Royals Should Pounce on Dodgers’ Surprising DFA of Andy Ibáñez
The Kansas City Royals have made real strides in reshaping their roster, but one area that continues to need reinforcement is the bench-specifically, utility depth. It’s not flashy, it won’t lead off highlight reels, but it’s the kind of behind-the-scenes strength that separates good teams from great ones. And with Adam Frazier no longer in the mix, that utility role is looking a little thin.
Right now, the Royals are leaning on Nick Loftin and Tyler Tolbert to fill that gap. Both have shown flashes, but neither has consistently proven they can handle the demands of a versatile bench role at the Major League level. That’s where Andy Ibáñez enters the conversation-again.
Ibáñez, who was non-tendered by the Tigers in November, looked like a logical fit for Kansas City when he first hit the market. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t command headlines but brings real value in the margins. The Dodgers clearly saw that too, signing him to a one-year, $1.2 million deal early in the new year.
But in a bit of classic Dodgers roster maneuvering, they’ve now designated Ibáñez for assignment-just weeks after giving him a guaranteed big league deal-to make room for outfielder Mike Siani, whom they themselves DFA’d last month. It’s a head-scratching move from L.A., but potentially a gift for Kansas City.
This is the Royals’ chance to circle back and take a second swing at a player who checks a lot of the boxes they’re currently missing on the bench.
Let’s be clear: Ibáñez isn’t about to become a starting cornerstone. His back-to-back seasons with wRC+ marks in the 80s tell us as much. But for a team looking to shore up its depth and add a professional, reliable bat off the bench, he fits the bill.
Start with his plate discipline. Ibáñez doesn’t chase pitches, and he doesn’t strike out much either.
His 13.5% strikeout rate and 92.5% in-zone contact rate suggest he’s the kind of bat you want in a late-inning pinch-hit spot-someone who can put the ball in play and keep the line moving. Add in an 18.5% whiff rate, and you’ve got a hitter who sees the ball well and gives you quality at-bats.
Then there’s his defensive versatility. In 2025, Ibáñez logged time at all four infield spots and even dabbled in the corner outfield.
That kind of flexibility is gold for a manager like Matt Quatraro, who likes to mix and match his lineups and create matchup advantages. And let’s not forget-Kansas City still has soft spots at second base and in the corner outfield.
Ibáñez can help patch both.
But beyond the numbers and the positional fit, there’s something else that matters here: postseason experience. The Royals are building toward contention, and when that time comes, they’ll need guys who can handle the moment.
Ibáñez has shown he can. In two playoff runs with the Tigers, he hit .300 with an .800 OPS and a 121 wRC+.
And Royals fans won’t have forgotten his clutch three-run triple in Game 2 of the 2024 AL Wild Card series that helped eliminate the Astros. That’s the kind of moment you can’t teach.
And while he’s primarily seen as a bench bat, there’s at least some upside here too. In 2023, Ibáñez posted a 103 wRC+ over a career-high 383 plate appearances across 114 games. He’s a right-handed hitter with some pop and positional flexibility-exactly the kind of player who could find more playing time if things break right.
Second base is still unsettled, with Jonathan India and Michael Massey both struggling to seize the role in 2025. And the outfield remains a spot where right-handed help is welcome, especially given the team’s recent lefty-heavy lean.
All things considered, this is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. A one-year, $1.2 million deal for a versatile, contact-oriented, playoff-tested utility man?
That’s the kind of move smart teams make. And thanks to the Dodgers’ surprising decision, the Royals have a chance to make it happen-no trade required.
If Kansas City is serious about taking the next step, they’ll see this for what it is: a chance to quietly strengthen the roster in a meaningful way. The margins matter. Andy Ibáñez can help.