Ibanez returns to M's

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Ibanez returns to M's
Sources: Bavasi swings first deal

By JOHN HICKEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Less than two weeks after he took the job, new general manager Bill Bavasi today announced his first free-agent signing, getting outfielder Raul Ibanez to agree to return to the Mariners.

Two sources close to the club confirmed last night that Ibanez, who has spent the past three seasons with Kansas City, would be re-introduced to Seattle today.


	Ibanez

Ibanez was with the Mariners in 1999 and 2000, but never got a chance to play steadily. He's blossomed into a star as a regular in Kansas City the past two seasons, averaging .294 both seasons.

For most of that time, Ibanez has hit fourth or fifth in the Royals lineup, driving in 103 runs in 2002 and 90 last season.

He's hit 42 homers during the past two seasons, 24 in 2002 and 18 last season.

The plan is to put Ibanez and his left-handed power in left field, which was patrolled by Randy Winn last season. Winn could move to center field if the outfield remains as is, but Seattle is believed to still be interested in Mike Cameron, the club's center fielder the past four seasons.

Cameron is interested in returning. In a telephone conversation last week with manager Bob Melvin, Cameron expressed a desire to return.

NOTE: This article has been updated since it was originally published in the newspaper.

That story has yet to develop. But the move to snatch Ibanez off the free-agent market early is a preemptive strike for Bavasi and Co., locking up some much-needed power for a lineup that didn't have enough of that last season.

The Mariners believe Ibanez's left-handed pull swing is ideally suited to Safeco Field. Ibanez has made believers of the Mariners the past three years, averaging .381 at Safeco with five homers. In 2003 alone, Ibanez had a .455 average, and three of his five Safeco Field hits were homers.

A left-hander who has always been a bit of a free swinger, Ibanez nonetheless has developed some patience, posting on-base percentages between .345 and .353 the past three seasons.

Ibanez, who made $3 million last year with Kansas City, could have gone back to the Royals, who made it clear they wanted him. Los Angeles was interested, too, but the Dodgers, Bavasi's former employer, wanted to wait to see how the market developed.

Bavasi and his crew opted not to wait, offering a multiple-year package to Ibanez, who always said he liked playing in Seattle and regretted having to leave.

Ibanez made it to the majors with the Mariners in 1996 and spent parts of five seasons with Seattle.

P-I reporter John Hickey can be reached at 206-448-8004 or johnhickey@seattlepi.com

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