Tag Archives: Raúl Ibañez

Raul Ibanez Named Vice President of Baseball Development & Special Projects for Los Angeles Dodgers

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Raul Ibanez is getting a special promotion…

The Los Angeles Dodgers have rehired the 51-year-old Cuban American former professional baseball player, an MLB All-Star in 2009, as their new vice president of baseball development and special projects.

Raul IbanezIbanez spent the past two years working with Major League Baseball as a senior vice president of on-field operations, reporting directly to executive vice president Morgan Sword — who helped spearhead last year’s rule changes — while working on issues related to rules, equipment and on-field technology.

Prior to that, Ibanez spent six years as a special assistant within the Dodgers’ baseball operations department.

Ibanez’s current Dodgers role is full-time, which means he will relinquish his duties with MLB.

Ibanez spent 19 years in the big leagues, accumulating 2,034 hits and 305 home runs while playing for the Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees from 1996 to 2014.

Ibanez’s most productive years were spent in Seattle, but he made his only All-Star team as a member of the Phillies in 2009 and later starred for them in the postseason.

With the Yankees, he had perhaps the most memorable moment of his career, hitting the tying, pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the 2012 American League Division Series then the walk-off homer in the 12th.

Rafael Furcal Earns First-Ever Spot on the MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

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It’s a special first for Rafael Furcal…

The 42-year-old Dominican former professional baseball shortstop is among 18 newcomers on the 2020 Hall of Fame ballot.

Rafael Furcal

Furcal, who retired from Major League Baseball in 2014, for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. With St. Louis, he won the 2011 World Series over the Texas Rangers. He was the National League Rookie of the Yearin 2000 and a three-time MLB All-Star.

Other newcomers announced Monday by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America include Derek Jeter, Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, Jason Giambi, Paul Konerko, Bobby Abreuand Alfonso Soriano.

Holdovers include Curt Schilling, who received 60.9% last year, Roger Clemens (59.5%), Barry Bonds (59.1%) and Larry Walker(54.6%). Schilling rose from 51.2% in 2018. Walker, on the ballot for the 10th and final time this year, increased from 34.1% in 2018.

Bonds and Clemens, whose candidacies have been tainted by allegations of steroid use, are both on for the eighth time. Clemens rose from 57.3% in 2018 and Bonds from 56.4%.

In all, 10 Latino former ‘ballers made the list… In addition to Furcal, Abreu, and Soriano, former players on the list include Eric Chavez, Raul Ibanez, Manny Ramirez, Carlos Pena, Sammy Sosa, Jose Valverdeand Omar Vizquel.

Ballots are sent to more than 400 BBWAAmembers with at least 10 consecutive years in the organization, and a player must appear on at least 75% to gain election. Ballots must be mailed by December 31, and results will be announced January 21.

Anyone elected will be inducted July 26 along with any selections by the Hall’s modern era committee, which meets and votes in San Diego on December 8.

Players remain on the ballot for up to 10 years, provided they receive at least 5% of the vote annually.

Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez and Mike Mussina were elected along with Mariano Rivera in the 2019 BBWAA vote.

The ballot: Bobby Abreu, Josh Beckett, Heath Bell, Barry Bonds, Eric Chavez, Roger Clemens, Adam Dunn, Chone Figgins, Rafael Furcal, Jason Giambi, Todd Helton, Raul Ibanez, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, Paul Konerko, Cliff Lee, Carlos Pena, Brad Penny, Andy Pettitte, J.J. Putz, Manny Ramirez, Brian Roberts, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Alfonso Soriano, Sammy Sosa, Jose Valverde, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, Larry Walker.

Ibañez Among Finalists for Tampa Bay Rays’ Manager Role

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Raúl Ibañez may soon be taking on a new role in baseball…

The 42-year-old Cuban-American professional baseball right fielder and designated hitter is among the finalists to replace Joe Maddon as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Raúl Ibañez

Ibañez, a Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star in 2009, is up against Kevin Cash and Don Wakamatsu for the role.

Dave Martinez, the Rays’ bench coach for the past seven seasons, was among seven candidates dropped Friday. Also cut were Barry Larkin, Doug Glanville, Manny Acta, Craig Counsell, Charlie Montoyo and Ron Wotus.

Tampa Bay said interviews with the finalists will be scheduled for the week of December 1. Maddon left the Rays after nine seasons to manage the Chicago Cubs.

“The decision on Dave Martinez was especially difficult,” Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said in a statement. “He’s played a key role in our organization’s evolution, and he’s done all he can to put himself in position to be a manager. In the end, we determined that our clubhouse would best benefit from a new voice that will add to our already strong and cohesive culture.”

Ibañez has spent 19 seasons in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels and has 305 homers and 2,034 hits. He helped the Royals win this year’s AL pennant.

Ibañez Agrees to a One-Year Deal with Seattle Mariners

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Raúl Ibañez’s baseball careeris coming full circle…

The 40-year-old Cuban-American baseball star has agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners, according to The Associated Press.

Raul Ibanez II

The deal allows Ibañez to earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses, according to AP sources close to the negotiations.

Ibañez returns to the team he began his Major League Baseball career with from 1996-2000, then rejoined from 2004-08.

Ibañez spent the past season with the New York Yankees and became popular with fans for his late-game home runs. He’d hoped to remain with New York, but the Yankees have moved slowly during the offseason.

Ibañez hit .240 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 384 at-bats. He batted just .197 with five RBIs in 61 at-bats against left-handers.

Including the playoffs, Ibañez hit five home runs that tied the score for the Yankees and eight that put New York ahead, according to STATS.

Ibañez had a $1.1 million base salary last season and earned another $2.05 million in performance bonuses.

Ibañez Hit Two Home Runs to Help the Yankees Beat the Orioles

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Raúl Ibañez has proven to be a smashing substitute…

The 40-year-old Cuban American New York Yankees slugger hit a ninth-inning home run while pinch hitting for Alex Rodriguez, then smacked a leadoff homer in the 12th, giving the his team a stunning 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night to take a 2-1 lead in their American League division series.

Raúl Ibañez

Ibañez homered to right-center with one out in the ninth inning off major league saves leader Jim Johnson to tie the game at 2. He then hit the first pitch from Brian Matusz leading off the 12th. 

Baltimore had won 16 straight extra-inning games, and had been 76-0 when leading after seven, before the Yankees took them down.

“It was a great experience. We do it as a team. We stay after it,” said Ibañez. “I’m blessed to come up and have the opportunity like that. We do it together. It’s about a team and about winning.”

Ibañez became the 11th different Yankees player to hit a walk-off home run in the postseason. Overall, it’s the franchise’s 12th postseason walk-off homer and the first since 2009.