The Royals have signed Raul Ibanez to a Major League contract, the team announced. The 42-year-old was released by the Angels last week after signing a one-year, $2.75MM deal with the Halos in the offseason. Ibanez is represented by ACES.
Ibanez didn’t produce much in Anaheim, hitting only .157/.258/.265 with three homers over 190 PA this season. He projects as a bench bat and occasional designated hitter for the Royals, likely spelling regular DH Billy Butler every once in a while against a right-handed starter. Ibanez, while a below-average defensive outfielder, could also see a bit of time in the outfield since the Royals just designated Justin Maxwell for assignment.
While it’s unclear if Ibanez has anything left at the plate, it’s a fairly low-risk signing for the Royals considering Ibanez’s track record, clubhouse presence and the fact that he’s signing for a minimum salary. This is Ibanez’s second stint with Kansas City, as he originally played for the Royals from 2001-03.