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| Raul Ibanez fared well in tonight's 3-1 loss in Game 2 of the World Series at New York, as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. |
Our View: The Phillies only mustered six hits in the game, and will try to get their bats going in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. Ibanez is performing better after only hitting .167 over 18 at-bats in the NLCS against the Dodgers.
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| Raul Ibanez will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter in game one of the World Series at Yankee Stadium this Wednesday, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. |
Our View: This means that Ben Francisco will likely be manning left field at new Yankee Stadium.
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| Raul Ibanez provided the big blast on Thursday, as Philadelphia took game one of the NLCS. The 37-year-old outfielder hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning, leading the Phils to an 8-6 win in Los Angeles. |
Our View: The RBI were his first of the playoffs. If his bat gets going, the Phils will be that much harder to stop.
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| Raul Ibanez had another nice day at the plate on Thursday, but this time the Phillies came up short. He was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in their 5-4 loss to the Rockies. The National League Division Series is now tied at 1-1. |
Our View: Ibanez has driven in four of the Phillies nine runs so far in this series and is hitting an even .500. Ryan Howard drove in a run and Jayson Werth hit a solo homer, but Ibanez has had the most productive bat with runners on in the series.
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| Raul Ibanez got the scoring started for the Phillies in Wednesday's NLDS opener. His RBI double in the fifth inning got them on the board and they never looked back, cruising to a 5-1 victory over the Rockies. |
Our View: Ibanez finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. The Seattle transfer ended his regular season at .272-34-93 after a scorching first half and appears to have his bat armed and ready for October baseball.
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| Raul Ibanez finally hit his career-best 34th home run on Wednesday, helping the Phillies to a 10-3 rout of the Astros, and their third straight National League East title. |
Our View: While the 34 home runs are a career-high, Ibanez's 92 RBI are still 31 off his career best of 123 from 2006.
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| Raul Ibanez is back in Philadelphia's lineup today, according to MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki. Ibanez had previously been out with a stomach virus. |
Our View: Plug Ibanez back into your lineup and hope he can add a home run or two to his total before season's end.
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| Raul Ibanez is not in the Phillies' lineup for their Thursday night game against the Brewers. He will be replaced by Ben Francisco in left field. |
Our View: Ibanez has been better in the month of September after struggling through much of the second half, and he is starting to get hot at the right time. The Phils need his bat in the lineup for the playoffs, so they want to keep him fresh down the stretch.
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| Raul Ibanez continued his slump-busting on Saturday, going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. He couldn't stop Philadelphia from losing a shootout 10-9 to the Mets at home, though. |
Our View: After an ugly slump that spanned most of July and all of August, Ibanez has now gone deep four times in the last week, driving in seven in the process.
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| Raul Ibanez hit two of the Phillies' five home runs on Tuesday night, as Philadelphia edged the Nationals 5-3 in Washington. |
Our View: Ibanez now has three home runs in his past two games, and appears to finally be crawling out of the awful, protracted slump he has been in since July.
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| Raul Ibanez went 2-for-4 for his first multi-hit game since August 24th on Sunday, but it wasn't enough, as Philadelphia lost 4-3 in Houston. |
Our View: The two hits still only prop up his average to .216 since the All-Star break. Ibanez owners, the dream has long been owner.
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| Raul Ibanez is not in the Phillies' lineup for their Friday night game against the Astros. Ibanez is being replaced by Ben Francisco in the outfield. |
Our View: Ibanez gets the night off tonight because the Phils are facing Wandy Rodriguez, who is devastating against lefties. He has struggled some in the second half, but will look to heat up again before the Phils head into the playoffs.
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| According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, Raul Ibanez has hit just .179 with only one home run and five RBI since July 27. His average is tied for the worst in the major leagues during that span, and his .292 slugging is the sixth worst. |
Our View: Ibanez has always been known as a streaky hitter, so he's bound to snap out of his prolonged slump soon. Until then, however, it's not worth sinking your lineup waiting. If you have any alternatives, start them instead.
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| Raul Ibanez is not in the Phillies' lineup for their Wednesday night game against the Pirates. Ibanez will be replaced by Ben Francisco in left field. |
Our View: Just a day off for Ibanez today, as Francisco gets a start in the outfield. Although he has slowed down a bit in the second-half, Ibanez is still having a remarkable season for a 37-year-old and he should continue to improve upon his 27 homers.
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| Raul Ibanez is getting the day off for the Phillies on Thursday afternoon. Ibanez will be replaced by Ben Francisco in left field. |
Our View: Ibanez has struggled in the month of August, and the 37-year-old could use this day off. He should be back in the lineup tomorrow, so make sure you get him back in the lineup if you take him out today.
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| Raul Ibanez ended an RBI-less month on Wednesday night, yanking a three run bomb in the fourth inning of the Phillies 12-5 shellacking of the Cubs. |
Our View: Ibanez's average is still below .300 for the first time since very early April, however, and the 37-year-old outfielder could see some extra days off down the stretch as the Phils try to lock up their third straight NL-East championship.
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| Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer off Ted Lilly in tonight's 10-1 win over the Cubs at home. |
Our View: Ibanez has three home runs over six games in July, and is currently ranked second in the NL with 25 for the season. He should remain a strong source for power in fantasy leagues, namely while playing his home games at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.
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| Raul Ibanez drove in two more runs in the Phillies 5-0 victory on Sunday, and now has six in five games since coming off the disabled list. |
Our View: Ibanez's DL-stint did nothing to derail his career year, and he remains an elite option in the outfield in every format.
