The Athletics have made a bold move by claiming Andy Ibañez off waivers from the Dodgers, according to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR. This move comes as a surprise, as the Dodgers recently signed Ibañez to a one-year, $1.2MM deal, hoping to stash him in Triple-A as a depth option. But here's where it gets interesting: the A's are picking up the $1.2MM bill and adding the versatile lefty masher to their infield mix.
Ibañez, 32, is out of minor league options, which means the Dodgers' plan to sneak him through outright waivers to keep him as non-roster depth might have backfired. He doesn't have the service time needed to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, so if he had passed through waivers, he would have accepted the assignment. But now, he'll head north to West Sacramento and call the Athletics' hitter-friendly temporary digs at Sutter Health Park his home park.
The A's don't have a clear answer at third base, so Ibañez will compete for at-bats there while also providing a credible backup around the diamond. In parts of five major league seasons, Ibañez is a .254/.304/.389 hitter, with sub-par work in right-on-right situations but feasting on lefties at a .280/.372/.452 clip. He'll compete with Darell Hernaiz, Brett Harris, Max Schuemann, and (the other) Max Muncy for time at third base, but Ibañez has experience at second base, first base, shortstop, and the outfield corners, giving him an edge.
Ibañez is the only member of that group of infield candidates who is out of minor league options, so he's very likely to crack the Athletics' Opening Day roster. This move could spark debate among fans and analysts, as some might question the A's strategy of claiming a player with limited options. But with the team's need for depth and versatility, it's a move that could pay off. So, what do you think? Do you agree with the Athletics' decision to claim Andy Ibañez? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
