Raul Ibanez News: Pro Sports Daily

Ibanez downplays report saying he has torn abdominal muscle

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October 26

Philadelphia Daily News

"Raul Ibanez did not rule out the possibility of offseason surgery yesterday, but did not discuss in detail the injury that has hampered him throughout the season. Ibanez, who hit just .232 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI after spending nearly a month on the disabled list with what the Phillies termed a strained groin in June and July, reiterated what he has said throughout the second half of the season: that he is physically "fine."But a report in Sports Illustrated this week said Ibanez is playing with a torn muscle in his lower abdomen that forced him to see a specialist in Toronto in June. The report said that Ibanez opted against surgery, choosing instead to pursue an aggressive ..."

Ibanez insists he is not playing hurt

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October 26

Camden Courier-Post

"There's considerable evidence, accumulated anecdotally over the past 3 1/2 months and published last week in a national magazine, to suggest Raul Ibanez has been adversely affected by a lingering, and potentially serious, groin injury. Just don't tell Ibanez. "No, I'm fine. I'm doing fine," he said Sunday at Citizens Bank Park after the Phillies took batting practice, played in a simulated game and did anything they could to remain sharp for the World Series. Ibanez, the Phillies' 37-year-old left fielder, is focused like a laser. It's a quality that seems to have stemmed from spending 10 seasons in the minors, getting designated for assignment twice and nearly having to continue his ..."

Utley and Ibanez not about to sit

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October 26

Camden Courier-Post

"Nobody knew for sure that Chase Utley had a hip injury last year until the offseason when the Phillies announced that he was undergoing hip surgery and might not be ready for the start of the season. Sure, it was easy to speculate that he was hurt. But Utley would never utter a word about it. He kept playing all the way through the World Series. That brings us to this season. It has been speculated that Utley has an injured foot after fouling a pitch off it against Houston on Sept. 4. It has also been speculated that his hip might be bothering him, too. Raul Ibanez, meanwhile, went on the disabled list in June with a groin injury. He clearly hasn't been the same hitter upon returning on ..."

Ibanez might need off-season surgery

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October 26

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Phillies leftfielder Raul Ibanez might need off-season surgery on a small muscle tear near his abdomen. "I don't know, we'll see what happens," Ibanez said reluctantly yesterday when questioned about an article in Sports Illustrated that reported that Ibanez put off surgery in late June. Ibanez would not say that the lingering injury has affected his play. "No, I'm fine," Ibanez said. "I'm doing fine. That's all stuff that's in the past. I spoke to that [reporter] but that's stuff in the past. I don't even think about it. I'm fine right now." The SI report said Ibanez was given the choice to have surgery in June or go on the disabled list to rest and play through the injury for the ..."

Lee, Ibanez fit right in with this Phillies group

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October 23

Philadelphia Daily News

"Men have a funny way of showing affection for one another, especially men who play sports for a living. It is often brusque and never flowery. Basically, if your chops aren't being busted, you're probably not one of the boys.Cliff Lee became a Phillie on July 29 and promptly reeled off five gems. Those performances surely endeared him to his new teammates, who reciprocated when the Daily News featured Lee in two of our popular power pages this month.Sensing an opportunity to have fun at Lee's expense, a teammate tacked the two-page poster up to the humble lefthander's locker stall. It remains there today; a humorous reminder that no one is safe from shenanigans. We kid because we care."I ..."

Phillies Ibañez strikes back

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October 16

Denver Post

"In the end Thursday night, grit won over glitz. Philadelphia's Raul Ibañez, the hardworking, 36th-round draft pick, overshadowed the Dodgers' Manny Ramirez, the slugging drug cheat with dreadlocks. Ibañez is proof that there's nothing wrong with a dream. The lifetime grinder lifted the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Dodgers, his three-run home run the final loop in Thursday's entertaining rollercoaster ride. "My heart is still pounding," admitted Phillies reliever Chan Ho Park. "What a game." Given the quicksand nature of the Phillies' bullpen, it felt like the Dodgers were leading, even when they were trailing 5-4 in the eighth. But everything changed with Ibañez's swing. Facing ..."

