Raul Ibanez heading to Angels

[Mark68]

Like this signing a lot.

His skillset is very close to Trumbo's. Just make sure he stays far far away from seeing time in the field.

Far far FAR away. As in, leave the glove at home, Raul.

[Cdaniel]

As it was stated in the replacing Trumbo article, Freese/Ibanez needs to be greater than or equal to Trumbo/Callaspo on the offensive side assuming Santiago/Skaggs and TBD are better than Vargas/Blanton

Wouldn't Calhon/Freese make up for Trumbo? Then Raul is the icing on the cake

[gotbeer]

Angels To Sign Raul Ibanez

 

 

As Fletcher points out (on Twitter), this move places the Angels within roughly $15MM of the $189MM luxury tax threshold, but that doesn't figure to stop the team from pursuing Matt Garza or Masahiro Tanaka (in the event that he is posted).

 

[Tyler]

Hate to say this, but I do not like this player. Yes he is similar to Trumbo, but remember how frustrating it was to watch him everyday? The money is small, but I'm not a fan of an under .800 OPS guy, who is 41 years old, as the DH, part-time or not. He can't play the field. He can't run. He can't throw. He doesn't have good plate discipline. Unfortunately, he was the best, cheapest, serviceable player available, but I'd rather have filled the DH spot with somebody who can get on base at a respectable clip and drive the gaps. I'd rather see Matt Long as the part time DH over Ibanez. 

[laagamer]

Well at least he'll replace Trumbo's HR production. Honestly, Trumbo wasn't much more than a .250 hitter anyway. I don't see too much fault in this signing, provided it stays cheap. 

[laagamer]

Hate to say this, but I do not like this player. Yes he is similar to Trumbo, but remember how frustrating it was to watch him everyday? The money is small, but I'm not a fan of an under .800 OPS guy, who is 41 years old, as the DH, part-time or not. He can't play the field. He can't run. He can't throw. He doesn't have good plate discipline. Unfortunately, he was the best, cheapest, serviceable player available, but I'd rather have filled the DH spot with somebody who can get on base at a respectable clip and drive the gaps. I'd rather see Matt Long as the part time DH over Ibanez. 

"...not a fan of an under .800 OPS guy..." 

 

Well you're not a fan of most of the league then. 

[Tyler]

"...not a fan of an under .800 OPS guy..." 

 

Well you're not a fan of most of the league then. 

 

Ha, was actually going to edit it out, but left it because of the age part following it. 

[Angel Oracle]

Going over the tax threshold by just a few million shouldn't be an issue, even if doing it multiple seasons in a row. 

Even the 4th season in a row means only 50% of that few million being paid in tax.

[Erstad Grit]

His numbers were even stronger as a DH last year compared to when he was on the field. 

 

As a DH he hit .282 with .977 OPS. 

[xboom28x]

Can't wait to see Ibanez do his best Steve Finley impression for us next season.

[Tyler]

His numbers were even stronger as a DH last year compared to when he was on the field. 

 

As a DH he hit .282 with .977 OPS. 

 

Good that should help his second half numbers in '14.

[fan_since79]

Good signing!

 

He can go from killing us like he has in the past, to helping us get back to the playoffs. I look forward to some nice production from him.

[laagamer]

Can't wait to see Ibanez do his best Steve Finley impression for us next season.

Oh God, painful memories. 

[bloodbrother]

Can't wait to see Ibanez do his best Steve Finley impression for us next season.

 

At least now they won't have Scioscia sticking him in the middle of the lineup far too long in the season because hes' not owed much money. Easy to bench if he's not producing

[Season Over]

Can't wait to see Ibanez do his best Steve Finley impression for us next season.

Except Finley was signed to a more expensive, multi-year deal.

[xboom28x]

Except Finley was signed to a more expensive, multi-year deal.

 

So it's ok to sign a guy for less money if he sucks just as bad? If Ibanez is being relied upon to produce like he did last year for this lineup to succeed, then we are in deep you know what.

[Glen]

At least now they won't have Scioscia sticking him in the middle of the lineup far too long in the season because hes' not owed much money. Easy to bench if he's not producing

 

 

[eaterfan]

So it's ok to sign a guy for less money if he sucks just as bad? If Ibanez is being relied upon to produce like he did last year for this lineup to succeed, then we are in deep you know what.

 

Yes, it matters how much money a player is paid unless teams have no internal budget.

 

This team isn't relying on him to produce like last year. I would be satisfied with an average player 100 OPS+. The best thing about not paying someone so much money is that it's easy to cut ties with them if they don't produce. You think Blanton would be on the roster if he were making $1 million this year?

[Season Over]

So it's ok to sign a guy for less money if he sucks just as bad? If Ibanez is being relied upon to produce like he did last year for this lineup to succeed, then we are in deep you know what.

Finley sucking with his contract is way more detrimental than Ibanez taking his 3 million and leaving after one season.

Obviously it's not ideal for Ibanez to suck, but it's a low-risk move.

[tdawg87]

So it's ok to sign a guy for less money if he sucks just as bad? If Ibanez is being relied upon to produce like he did last year for this lineup to succeed, then we are in deep you know what.

Nobody is relying on him to produce like he did last year. We are relying on him to produce like Trumbo. In other words, a decline from last year.

[Chuck]

Oh God, painful memories. 

 

Trumbo delivered these same painful memories throughout the season, on various stretches.

[DMVol]

Finley sucking with his contract is way more detrimental than Ibanez taking his 3 million and leaving after one season.

Obviously it's not ideal for Ibanez to suck, but it's a low-risk move.

I get that but I would have still rather given those DH AB's to a younger guy.....don't think the odds are good he puts up another good season, at 41....

[Glen]

 

He can go from killing us like he has in the past, to helping us get back to the playoffs. 

 

 

When I said something similar about signing AJ Pierzynski, it didn't go over too well.

[xboom28x]

I'd be shocked if Ibanez hits more than 10 HR's with an OPS above .700

[tdawg87]

I'd be shocked if Ibanez hits more than 10 HR's with an OPS above .700

You'd be shocked if a guy who has put up an OPS above .700 and hit more than 10 homeruns in every year since 2001 does those things again in 2014?

Ok.