 |
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Ibanez: 'I'm so excited'
Former Royal may muddle outfield picture
After three successful seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Raul Ibanez is a Mariner again.
"It was one of those moments you remember where you were when it happened," Ibanez said, referring to his agent's phone call telling him the Mariners wanted to sign him.
 | ||
 | AP | |
| Free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez holds his 2-year-old son, Raul Jr., while addressing the media after the Seattle Mariners announced signing him to a $13.25 million, three-year contract. Ibanez, who came up in Seattle's system from 1996-2000, blossomed over the past two years in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey) | ||
Ibanez was in the parking lot of a Toys-R-Us in Miami.
"I'm so excited and thankful to get the opportunity to come back here."
Bill Bavasi made official yesterday his first free-agent signing as executive vice president and general manager. The Mariners and the 32-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder agreed to a three-year deal. Ibanez rejected a reported offer offers by Kansas City, and declined interest by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ibanez played left field for the Royals and hit fourth or fifth, posting a .294 average over the past two seasons with 42 home runs and 193 runs batted in.
"Raul is a perfect fit for our ballclub. He's got a great swing for our stadium, and I'm glad we were able to bring him back," manager Bob Melvin said in a statement.
Ibanez's arrival puts in question the status of the Mariners outfield.
The options include keeping Ichiro Suzuki in right, moving Randy Winn to center, where he played as a Devil Ray, and putting Ibanez in left. Or, Seattle could re-sign center fielder Mike Cameron and put Winn on the trading block.
Bavasi has expressed interest in keeping free agent Cameron. Winn is eligible for arbitration that could push his 2004 salary to $5 million.
"I wouldn't say we're one-offing anyone here. The effort is to add offense and (Ibanez) is almost made for the offense (in Seattle)," Bavasi said yesterday as he joined Ibanez, Ibanez's wife, Teryvette, and their 2-year-old son R.J. at Safeco Field. "This was an independent move and there's a long way to go before this gets settled."
The Mariners drafted Ibanez in the 36th round in 1992. He made his major-league debut in 1996. He bounced between Seattle and Class AAA affiliate Tacoma for four years before signing as a free agent with the Royals in 2001.
Ibanez was put on waivers after his first season with the Royals.
"I did spend some time with (Royals hitting instructor Kevin Seitzer) when I was on waivers, working on the mental part and approach kind of stuff," Ibanez said. "Then someone got hurt and I had the opportunity to play (every day) so it was a matter of getting the opportunity to play and staying stubborn."
Ibanez has had success hitting at Safeco Field, averaging .381 with five home runs, including the first grand slam at the park.
"It just feels wide open. It's a mental thing, I get in the box and am comfortable," he said.
Not only is Safeco a good fit, the community suits his family.
"When my husband was coming up through the system here we made a lot of friends, like the Moyers and Wilsons and Buhners, that we have always kept in touch with," said Teryvette, who is due with the couple's first daughter in January.
"When they're on the road, it's nice to have friends who feel like family. And expecting, I am happy to have that family around, too."
NOTE: Steve Peck was named the new advance scout for the Mariners, vice president of scouting Roger Jongewaard said yesterday. Peck replaces Stan Williams, who joined Lou Piniella's staff in Tampa Bay.
Peck, a former minor league pitcher, has been with the Mariners organization since 1996.
WELCOME BACK
In nine games against the Mariners last season, Raul Ibanez hit for a .411 average (14-for-34) and drove in seven runs. Ibanez is a career .388 hitter against current Mariners pitchers and takes particular delight in feasting on Freddy Garcia. Ibanez has an astonishing 13 hits in 18 at-bats (.722 average) against Garcia. Ibanez vs. current Mariners pitchers:
| PITCHER | AB | H | HR | RBI | AVG. |
| Freddy Garcia | 18 | 13 | 0 | 9 | .722 |
| Ryan Franklin | 13 | 5 | 2 | 5 | .385 |
| S. Hasegawa | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | .375 |
| Jamie Moyer | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .222 |
| Gil Meche | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| Joel Pineiro | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| Kazuhiro Sasaki | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .200 |
| Arthur Rhodes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Total | 67 | 26 | 4 | 20 | .388 |
How Ibanez's career batting average against current Mariners pitchers compares with his average against all other active major league pitchers:
| OPPONENT | AB | H | AVG. |
| Mariners | 67 | 26 | .388 |
| All others | 1,207 | 324 | .268 |
My web site
My Yahoo!
Google
· Indians to use four pitchers as closers
· Soriano homers twice in Cubs win
· Giants' managing partner retiring
· Braves send A's to fourth consecutive loss
· Phillies' Werth hits 3 homers, drives in 8
· White Sox abruptly fire three scouts after MLB investigation
· Mariners notebook: Bedard offers no excuses
· Rhodes returns to his old form
· Griffey trade won't happen any time soon
· Mariners' pressing issue: Lineup
· Rays top Yanks to keep AL East upside-down
· Baseball Notebook: Drug testing toughened
more· Byrnes breaks out of slump, D-Backs beat Tigers
· Blackburn pitches Twins past Rockies, 4-2
· Hamilton hits 2 of Rangers' 6 homers in 16-8 win
· Kotsay's RBI double gives Braves 3-2 win over A's
· Sonnanstine tames Cardinals in Rays' 3-1 victory
moreAdd your voice to our most popular forum! Take part in our Mariners forum and talk about the team with other knowledgeable fanatics!
Mariners blogP-I staff blog
· Griffey to Seattle? Not so fast
· Mariner exec Shaffer taking a look at Griffey
· Ranger-Mariner basebrawl, part II
Reader blog: Mariner HousewifeWoman’s view of Seattle baseball
· There's No "I" In Baseball
· Throwing In The Helmet
· Bewildering
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