Ibanez coming to life for Phillies in the postseason

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October 9

Philadelphia Daily News

"Raul Ibanez led the Phillies at the beginning of the season and he is leading them at the end. Through two games of the National League Division Series, he is hitting .500 with four RBI. He stroked the two-run single in the sixth inning that gave the Phillies life yesterday. He has been here only a year, but it is long enough that you wonder whether he is surprised when that kind of life does not end in a victory."We definitely expect it to end well every time here," Ibanez said yesterday evening, after the Phillies' 5-4, series-evening loss to the Colorado Rockies."Our club is a good club and we play well late in the game," he said. "At the same time, [Rockies closer] Huston Street did a ..."

Ibanez is always prepared

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October 7

Philadelphia Inquirer

"It's another day at the ballpark for Raul Ibanez, and there's nothing leisurely about it.Three and a half hours before game time the 37-year-old leftfielder with barely measurable body fat quickly pulls on his Phillies uniform, and he's off and running. To the training room. To a quiet place where he goes through his daily exercise routine. To the video room, where he studies the opposing pitcher. To the batting cage. To the field for batting practice.Ibanez is nothing if not a fanatic about preparation."There are some players who are just natural and have the ability to just go out and play," said Pat Gillick, senior adviser to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and the GM at ..."

Phils don't plan to bench Ibanez

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September 6

Camden Courier-Post

"During the last week of June, when shortstop Jimmy Rollins was stuck in a career-worst slump, he was benched for four games and even told to sit out batting practice, a strategy designed to clear his mind. Left fielder Raul Ibanez isn't getting the Jimmy Rollins treatment. But Ibanez, hitless in 14 at-bats and 10-for-78 (.128) with one home run in his last 32 games (113 at-bats), wasn't in the Phillies' lineup Friday night for the opener of a four-game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Manager Charlie Manuel said it was a routine night off for his struggling left fielder against tough Houston lefty Wandy Rodriguez. "It's two different situations," Manuel said, ..."

Slumping Ibanez given the night off for Phillies

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September 5

Philadelphia Daily News

"Charlie Manuel is kind of stuck.He knows that the only way slumping Raul Ibanez will find his groove again is to play. He also knows that going out night after night without having some success can become a mental anchor.So, for the seventh time since Ibanez came off the disabled list with a strained left groin, the manager posted a lineup last night that didn't have his regular leftfielder in it. Ben Francisco got the start in that spot."Raul's had some down time. That might be one of his problems," Manuel said. "At the same time, he's been struggling. I think he definitely needs to play in a game to get out of it. In a game's where you get your timing. You can go back and take all the ..."

Ibanez confident he'll regain stroke

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August 22

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Raul Ibanez said he has been through worse slumps than the one he is now enduring, and each time he has figured out the problem. So, based on his experience, the Phillies' 37-year-old leftfielder believes it's just a matter of time before he regains the stroke that made him the club's best hitter over the first three months of the season. "It's going to be back," Ibanez said yesterday before the Phils concluded a three-game series against Arizona at Citizens Bank Park. "It's a six-, seven-month season, and I'd rather go through it now than later. You're always one good swing away. It's never as bad as it looks." Charlie Manuel decided to give Ibanez a rest last night, starting Ben ..."

Phillies' Ibanez still has what Cubs want

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July 22

Chicago Sun-Times

"Speaking of Raul Ibanez, how has that whole left-handed-hitting thing worked out for the Cubs since they rearranged a division-champion roster to fit Milton Bradley in? Four months and $30 million later, well ... ''Look, we still need a left-hand bat that can hit in our lineup and drive in runs,'' manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday. It seems $30 million doesn't go as far as it used to -- unless you're the Philadelphia Phillies, who gave the same three-year total to Ibanez that the Cubs gave to Bradley, becoming more aggressive when the Cubs expressed some interest in Ibanez early in free agency. By Monday night, the switch-hitting Bradley was hitting a tense .201 against right-handers and ..."