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| Raul Ibanez provided all the offense for the Phillies on Thursday night, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI as the Phils beat the Marlins 4-0 in Miami. |
Our View: Some wondered how going on the disabled would affect the 37-year-old Ibanez in the midst of his career year. Apparently the answer is not at all. He now has four extra base hits in his first three games back, and doesn't appear to have missed a beat. Start him every day.
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| Raul Ibanez has been activated from the DL following his recovery from a strained left groin, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Ibanez remains set to play in the All-Star Game in St. Louis next Tuesday. He still leads the Phillies with 22 homers, despite not playing since June 17.
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| Raul Ibanez (groin) went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run over five innings with Double-A Reading in his first minor league rehab appearance since landing on the DL on June 18, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: He'll play his second minor league game on Tuesday, rest on Wednesday, and then play again on Thursday before being re-evaluated. It remains to be seen whether or not Ibanez will be able to return to Philadelphia's lineup before the All-Star break, but he's certainly getting closer and closer to a return.
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| Raul Ibanez, who has been recovering from a strained left groin, is set to start his rehab assignment with Double-A Reading Monday, according to MLBblogs.com. |
Our View: Ibanez still has a shot to play in the All-Star Game, barring a setback in his rehab. He is expected to need three games in his rehab stint. He still leads the Phillies with 22 homers despite not playing since June 17.
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| The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Phillies' outfielder Raul Ibanez could return to the team Monday if he plays a rehab game on Friday. Ibanez will need 10-to-12 at-bats before returning, so he will have to play today if he wants to return by the start of the week. |
Our View: Ibanez was supposed to start his rehab two days ago, but he wasn't ready. The Phillies insist he has not suffered a setback, so we will have to see if he is ready to go today. Expect him to be ready at some point next week, barring some kind of serious setback.
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| Raul Ibanez will not be returning to the Phillies lineup this weekend, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The Phils are taking it slow with their 37-year-old star. He will likely be back around the All-Star game, and there is little need to worry about him being out longer.
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| According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Raul Ibanez's rehab start has been pushed back to either Thursday of Friday night. |
Our View: Ibanez has been out the last couple weeks with a strained left groin, and the team wants to play it safe with their new prized slugger. He is eligible to come off the DL today, but that now seems like an impossibility. Don't expect to see him this weekend either. He could make it into the series against the Reds next week, but nothing is set in stone. Continue to stash him on your roster until he's ready to roll.
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| Updating a previous report, Raul Ibanez will not begin a minor league rehab assignment for his injured groin on Wednesday night, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. |
Our View: It is still unknown when Ibanez will begin a rehab assignment or return to the Phillies. Sometime around the All-Star break seems most likely.
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| According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Raul Ibanez is set to begin a Double-A rehab assignment on Wednesday. |
Our View: The team is playing it safe with the surprising slugger. They want to make sure he's 100 percent before bringing him back, so he'll play three or four games in Double-A before returning just to test out his ailing groin. Still, expect him back before the All Star break.
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| As expected, Raul Ibanez will not return from the disabled list when first eligible this Friday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Apparently, "one day he can be doing great, and another day not as great." The Phillies still expect him to start a rehab assignment sometime in the near future, and he is not expected to miss a significant more amount of time.
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| Raul Ibanez took batting practice on Tuesday and also participated in running drills for the first time since landing on the disabled list with a strained groin, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: Ibanez is scheduled to return sometime around July 3, and the Phils are confident he can make that deadline. He likely won't be as explosive as he was before getting hurt, but he should still be a solid choice at outfield in every format.
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| According to the Philadelphia Daily News, an MRI revealed that Raul Ibanez's groin injury is merely a strain and not something more sever. |
Our View: This is great news for the Phillies and Ibanez owners, as he is having one of the biggest fantasy seasons of any Major Leaguer. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, he should be ready to come off the DL when first eligible in early July. Owners can breath easy, as it looks like they have dodged a bullet here.
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| Phillies' beat writer David Murphy reported on his Twitter page that the Phillies have placed outfielder Raul Ibanez on the 15-day DL with a strained left groin. In a corresponding move, the team recalled John Mayberry. |
Our View: Big news out of Philly today, as it looks Ibanez is set to miss some time. Ibanez looked hampered by the injury during his last start, and the team obviously feels he will need some time to heal. We will update his status as more information becomes available, but you should prepare to be without for the next few weeks.
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| Raul Ibanez sat out for the first time in 222 games on Sunday with a sore Achilles tendon according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: So no, Ibanez's missed game had nothing to do with fatigue from denouncing bloggers all week. Luckily for his fantasy owners, he said he should be ready to go on Monday when the Phils play the Blue Jays.
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| Raul Ibanez went 1-for-5 with a solo homer off Daisuke Matsuzaka in Saturday's 11-6 loss to the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. |
Our View: Ibanez is now tied with Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez for the MLB lead in homers with 22. 13 of his homers were hit away from home.
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| Raul Ibanez carried the Phillies in Thursday's 6-3 win at New York, as he went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer off reliever Ken Takahashi. |
Our View: Ibanez collected his 21st homer of the season, and trails only Adrian Gonzalez (22) for the MLB lead. Ibanez has four homers and 12 RBI over 10 games so far in June.
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| Raul Ibanez angrily responded Tuesday to speculation that he might be using performance enhancing drugs and said that "you can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool - anything you can test," according to ESPN.com. He also said he would give back every dime he had ever made were he to test positive. |
Our View: The 37-year-old Ibanez is having a phenomenal season in 2009 and is on pace to set career highs in home runs, average and RBIs.
