Andy Ibáñez’s odyssey since Tigers release continues with new west coast deal

Andy Ibáñez used to be beloved in Detroit. It wasn't just for his bases-clearing, game-winning double off of Josh Hader in the 2024 Wild Card; he was uncannily good against left-handed pitchers all season, which the Tigers desperately needed as their key lefties (Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter) struggled.

But last year, all of Ibáñez's magic escaped him, and the Tigers non-tendered him in November. He took a somewhat bewildering journey in the months that followed; the Dodgers signed him to a major league deal, but DFA'ed him to make room for a waiver claim. They probably hoped they could sneak him through waivers, but the Athletics picked him up, only to DFA him shortly thereafter.

The Mets took a chance on him but they, too, DFA'ed him less than two weeks later. He went unclaimed this time, so New York sent him to Triple-A, where he missed most of July with an injury before the organization released him on Aug. 13.

His latest move takes him back out to the west coast. Per Francys Romero, the Mariners have reportedly signed him to a minor league deal which has yet to be finalized.

Former Tigers fan favorite Andy Ibáñez reportedly signs minor league deal with Mariners

Ibáñez epitomized a kind of Tigers baseball that's quietly going by the wayside. Ever since they DFA'ed Jahmai Jones, Ibáñez's heir-apparent the lefty killer role who lost his spark this season, AJ Hinch's finger has been off his typically hairpin trigger. He still likes a pinch-hitter here and there — Colt Keith has been the greatest victim of the late-game pull — but he's also working with a healthier and quickly improving lineup, loaded with rookies who are living up to their potential.

If Kerry Carpenter makes it back from the IL this season, we might see more of the usual Hinch style, but as things have been lately, most of Detroit's core batters start the game in the lineup and end it there. Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, and Dillon Dingler have all become fixtures. Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres, and (like it or not) Javy Báez already were.

This might be the biggest representation of the Tigers' improvements this season, despite their still-below-.500 record. It makes the age of Ibáñez and Jones look very much like a transition period while Scott Harris was waiting for his vision to be realized.

Tigers fans will always have some lingering fondness for Ibáñez, but we can also be glad that era might be over.

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