Phillies' Raul Ibañez comes home with the road team

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July 16

Miami Herald

"''It was a list of his goals, the dreams he hoped to achieve in baseball,'' said Lopez, who grew up with Ibañez's older brothers, Tony and Armando, and now is the football coach at Doral Reagan High. ``It's amazing, after all the years, all the sacrifice, all the hard work -- I think he might be close to checking them all off. Who would have ever believed it?'' Ibañez could be the best story of perseverance in baseball today. After 14 years in the majors, he played in his first All-Star Game at 37 on Tuesday night. The next goal could be a World Series ring. On Thursday, Ibañez will be back home in South Florida with the world-champion Phillies for an important four-game series with the ..."

Raul Ibanez gets second rehab start

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July 8

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Raul Ibanez said he was "feeling good" after taking the next step in his rehabilitation last night, starting in left field for the triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park.The Phillies all-star, working his way back from a groin strain, went 1 for 2 with a walk in the IronPigs' 6-2 International League loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox. A day earlier, he had gone 0 for 2 with a walk for double-A Reading.Ibanez played five innings for Reading on Monday and pronounced himself pain-free. He was in the lineup for seven innings against the PawSox.The starting pitcher for Pawtucket was righthander Clay Buchholz, an International League all-star who entered the game with a 6-1 record and a ..."

Phils' Ibanez makes first rehab stint

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July 7

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Raul Ibanez went hitless in his first minor-league rehabilitation game yesterday, but that didn't bother the Phillies' all-star leftfielder.Ibanez was thrilled that for the first time in weeks, he didn't feel even a twinge of pain in his left groin."I felt better than I even expected," he said after playing five innings for the Reading Phillies in a 4-3 matinee loss to Connecticut.Ibanez had played with a groin strain for several weeks before going on the disabled list June 18."Back when I was playing, every time I'd move I could feel it," Ibanez said. "I didn't feel anything today. That was good."Ibanez's rehab will shift to Allentown tonight. He will start in left field for the triple-A ..."

Ibanez unlikely to return from DL Friday

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June 30

MLB.com

"Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez said last week that his strained left groin feels much better. But while it has improved, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "One day he can be doing great, and another day not as great. We have to keep our minds open there." Ibanez is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Friday against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park, but that is unlikely to happen. Amaro said Ibanez will see team physician Michael Ciccotti again this week. "We'll re-evaluate him and see whether he's physically able to start some type of rehab," Amaro said."

Ibanez says he's 'feeling better'

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June 20

Camden Courier-Post

"The Phillies said the MRI on Raul Ibanez reinforced their original diagnosis of a strained left groin. Ibanez was placed on the disabled list Thursday and had his MRI later that day. He wasn't available to the print media before the game, but he told a TV reporter: "I'm feeling better. I expect to continue to progress and be back healthy." That was welcome news to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will be without arguably his best hitter at least until July 3. "That's fantastic," Manuel said. "Like I always say, especially with Raul, we want him back as soon as possible. That's good news." That would seem to indicate that Ibanez didn't tear his groin or suffer a sports hernia, which ..."

MRI on Ibanez's injury shows it's just a strain

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June 20

Philadelphia Inquirer

"A sense of relief wafted through the Phillies' clubhouse yesterday after it was learned an MRI on Raul Ibanez showed his groin injury was no more severe than the team announced on Thursday.A club spokesman said before last night's game against Baltimore the results of the MRI were consistent with the original diagnosis - a strained left groin.Ibanez, who ranks third in the majors in home runs (22) and runs batted in (59) and is batting .312, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday. The 37-year-old leftfielder is undergoing rehabilitation treatments."I'm feeling better," Ibanez said. "I expect to continue to progress."Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Ibanez probably won't swing ..."

