The Detroit Tigers have non-tendered veteran infielder Andy Ibáñez, making him a free agent after a deadline on Friday. The move comes as the team tendered contracts to 11 of their 12 arbitration-eligible players. Ibáñez, remembered for his key postseason hit last year, spent time in Triple-A this season.
The Detroit Tigers parted ways with Andy Ibáñez by not tendering him a contract before Friday's deadline, turning the 32-year-old infielder into a free agent. Ibáñez had been a valuable utility player under manager A.J. Hinch, often facing left-handed pitchers. In 2024, he recorded 10 pinch-hits, second in the majors to Randal Grichuk, and hit .292/.357/.445 against southpaws during the regular season.
His standout moment came in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, where his pinch-hit three-run double off Josh Hader marked the first go-ahead pinch-hit in Tigers postseason history and helped secure a sweep. Last offseason, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Ibáñez on a one-year, $1.4 million deal. However, his 2025 season started slowly; he slugged a three-run homer off Carlos Rodón on April 7 at Comerica Park but was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on June 6 amid competition from Jahmai Jones. Recalled in late July, Ibáñez platooned at third base with Colt Keith and Zach McKinstry but saw limited action in the postseason, with just one at-bat and one appearance in eight games.
The Tigers tendered contracts to arbitration-eligible players including AL Cy Young winners Tark Skubal, All-Stars Riley Greene, Zach McKinstry, and Casey Mize, plus Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter. They reached agreements with Matt Vierling ($3,255,000), Beau Brieske ($1,157,500), and Jake Rogers ($3,050,000) to avoid arbitration. Looking ahead, prospects Hao-Yu Lee and Max Anderson, both right-handed infielders, are poised for opportunities; Lee posted a .919 OPS against lefties at Toledo, while Anderson hit .341 with a 1.017 OPS versus southpaws.
Brieske, who earned a postseason save in his debut last year, struggled in 2025 with a right forearm strain sidelining him after early outings. Vierling, limited to 31 games by shoulder issues, batted .239/.310/.307. Rogers, recovering from an oblique injury, hit .187/.277/.333 while backing up Dillon Dingler.