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| Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Tuesday's 6-5 loss at New York. |
Our View: Ibanez has 20 homers for the season, which ranks second in the NL behind Adrian Gonzalez (22) of San Diego. He also leads the Phillies with 55 RBI, and continues to be among the top acquisitions of the offseason.
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| MLB.com reports that Raul Ibanez has moved into first place in All-Star voting among National League outfielders. |
Our View: Turns out the much maligned fans of Major League Baseball are paying attention after all. Ibanez is a legitimate triple crown candidate in 2009, as he is tied for first in the NL in RBIs (54), second in home runs (19) and ninth in average (.329). Still, he could potentially be a sell high candidate as his career numbers dictate that, even though he will continue to hit well, he will not continue to hit at his rate, especially at age 37.
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| Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Thursday's 3-0 win at Los Angeles. |
Our View: Ibanez has racked up seven RBI over his last three games, and leads the defending champs with 53. He also leads the club with a .335 batting average and 19 homers.
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| Raul Ibanez had another great performance at the plate, as he went 3-for-5 with five RBI in Tuesday's 10-5 win at San Diego. He hit two home runs and a double for 10 total bases. |
Our View: Ibanez ended an eight-game skid without a homer, and now has 19 for the season, which ranks second in the majors behind Adrian Gonzalez (22). Ibanez reached 200 home runs for his career as well.
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| Raul Ibanez didn't homer on Friday, but he still went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the Phillies' 5-4 win over the Nationals. |
Our View: Ibanez has been a monster at the dish this season. He's now driven in 46 runners and has a whopping 17 homers to go with his .343 average. Not a bad replacment for Pat Burrell eh? He's loving the friendly confines in Philly and could be looking at a career high in home runs in 2009.
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| Raul Ibanez 1-for-4 with a solo home run against the Yankees on Saturday, making it four-straight days that he's went yard. |
Our View: Philadelphia's Pat Burrell replacement has been as productive as any hitter in the league so far this year and now has seven homers in his past eight games. While he's very capable of remaining a nice fantasy force all season long, keep in mind that he's reached 30 home runs just once in his lengthy career and has averaged 22 home runs the past two seasons despite receiving an average of over 600 at-bats. Clearly the new home in the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark helps and 30-plus home runs should be expected at this point, but he still could make for a nice sell-high given his astronomical value at the moment.
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| Raul Ibanez will serve as the DH for tonight's game at the Yankees. |
Our View: He will bat fifth in the order against opposing starter Andy Pettitte. Ibanez should perform well in interleague play, as he was previously a member of the Mariners. He has homered in three straight games.
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| Raul Ibanez continued crushing the ball on Wednesday in the Phillies' 5-1 loss to the Reds. Ibanez went 1-for-4 with a home run, a run scored, and an RBI. |
Our View: Ibanez has been even better than the Phillies thought he would be when they signed him, and this lineup is really starting to look strong. With Ibanez added to Howard, Utley, and Rollins, the Phillies are looking like one of the better lineups in the league. They need to get their pitching figured out, but they should be considered a strong contender again this season.
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| Raul Ibanez has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the Sports Network. He earned the weekly honor by leading the majors with 26 total bases. He launched four homers with an NL-high 12 RBI. |
Our View: Ibanez has proven to be a strong replacement for Pat Burrell in the Phillies' outfield. He is currently the league leader among left fielders with a .357 batting average.
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| Raul Ibanez hit his third home run of the day in helping the Phillies to a rain-shortened 7-5 win the the second game of their doubleheader against the Nationals. Ibanez was 2-for-3 in the second game with a home run, a run, and three RBI. |
Our View: Talk about having a day. Ibanez absolutely torched Nats' pitching today, and fantasy owners are reaping the rewards. Ibanez has been a stud all season, and he is finally performing in a lineup with some protection.
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| Raul Ibanez continued his torrid start to the season on Saturday by blasting two homers and driving in four in the Phillies 8-5 win over the Nationals. He was 3-for-5 on the day. |
Our View: Ibanez now has 12 homers and 32 RBI to go along with his .361 batting average, and looks incredibly comfortable in the heart of a very dangerous Phillies lineup. His surroundings in Philly are much more conducive to big fantasy stats and he has yet to disappoint. No longer the silent killer, Ibanez has to be all smiles this season.
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| Raul Ibanez had himself a four hit night on Friday in the Phillies' 10-6 win. Ibanez was 4-for-6 with three runs scored, two RBI, and a stolen base in the win. |
Our View: Ibanez has been everything Phillies' fans thought he would be this season. He is killing the ball, and he is a quality starter in all leagues. Owners should expect the solid numbers to continue from Ibanez all season.
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| Raul Ibanez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. He hit a single and a homer. |
Our View: Six of Ibanez's eight home runs have been swatted at launching pad Citizens Bank Park this season. He raised his season batting average to .360 following today's game.
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| Raul Ibanez kept up his torrid offensive outburst on Tuesday with a 2-for-3 performance and his second home run in two games. |
Our View: Ibanez shares the team lead in home runs with Chase Utley (seven) and they are looking like the new dynamic duo in Philly. He is off to a white hot start in his first season with his new team and looks to be enjoying the cozy confines of Philly's bandbox stadium.
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| Raul Ibanez went 3-for-5 with a grand slam, a double, four RBI and two runs scored as the Phillies beat the Nationals 13-11 on Monday. |
Our View: Ibanez is off to a very good start in Philadelphia as he is hitting .342/.402/.685 through his first 18 games. He has six home runs and is clearly enjoying the powerful lineup and hitters ballpark that he is now a part of. He had 23 home runs and 110 RBI last season with Seattle and could bypass both of those numbers in 2009.
