The Detroit Tigers have parted ways with Andy Ibáñez.
The Tigers non-tendered the 32-year-old second baseman/third baseman ahead of the deadline at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, for arbitration-eligible players to be tendered contracts or non-tendered into free agency.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIbáñez is a free agent.
In the past 10 days, the Tigers designated for assignment three other arbitration-eligible players, all right-handed relievers: Tanner Rainey, Jason Foley and Alex Lange.
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Detroit Tigers third base Andy Ibáñez (77) celebrates a Chicago White Sox ground out during the ninth inning to win the game 7-2 at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, April 5, 2025.The Tigers' remaining 11 arbitration-eligible players were tendered contracts: left-hander Tarik Skubal, right-hander Casey Mize, catcher Jake Rogers, right-handed reliever Will Vest, utility player Zach McKinstry, outfielder Matt Vierling, left fielder Riley Greene, first baseman Spencer Torkelson, designated hitter Kerry Carpenter, right-handed reliever Beau Brieske and left-handed reliever Tyler Holton.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThree of those 11 players signed pre-tender deals to avoid arbitration: Vierling at $3.255 million, Rogers at $3.005 million and Brieske at $1.1575 million.
The Tigers began the 2024-25 offseason with 15 arbitration-eligible players.
By cutting four players, the Tigers saved approximately $7.45 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors: Foley projected for $3.15 million, followed by Ibáñez at $1.8 million, Rainey at $1.6 million and Lange at $900,000.
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In 2025, Ibáñez hit .239 with four home runs, 12 walks and 26 strikeouts across 91 games for the Tigers. He also spent 36 games with Triple-A Toledo.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe doesn't have any minor league options remaining.
Ibáñez is a right-handed hitter who specializes in platoon matchups with left-handed pitchers.
Since July 21, 2024, Ibáñez has struggled in his role – hitting just .227 with a .636 OPS in his last 201 plate appearances against lefties. (Before that, he hit .314 with a .915 OPS in 206 plate appearances against them.)
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The most memorable moment of Ibáñez's three-year tenure with the Tigers (and his five-year MLB career) occurred in the 2024 postseason. He delivered a pinch-hit, three-run double off Houston Astros left-handed reliever Josh Hader in the eighth inning of a 5-2 win in the AL wild-card series, sending to the Tigers to the ALDS.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Tigers acquired Ibáñez off waivers from the Texas Rangers in November 2022 in one of the first moves by then-new preside of baseball operations Scott Harris.
Players on the 40-man roster with fewer than six years of MLB service time need to be tendered contracts each offseason. A player must have at least three years of service time (or qualify for Super Two status) to be eligible for salary arbitration.
The eight arbitration-eligible players tendered offers who haven't signed – Skubal, Mize, Vest, McKinstry, Greene, Torkelson, Carpenter and Holton – have until Jan. 8 to negotiate salaries with the Tigers. If the two sides can't agree, salary figures will be exchanged and an arbitration hearing will be scheduled to determine which side's number is closer to the player's value. Teams and players can agree to deals anytime before the arbitrator's decision.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers non-tender Andy Ibáñez into free agency
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