Fitzgerald off waivers from the Minnesota Twins today. Fitzgerald hit .196 with four home runs in 24 games during his debut season.
Between Ibañez and Fitzgerald, it’s clear the front office is prioritizing infield depth heading into 2025. Ibañez brings veteran experience and solid fundamentals, while Fitzgerald represents more of a developmental play at this stage of his career.
The way I see it, Ibañez fits the mold of what championship teams typically want on their bench – reliable defense, good at-bat quality, and versatility across multiple positions. He won’t wow anyone, but those are exactly the types of players who tend to contribute in October.