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| Raul Ibanez hit a game-winning two-run home run off San Diego's Edwin Moreno in the ninth inning on Sunday, resulting in a 5-4 Phillies win. |
Our View: Ibanez was 2-for-4 on the day, boosting his average to .386 on the season, to go along with his fifth home run. He appears very comfortable positioned in the middle of Philadelphia's lineup and primed for a fine fantasy season in every category other than steals.
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| Raul Ibanez hit his fourth home run of the season on Saturday in a losing effort as the Phillies fell to the upstart Padres 8-5. He was 2-for-4 on the day. |
Our View: Ibanez has been a bright spot for the 4-6 Phillies. He's hitting .375 and is doing exactly what they expected of him when they signed him away from the Mariners.
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| Life in the NL seems to agree with Raul Ibanez. The outfielder went 3-for-3 with a triple, two walks, and two runs against the Padres on Friday night. He is hitting .361 on the season. |
Our View: Hitting behind Chase Utley and Ryan Howard is a pretty nice place to be. Ibanez will eventually settle into the .290 range, but fantasy owners should be enjoying the hot start.
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| Raul Ibanez hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday as the Phillies prevailed in a 12-11 hit parade. He was 2-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and two walks in the contest. |
Our View: Ibanez seems to quietly put up stellar numbers every season. He goes late in drafts and usually outperforms more than half of the people picked in front of him. Expect more of the same this year.
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| Raul Ibanez was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a run scored and two RBI as the Phillies lost to the Mariners 9-7 on Saturday. |
Our View: As long as he holds up, and he always seems to do just that, Ibanez should be in line for a strong first season with the Phillies. He is hitting .310 with 10 doubles this spring.
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| Raul Ibanez hit his first home run of the spring on Tuesday in a 2-for-5 effort. He drove in three runs in the game. |
Our View: Ibanez has been heating up and raised his spring average to .307 after getting off to a miserable start. The Phillies and fantasy owners are hoping he keeps up his consistent production. They will be expecting 20+ home runs and around 100 RBI. He's done it before, and the Phillies play in a band box, so we think he'll do it again.
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| Raul Ibanez went 3-for-4 in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Red Sox. All three of his knocks were singles. |
Our View: Ibanez raised his spring average to .290, but is yet to collect his first homer. Hopefully the 36-year-old vet will find his power stroke by opening day.
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| Raul Ibanez went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Tuesday's 8-1 win over the Reds. He hit a single and a double, his fifth of the spring. |
Our View: Ibanez averages 25 homers and 112 RBI over his last three seasons with Seattle, and that was while playing his home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. He will now have a much better supporting cast, and will be playing at launching pad Citizens Bank Ballpark. He should be headed for a rock-solid 2009 campaign.
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| Raul Ibanez had an ugly day on Saturday, going 0-for-3 while stranding three runners. |
Our View: Ibanez is only batting .200 so far this spring, but he still has five weeks to pick it up before real games start.
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| Raul Ibanez played well in his first big league spring training game with the Phillies, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. |
Our View: Ibanez has some big shoes to fill as he was brought in to replace Pat Burrell, who hit 33 home runs last year with 86 RBI. Ibanez is a much better hitter for average than Burrell, so he should at least have that working for him.
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| Outfielder Raul Ibanez has officially signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Phillies, MLB.com confirms. "Raul not only brings a big bat to our lineup, but also a terrific attitude to the clubhouse," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says. |
Our View: Ibanez will replace Pat Burrell in left field and as protection for Ryan Howard. The Phillies lineup now features three left-handed bats in the 3-4-5 spots, but the Chase Utley-Howard-Ibanez trio is pretty darn good. Raul should continue to be a solid fantasy outfielder following this move.
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| Raul Ibanez has agreed to a three-year deal worth $30 million to play for the Phillies, according to ESPN. |
Our View: Philadelphia was believed to be his preferred destination, and Ibanez should be a strong replacement in the outfield for Pat Burrell. Ibanez's power numbers should benefit from leaving Safeco for launching pad Citizens Bank Park.
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| The Phillies have raised their interest in adding Raul Ibanez, according to ESPN. Talks between the Phillies and Ibanez's reps are reportedly "heating up," and the two sides are making progress. |
Our View: It is also believed that Philadelphia is Ibanez's preferred destination, possibly because Pat Gillick and assistant GM Benny Looper know him from their time in Seattle.
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| Jayson Stark of ESPN reports that Raul Ibanez is the Angels' top choice if they are unable to re-sign Mark Teixeira. |
Our View: It is also believed that the Angels started negotiating the parameters of a deal with Ibanez, just in case. Ibanez averages 24 homers and 105 RBI over his last four campaigns with Seattle, and would help ease the loss of Teixeira in the heart of the Angels' lineup.
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| Raul Ibanez could be an option for the Angels if they fail to retain Mark Teixeira and lose Garret Anderson and Juan Rivera in free agency, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: Ibanez would help fill the void in the sweet spot of the Angels' order left by Teixeira (and Anderson), as he averages 24 homers and 105 RBI over his last four campaigns with Seattle. He is also notably a .358 career hitter at Angel Stadium.
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| ESPN.com reports that the Phillies, Mets and Cubs appear to have separated themselves from the pack of teams pursuing outfielder Raul Ibanez. Ibanez also is on the radar screen of the Braves and Angels. |
Our View: The Braves pursuit is on hold until they find out whether they can sign pitcher A.J. Burnett. Ibanez remains a mere backup plan for the Angels, in case they cannot re-sign Mark Teixeira.
