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Ibanez: FOB

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 12 2008 06:00 AM

as in Friend of Beltran ]Seattle's Ibaņez on Mets' radar for outfield help BY ANTHONY RIEBER | anthony.rieber@newsday.com; Chuck King contributed July 12, 2008 Now that the Mets know Moises Alou isn't coming around the corner, they can turn their attention to trading for a replacement before the July 31 non-waivers deadline. One name on the Mets' radar, according to a baseball official, is Seattle leftfielder Raul Ibaņez. The lefthanded hitter can become a free agent after the season; the Mariners are looking to dump anyone they can in the middle of a miserable season, so the price tag for a rental could be to the Mets' liking. Ibaņez, 36, is hitting .273 with 10 homers and 53 RBIs. He's a Manhattan native and friend of Carlos Beltran, a teammate from their Kansas City days. Beltran sounded very much as if he would love to see Ibaņez walk into the Mets' clubhouse before the end of the month. "He's a great guy," Beltran said. "Love him as a person, as a player. Great guy, great guy. I think he's a great, great player. A player no one really talks about, but he always does his job. Driving in 80, 90, 100 runs, hits 25, 30 home runs, plays hard." Ibaņez's best season was 2006, when he hit .289 with 33 home runs and 123 RBIs for Seattle. Last year, his numbers were .291-21-105. He's making $5.5 million this season and could eventually re-sign with the Mariners as a free agent even if he's dealt.

Nymr83 Jul 12 2008 12:33 PM

i'm studying too much. i thought FOB was "free on board" and the Mets had to pay his shipping costs from seattle.

MFS62 Jul 12 2008 04:07 PM

Strap him to a skid and paste a shipping label on his forehead. I'll gladly pay the postage. LAter

G-Fafif Jul 13 2008 03:16 PM

I thought it meant he was a Clintonite from well back. FYI, Ibaņez drove us not a little crazy during KC's only IL series at Shea in '02: 5-for-12, 5 RBI including a three-run homer off Pedro Astacio in the Royals' sole win. Beltran homered in that game, too.

attgig Jul 14 2008 12:13 PM

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/120665 seems like dbacks are looking at ibanez as well ]PHILADELPHIA - With an eye toward adding a left-handed bat, the Diamondbacks have had discussions with Seattle about Raul Ibanez, who fits the necessary profile, a left-handed hitter who can play left field.

attgig Jul 14 2008 01:13 PM

and from espn ]Even if they did view Ibanez as a substantial upgrade, ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that requests for top prospect Max Scherzer are keeping the D-backs from making any deals. hrm... if they're asking for Scherzer from the dbax for Ibanez... what would they want from the mets?!?!?

Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2008 01:15 PM

Remember, we don't actually have to give them whatever they're asking for. Johan Santana is a Met, and Jose Reyes is not a Minnesota Twin.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Jul 14 2008 01:17 PM

attgig wrote: hrm... if they're asking for Scherzer from the dbax for Ibanez... what would they want from the mets?!?!? Yikes, no way I touch that trade if I'm the Snakes. I'd assume the M's would like at least Fartinez, probably more than that. If that's the case, no thank you.