Andy Ibáñez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Detroit Tigers infielder Andy Ibanez is a potential option to see time at third base. The Tigers were very interested in signing third baseman Alex Bregman but were unable to close the deal. However, the team will now shift their focus to internal options to cover the hot corner. President of baseball operations Scott Harris said the team has several options, including Jace Jung, Matt Vierling, and Ibanez. Harris noted that Ibanez is a "lefty killer" who plays "really good defense" at the position. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Ibanez's status during spring training, as he could find a role on the short side of a platoon at the hot corner. Facing southpaws last season, Ibanez held a .292/.357/.445 slash line with four home runs and seven doubles. If he performs well in spring training, he could be worth a look in AL-only formats.

Infielder Andy Ibanez and the Detroit Tigers avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million deal, according to sources. Ibanez gets a raise after earning $633,900 in his second year with Detroit in 2024. The 31-year-old veteran from Cuba wasn't quite as good this past season, though, slashing a very mediocre .241/.295/.357 with a below-average .652 OPS, only five home runs, 32 RBI, two stolen bases and 30 runs scored in 99 regular-season games. Ibanez's greatest asset is his glove and his ability to play pretty much anywhere on the infield besides catcher. He also makes plenty of contact with the lumber, but there's very little power to speak. Ibanez will likely be in a utility role again for the Tigers in 2025, which limits his fantasy value to AL-only leagues as depth. He has a career .256/.305/.396 slash line with 24 homers in four MLB seasons.

Detroit Tigers utility player Andy Ibanez came on as a pinch-hitter during the eighth inning of Wednesday's Wild Card matchup with the Astros and broke open a tie ballgame with a three-run bases-clearing double, putting the Tigers ahead 5-2. That would go on to be the final score, securing the Tigers' series win and a date with the Guardians in the ALDS. The 31-year-old hasn't received many at-bats lately, slashing just .174/.248/.239 in 101 plate appearances since the All-Star break, but the Tigers will surely hope for similar results should he get additional opportunities in the next round.