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| MLB.com reports that the Phillies retain interest in left-handed hitting Raul Ibanez as a replacement for Pat Burrell. |
Our View: Ibanez, 36, batted batted .293 with 23 homers and 110 RBIs overall, playing in all 162 games. The Phillies would be more apt to add a right-handed power pat as both Ryan Howard and Chase Utley hit left-handed.
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| Raul Ibanez has declined the Mariners' offer of arbitration, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. |
Our View: The 36-year-old will net Seattle two draft picks. He has a litany of suitors, including the Cubs and Phillies.
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| Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes Raul Ibanez may be out of the Braves' price range. Rosenthal also does not believe the club is interested in Adam Dunn. |
Our View: The Braves could opt to trade infielder Kelly Johnson to fill a void in their outfield. Ibanez was offered arbitration by Seattle, so Atlanta would have to part with draft picks to sign him.
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| As expected, the Mariners have offered Raul Ibanez salary arbitration, according to the News Tribune. |
Our View: Ibanez now has a week to accept or decline the offer of arbitration. Close to a dozen teams are interested in the Type-A free agent, and the Mariners will receive two draft picks if he declines their arbitration offer and inks with a new club.
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| The Rays have garnered interest in free agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, according to the St. Petersburg Times. |
Our View: Ibanez will have a high price tag, but would be a solid fit to fill a void in the Rays' outfield. His power numbers would likely improve while leaving Safeco for the more hitter-friendly Tropicana Field. His RBI totals would remain steady as well in an efficient Rays' lineup.
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| The Mariners are likely to offer Raul Ibanez arbitration, according to their official team website. |
Our View: That still wouldn't guarantee that the productive outfielder would be back with Seattle in 2009. The move would guarantee the club to receive two compensation draft picks if the 36-year-old signs with another MLB club. Ibanez is on the radar of several clubs, including the Mets and Phillies.
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| The Mets are interested in free agent Raul Ibanez, according to the New York Daily News. This fact was confirmed by Mets GM Omar Minaya, although he stated that pitching is the top priority. |
Our View: Ibanez could add to an already potent offense for the Mets. He would likely replace outfielder Angel Pagan in left field and possibly the seven slot in the order. When a team can put a 23-home run hitter in the seven hole, they're doing pretty well.
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| Manager Lou Piniella prefers adding a productive bat for the middle of the order over a leadoff hitter, and praised Raul Ibanez, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Piniella said, "Raul can hit, there's no question. He's a professional bat, and he's that type of hitter that we're alluding to. And he's a great guy, no question. I like the guy. He's a professional hitter; he plays hard; he's a good player."
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Our View: Ibanez would enjoy a boost in his power numbers while leaving Safeco for Wrigley Field, and his RBI totals would likely increase as well while playing in a much more productive Cubs' lineup.
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| The Phillies have displayed interest in outfielder Raul Ibanez, according to Newsday. |
Our View: Ibanez hits for power and a solid average, and would be a solid replacement for Pat Burrell if he signs with another club. Ibanez is also on the Dodgers' radar as a backup plan in case they can't retain Manny Ramirez.
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| The Cubs covet a run-producing left-handed bat and may target Raul Ibanez, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: He previously played for Lou Piniella, and the Cubs tried to trade for him back in July. They have made contact with him during the off-season.
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| Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik said he expects free agent Raul Ibanez to consider Seattle's offer before deciding to make a move, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Zduriencik said, "We've only talked the one time, but I think the conversation we had was cordial enough. He's going to want an update. I think he will want to know who our manager is before he makes any decision."
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Our View: Ibanez would likely be interested in joining a contender, and also leaving power-sapping Safeco.
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| The Chicago Sun-Times expects the Cubs to target Raul Ibanez, who would satisfy manager Lou Piniella's need for a left-handed hitter. |
Our View: Adam Dunn was also listed as a possible option, whose power would go well while playing his home games at Wrigley Field. Ibanez's power numbers would also benefit by leaving pitcher-friendly Safeco.
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| The Royals view Raul Ibanez as the best fit among free agents for their outfield, but will likely demand $10 million or more to acquire, according to MLBblogs.com. |
Our View: His asking price would need to come down to return to Kansas City. He played with the Royals from 2001-2003.
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| The New York Mets are said to be very interested in acquiring free agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: A former Mariner, Ibanez has been productive in the Great Northwest for bad teams, and will likely be looking for a change of scenery. He hit .293 with 23 home runs and 110 RBI last year.
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| Raul Ibanez, filed for free agency Thursday, according to the Mariners official web site. |
Our View: In 2008 Ibanez hit .293 and homered 23 times. The veteran will be a good pickup for any team.
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| The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are interested in signing Raul Ibanez , who will be a free agent after this season. |
Our View: One of the few things that the Cubs lacked offensively this year was pop from the left side. And while Jim Edmonds rediscovered his power stroke a bit, especially at hitter friendly Wrigley Field, Kosuke Fukudome was a bust after mid-May. Fukudome batted .299 through May, but hit just .141 during the rest of the regular season.
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| The Toronto Blue Jays are rumored to be interested in Raul Ibanez , according to Fox Sports. The Blue Jays were interested in trading for him in July, so this isn't too surprising. |
Our View: The Blue Jays really need to add a bat, as they only scored 714 runs last season. Only Oakland, Seattle, and Kansas City scored fewer in the AL.
