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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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Sometimes in Major League Baseball, even the best-laid plans get spoiled.
The Los Angeles Dodgers knew they would have a tough time keeping veteran utility infielder Andy Ibáñez on their 40-man roster, but they signed him to a guaranteed $1.2 million deal anyway on Jan. 13. The thought was that if the Dodgers needed Ibáñez's 40-man spot for someone else, they could sneak him through waivers because of the extra money a claiming team would have to assume.
However, as it turned out, that money was no impediment to the Athletics.
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According to a Friday report from independent reporter Francys Romero, Ibáñez was claimed by the Athletics off waivers. He'll still be owed his full $1.2 million salary and retain his 40-man roster spot with the new club, and to the Dodgers, it's like he practically never arrived.
In 91 games for the Detroit Tigers last season, Ibáñez slashed .239/.301/.352 and collected four home runs with 16 RBIs. He was worth 3.9 bWAR in his three total seasons with the Tigers, peaking at 1.9 bWAR in 2023.
Los Angeles designated Ibáñez for assignment to claim outfielder Michael Siani from the New York Yankees on Tuesday. But Siani had already been claimed by the Yankees from the Dodgers themselves on Jan. 23.
In a way, it's back to square one for the Dodgers in terms of who they had and didn't have in early January. And regardless of whether Siani, Ibáñez, or any other fringe 40-man veterans stuck around, Los Angeles was always going to be the early World Series favorite.
But role players still matter to every juggernaut team, and we'll find out eventually if the Dodgers regret letting Ibáñez go in such a casual manner.
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