New York Mets quietly release former Texas Rangers rookie standout

The New York Mets have released former Texas Rangers infielder Andy Ibáñez, according to MiLB.com's transactions log. Ibáñez, 33, had been playing for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate before being cut loose by the organization.

The Rangers signed Ibáñez to a minor-league deal out of Cuba on July 7, 2015. Texas selected his contract for the first time on May 4, 2021. The Rangers optioned him back to Triple-A Round Rock roughly a couple of weeks later, then recalled him a month later. He was with the Rangers for the rest of the year except for an IL stint late in the season.

Andy Ibáñez had a strong rookie season with the Texas Rangers

Ibáñez had a strong rookie year, posting 1.7 bWAR and a .277/.321/.435 (106 OPS+) slash line with seven home runs, 15 doubles, and 25 RBI in 272 plate appearances across 76 games. Unfortunately, he had a second-year slump, posting -0.1 bWAR and a 58 OPS+ over 40 games. He spent most of the 2022 season in the minors.

Despite Ibáñez's strong rookie season, the Rangers placed him on waivers following the 2022 campaign. He was a 28-year-old rookie, so the Rangers were clearly never that high on the infielder, given how long it took for him to make his MLB debut. The Detroit Tigers claimed Ibáñez off waivers from the Rangers on Nov. 10, 2022.

Ibáñez had a decent 2023 season with Detroit, posting 1.9 bWAR and a .264/.312/.433 slash line (103 OPS+) with 11 home runs, 23 doubles, and 41 RBI over 114 games. He posted 1.3 bWAR over 99 games in 2024 but had a poor 84 OPS+.

The Tigers let Ibáñez walk after he recorded 0.7 bWAR and an 81 OPS+ in 91 games in 2025. He elected free agency after the season ended and signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He didn't last long in the Dodgers organization, as Los Angeles designated him for assignment before spring training began. The Athletics claimed him off waivers from Los Angeles. He appeared in just 11 games with the Athletics before being designated for assignment and claimed by the Mets.

Ibáñez played in just three games with the Mets. New York designated him for assignment in May. He cleared waivers and then played for the organization's Triple-A affiliate after being outrighted.

The Rangers shouldn't consider reuniting with Ibáñez, even though he put up decent numbers earlier in the decade. He had a poor .295 on-base percentage over 31 games for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, and there's a reason he has already been designated for assignment three times this season.

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