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| Raul Ibanez went 0-for-4 with an RBI on Monday night to drop his average to an even .300 on the year. |
Our View: Ibanez has gone ice cold at the plate with just one RBI in his last 10 games and only two hits in his last 28 AB (.071). It's hard to ride a guy who is hitting .300-23-107, but Ibanez needs to snap out of this funk for the owners that are still counting on some production from him.
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| Raul Ibanez had another big day at the plate on Wednesday going 4-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI for the Mariners. |
Our View: Ibanez is now hitting .310 with 105 RBI in what is shaping up to be the second best season of his career (he hit .289-33-123-103 in 2006). Ibanez has now hit at least 20 home runs with 100 RBI in three straight seasons, including 2008, making him one of only two players in the AL to have accomplished that feat (the other is Justin Morneau).
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| Raul Ibanez had four RBI against the Yankees on Saturday night to bring his season total to 101. He hit his 26th home run of the season in the sixth inning off of Sidney Ponson. |
Our View: Ibanez is having a great year but its unlikely many are noticing since he's in Seattle. The 36 year old will be a free agent after the season.
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| Raul Ibanez went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Indians at Progressive Field. All three of his knocks were singles. |
Our View: Ibanez is hitting .470 (8-for-17) over his last four games, with two homers and five RBI. He looks to remain hot heading into the final month of the season.
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| Raul Ibanez went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Friday's 3-2 win over the Indians. He hit a single and a two-run homer as the lone source of scoring for Seattle. |
Our View: He has registered a hit in five straight games, and homered in each of his last two. He looks to remain hot heading into September.
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| Raul Ibanez, a free agent after this season, probably will not return to the Seattle Mariners because he is sick of losing, according to ESPN.com. |
Our View: You can't really blame Ibanez, who, at age 36, is running out of chances to play for a winner. He has been solid yet again for fantasy owners and is likely to continue that next year, no matter where he winds up.
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| As usual, Raul Ibanez and Ichiro were the only Mariners who came out to play in today's 15-3 beatdown by Chicago. Ibanez did his part, with two hits in four at-bats, including his 20th home run. |
Our View: Ibanez has given fantasy owners consistent numbers all year, and he should easily surpass 100 RBI for the season sometime soon.
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| The Mariners and Twins did battle with the sticks today, sharing 33 hits over nine innings as the Twins pulled the exciting 11-8 victory. For Seattle, outfielder Raul Ibanez was the weapon of choice, going 5-for-5 with two doubles on the day, totaling one RBI and one run scored. |
Our View: Ibanez is hitting an impressive .413 through August, touting four homers with 20 RBIs along the way.
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| Raul Ibanez has a great match-up Saturday when he squares off against Minnesota hurler Scott Baker. Ibanez has six hits, including two home runs, in 13 lifetime at-bats against Baker. |
Our View: Ibaniez is having another very solid season, providing fantasy owners with 82 RBI and 19 home runs.
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| The Tigers were unable to reach a deal for Seattle outfielder Raul Ibanez, according to MLive.com. Ibanez, placed on waivers by the Mariners last week, was claimed by multiple teams. The Tigers won the right to exclusively negotiate with the Mariners by having the worst record of teams making a claim.
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Our View: The Mariners wanted top prospects back in a trade and could not reach a deal with Detroit. AL Cenrtal rival Minnesota was also unsuccessful in their bid for Ibanez.
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| Raul Ibanez was pulled off waivers by the Mariners, and he will not be traded by the team, according to the Seattle Times. |
Our View: Ibanez and Ichiro are the two who give the Mariners offense their best chances to score, so losing him would have been tough. As it is, he will stay in Seattle and should continue putting up big numbers.
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| The Mariners and Angels brought the offense to the park this evening as recently waived (and rumored to be claimed) outfielder Raul Ibanez enjoyed a strong night at the plate, going 4-for-5 with one walk, two doubles, and his 19th homer of the season to total two RBIs and three runs scored. |
Our View: We have no confirmation on which team has claimed Ibanez at this time, but he certainly put up some strong numbers to allure the team in question. He's hitting .348 on the month with four homers and 19 RBIs.
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| Raul Ibanez was put on waivers and was claimed, according to FoxSports.com. Though the team that claimed him is unknown at this point, if Seattle wishes to deal Ibanez, they will be able to accomplish that. |
Our View: Without Ibanez, the M's, who are already a bad offensive team, would get that much worse. Ibanez being moved would have a ripple effect on fantasy teams, as it would likely mean Ichiro would score fewer runs.
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| Raul Ibanez hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Dan Wheeler of the Rays to send Seattle home victoriously. The Rays chose to pitch to Ibanez even though hitting behind him was Adrian Beltre, who was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on the evening. |
Our View: Ibanez has had quite the August, and in seven games, he has hit three home runs and drove in 16 RBI. Which should put quite the smile on the faces of fantasy owners who have Ibanez in their lineup.
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| Raul Ibanez followed up his six-RBI night with a five-RBI effort on Tuesday. He went 3-for-5 with a homer against the Twins. |
Our View: We're two days into the week and Ibanez has already wrapped up the AL honors for the period. How do the Twins not know that they should pitch around this guy? The rest of the lineup behind him is junk.
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| Raul Ibanez had a grand slam and six RBI, all in the seventh inning, as the Seattle Mariners staged their biggest comeback of the year to stun the Twins 11-6 on Monday night. |
Our View: Ibanez has found his power stroke as of late. He is 8-for-20 with three doubles and one home run in his last five games.
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| Raul Ibanez had two hits which led to three RBI on Sunday in the Mariners 8-4 victory over the Orioles. |
Our View: Ibanez is hitting .328 with 12 RBI in 16 games since the All-Star break as he continues to quietly go about his business as one of the best third outfielders in the fantasy game.
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| Raul Ibanez will be staying in Seattle. The Mariners and Blue Jays had been close to a deal, but the M's apparently had second thoughts, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. |
Our View: The Jays should have never been in the market for Ibanez anyway, so it's a good thing for them that Seattle had a change of heart.
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| In one of the more bizarre trade scenarios of the day, the Blue Jays are apparently talking to the Mariners about acquiring Raul Ibanez, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. |
Our View: This would make absolutely zero sense for the Jays. Ibanez is a rental player, and the Jays aren't in playoff contention.
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| The Mets don't appear willing to move some of their minor league talent and as a result it does not appear that Raul Ibanez will be going to New York, according to ESPN. |
Our View: The Mariners want Mets pitcher Jon Niese and a second prospect in the deal, but Omar Minaya seems reluctant to give up more of the young talent that they are looking to be a part of the squad in the future.
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| The Cubs are discussing a potential trade for Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez, FoxSports.com reports. |
Our View: Ibanez would be an upgrade on offense, but it would badly hurt their defense. Considering that the Cubs rank second in the majors in both batting average and runs, we'd think defense would be the priority. Ibanez makes sense for a lot of teams but not the Cubs.
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| The Mets have had continued talks with the Mariners regarding Raul Ibanez, but no deal appears in sight, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. |
Our View: The Mets have also supposedly kicked the tires on Manny Ramirez, as well, in their search for a corner outfielder. However, with Fernando Tatis' recent play and Ryan Church's looming return, the club could choose to stand pat.
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| The New York Mets have set their sights on acquiring Seattle outfielder Raul Ibanez now that Xavier Nady and Casey Blake have been moved, according to ESPN.com. |
Our View: The Mets have a need for a bat, and Ibanez could slide right in to left field, giving them another piece to their offense. His fantasy value would increase by getting out of the spacious Safeco, though AL-only fantasy players would lose a bat.
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| The Mets and Diamondbacks are talking to the Mariners about outfielder Raul Ibanez, according to Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: Ibanez would likely come cheaper than Xavier Nady and Jason Bay, as well as a handful of other outfielders believed to be available in a trade.
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| Raul Ibanez is closing in on a home run record at Safeco Field, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He has blasted 60 homers at Safeco, which is only two behind all-time leader Bret Boone. |
Our View: Ibanez has 13 homers so far this season, with two coming over his last six games, both of which were hit at home against the Indians.
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| Cleveland couldn't get the offense moving but Seattle sure did, posting 13 hits (more than double that of the Indians) to earn the 8-2 win. Tonight it was outfielder Raul Ibanez leading the way, going 3-for-4 with his 12th homer of the season, posting four RBIs and two runs scored on the night. |
Our View: Ibanez has hit well, posting a .314 average in June, though is power numbers are down with just nine homers through the start of July.
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| The Arizona Diamondbacks are talking with the Seattle Mariners about acquiring Raul Ibanez, according to the East Valley Tribune. |
Our View: So far it's been a no-go because Seattle wants top pitching, which Arizona isn't willing to give up. It would be a nice get for Arizona, and Ibanez would retain his fantasy value, but the team would not have had to do this had they not traded away Carlos Quentin.
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| Raul Ibanez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-1 victory over the Tigers at home. |
Our View: That was his 10th homer of the season, and his second against the Tigers.
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| Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 and collected his 31st RBI of the season in Thursday's 9-2 loss to Detroit. |
Our View: Ibanez has been one of only a few bright spots for Seattle offensively this season, as he is hitting .291 with seven homers and 32 RBI over 48 games.
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| The Seattle Times reports that Raul Ibanez's eight-game hitting streak ended on Sunday when he went 0-for-2 and walked his final two plate appearances. |
Our View: The streak was tied for the third-longest active streak in the American League. The veteran continues to be one of the few players in Seattle actually contributing with the bat.
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| Raul Ibanez produced his second consecutive three-hit game during Thursday's 8-1 win over the Athletics. The trifecta was his fourth of the year. |
Our View: Ibanez registered an RBI and scored a run in the win. He has driven in at least one run in six of his last seven games and is batting .455 (15-for-33) with three home runs and 12 RBI over his last eight games.
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| Raul Ibanez continues to rip the ball as he had three more hits, with two runs and an RBI on Wednesday night. |
Our View: Ibanez now has 15 RBI in 16 games for the Mariners, not to mention the fact that he is hitting .323 in a tremendous start to the fantasy season.
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| Raul Ibanez has tied a team record as he racked up three RBI in three straight games, according to MLB.com. He has 13 RBI overall, in 13 games. |
Our View: He will look to extend the streak tonight against Royals' righty Zack Greinke, who is 2-0 with an imposing 0.60 ERA. Keep him in your lineups while he's hot.
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| Raul Ibanez continues to try and carry the middle of the Mariners offense by himself. He went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI on Sunday. Ibanez has driven in 13 runs thus far. |
Our View: Raul is showing no signs of slowing down, and there is no reason he can't drive in over 100 runs for the third straight year.
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| In what is becoming a nightly occurrance, Raul Ibanez was the Mariners hitting star on Saturday night as he went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. |
Our View: That's five home runs and 10 RBI in 12 games on the year giving Ibanez an amazing total of 20 HR in his last 67 games dating back to last season.
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| Raul Ibanez had a big time night on Friday as he went 3-for-4 with two home runs for the Mariners. Ibanez also scored three times and knocked in three runs as he upped his average to .300 after starting the year 3-for-20. Ibanez continues to march along as one of the least respected run producers in the fantasy game. |
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| After a slow start to the season, Raul Ibanez now has two HR and five hits in his past two games thanks to a two hit, two RBI outing on Monday against the Orioles. One of the most overlooked bats in the game, all Ibanez does is produce solid number as he has hit at least .280 with 89 RBI in each of the past three seasons. Look for more of the same this year. |
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| Raul Ibanez went 3-for-4 with a home run in Sunday loss to the Orioles. The effort was one of desperation by Ibanez who came into the Sunday affair hitting just .167 through the first five games of the regular season. Ibanez's fantasy value spiked some this spring after the veteran outfielder put together a solid second half (.309-15-52) in his 2007 campaign. |
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| Raul Ibanez went 0-for-3 on Saturday and now sits at .167 with only one RBI in five games. Ibanez continues to be one of the most overlooked bats in the outfield as he has hit .290 with 228 RBI the past two seasons for the Mariners, so look for him to snap out of this mini funk soon. |
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| Raul Ibanez went 2-for-4 with three RBI against Arizona Wednesday night. He now has 12 RBI for the spring, and raised his average to .256. |
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| The Cubs are still most interested in bringing in Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to play right field, but if that doesn't work out, they could pursue a trade for Raul Ibanez, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The team is desperate for a left-handed hitting outfielder, and although Ibanez is a poor defender, he would fit nicely in the middle of their lineup. |
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| Raul Ibanez had a grand slam and five RBI in Tuesday's win over Oakland, giving him 19 homers and 100 RBI on the year. Not bad production for the veteran, given that Ibanez had just one homer and 29 RBI at the end of May. |
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| Raul Ibanez hit his fifth homer in as many days in Saturday's victory over the White Sox. The power surge came out of nowhere for Ibanez; he had a streak of 116 homerless at-bats before breaking through. |
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| Raul Ibanez hasn't homered since June 23, a stretch of 104 at-bats. He has just six homers and a .389 slugging percentage on the season. |
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| Raul Ibanez was given a routine night off Wednesday, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. He made a pinch-hitting appearance in the eighth inning, grounding out. |
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| Raul Ibanez has been taking it easy with his strained hamstring. He has played mostly at DH since returning to the lineup, as he is still dealing with lingering pain from the injury, according to the Seattle Times. Ibanez is changing the way he runs in an effort to put less stress on his leg. "I'm trying to be more efficient with my strides," he said. "I have to make sure I stay short and compact. Hitting, running, fielding, throwing, all of that stuff — it's all coordination. It's getting your muscles firing in the right sequence." |
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| Raul Ibanez returned as the DH on Sunday after missing six games with a strained right hamstring, according to the AP. He went 1-for-5 in his return. Ibanez thinks he'll be able to play the outfield on Monday. |
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| Raul Ibanez missed his third straight game on Tuesday with a tight right hamstring, according to the AP. Ibanez said he still has tightness in the muscle, but it's coming along "nicely." Manager Mike Hargrove expects Ibanez to return in Friday's series opener against Toronto. |
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| Raul Ibanez was out again on Monday with a strained right hamstring sustained in Saturday's win over Cincinnati. He is expected to be out at least until Wednesday. |
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| Raul Ibanez missed Sunday's game due to a strained hamstring sustained the day prior, according to the Seattle Times. He's not expected to return until at least the weekend series against the Blue Jays, so get him out of your lineup. |
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| Raul Ibanez is still feeling some soreness from the stiff back that kept him out of the lineup for a week. The team's medical staff has told Ibanez to stand and breathe a certain way so as not to put added strain on his back when waiting in the on-deck circle or chatting around the batting cage, according to the Seattle Times. "They've taught me a few things, a few ways to protect it a little bit," he said. "So when I'm standing around, I'm just trying to keep my core drawn in. You exhale your breath and then suck your stomach in." |
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| Raul Ibanez was not in the starting lineup Thursday for the seventh time in the Mariners' past eight contests. However, he's expected to return from his sore lower back for Friday's game, according to the AP. "He's better today," manager Mike Hargrove said. "I think he'll be ready to go tomorrow. We just wanted to give the extra day, especially on this (Tropicana Field) turf." It's probably better that Ibanez and the M's are being cautious with his return. Ideally, he'll come back Friday and stay in the lineup. |
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| Raul Ibanez, who has been out of the starting lineup five of the last six games with a sore back, could return on Wednesday, according to the AP. Willie Bloomquist, Jason Ellison and Ben Broussard have all seen time in left field with Ibanez ailing. |
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| Raul Ibanez, who has a sore lower back, may return to the lineup in the next day or two, according to the AP. His back has bothered him since the Mariners flew from Detroit to Seattle earlier this month. Ibanez played on Friday, which only made the condition worse, manager Mike Hargrove said. |
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| Raul Ibanez missed his second straight game Sunday with soreness in his lower back. "It's significantly better than (Saturday)," Ibanez said in the AP. "It doesn't bother me on my swings. It's just running and standing around." It's not clear when Ibanez will return to action. |
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| Raul Ibanez did not start Saturday because of lower-back pain, the second time in three nights he's been out of the lineup due to this. He's considered day-to-day.
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| Raul Ibanez was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to lower back pain. He entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter and struck out, but he did not play the field, according to the Seattle Times. It's unclear if this injury will force the outfielder to miss any more time, although it appears to be a minor issue. |
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| Raul Ibanez was pulled from yesterday's exhibition game after tweaking his shoulder in the sixth inning, according to the Seattle Times. At this point, the Mariners consider Ibanez to be day-to-day. |
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