Phils put Ibanez on DL

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June 19

Camden Courier-Post

"The decision to go on the 15-day disabled list was an easy one for Raul Ibanez As much as he didn't want to disrupt his career season, the Phillies' left fielder was clearly limping Wednesday night when he grounded out in the fourth inning, and he was struggling to chase down balls in the outfield. But it wasn't his Achilles' tendon that was the problem as much as a previously undisclosed left groin strain the Phillies say has been bothering him off and on since April. Once it started affecting his play, Ibanez knew it was time to let it heal. So he didn't try protesting when the Phillies' medical staff recommended that he go on the disabled list. Ibanez and Phillies general manager Ruben ..."

Phils put Ibanez on 15-day DL with strained groin

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June 19

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Phillies are going to have to get through at least the next two weeks without the hitter who has been their most productive so far this season. Raul Ibanez, who was leading the Phillies in hitting (.312) and was second in the National League with 22 home runs and 59 runs batted in, today was put on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said the groin problem began in April but didn't become an issue until the recent trip to the West Coast. The injury became evident during Wednesday night's 7-1 loss to Toronto when Ibanez limped to first base during a double play and struggled to chase down a fly ball. Ibanez is the current leader ..."

Phillies hope Ibanez injury not long-term

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June 19

Philadelphia Daily News

"THE MOST unsettling part for the Phillies had to be the uncertainty when they waited for the results of an MRI that was scheduled to be conducted late yesterday evening. As of the end of the team's 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, the only definite about the ailing left groin of Raul Ibanez was that it would sideline the star leftfielder for at least the 15 days he is required to be on the disabled list.Beyond that?"I'm always pretty confident that it can be fixed," said Ibanez, who is hitting .312 with 22 home runs and 59 RBI. "So I think it will be fixed. That's me talking."Hopeful, rather than confident, is the word that best fit the rhetoric of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. when ..."

OF Raul Ibanez placed on 15-day disabled list

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June 18

Philadelphia Daily News

"Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain, which clearly hampered him during last night's loss. OF John Mayberry was recalled from Triple A. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies medical staff made the decision to place Ibanez on the DL after watching him struggle to move in last night's loss to the Blue Jays. While chasing a foul ball early in the game he looked as if he were running in quick sand, he he was noticably hampered later in the game when running out a ground ball. Amaro said the groin, which is a different issue than the sore achilles he battled recently, has bothere Ibanez since April, but that it had reached a ..."

Raul Ibanez Placed On 15-Day DL

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June 18

Philadelphia Daily News

"Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain, which clearly hampered him during last night's loss. OF John Mayberry was recalled from Triple A. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies medical staff made the decision to place Ibanez on the DL after watching him struggle to move in last night's loss to the Blue Jays. While chasing a foul ball early in the game he looked as if he were running in quick sand, he he was noticably hampered later in the game when running out a ground ball. Amaro said the groin, which is a different issue than the sore achilles he battled recently, has bothere Ibanez since April, but that it had reached a ..."

Raul Ibanez sits one out

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June 15

Philadelphia Inquirer

"After starting 222 straight games, including the first 60 for the Phillies this season, Raul Ibanez sat out yesterday's game against the Boston Red Sox with what he described as a sore left Achilles tendon. Ibanez, who has recently been running with a slight limp, expressed little doubt that he would be back in the lineup tomorrow, when Toronto comes to Citizens Bank Park to begin a three-game series. Ibanez, who has a 13-game hitting streak and is an early-season MVP candidate, said one of the trainers cut a slit in the back of his shoe to help alleviate the soreness. He said he was told by manager Charlie Manuel late Saturday that he was going to sit out yesterday's game. Said Manuel, ..."

Raul Ibanez sits one out

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June 15

Philadelphia Inquirer

"After starting 222 straight games, including the first 60 for the Phillies this season, Raul Ibanez sat out yesterday's game against the Boston Red Sox with what he described as a sore left Achilles tendon. Ibanez, who has recently been running with a slight limp, expressed little doubt that he would be back in the lineup tomorrow, when Toronto comes to Citizens Bank Park to begin a three-game series. Ibanez, who has a 13-game hitting streak and is an early-season MVP candidate, said one of the trainers cut a slit in the back of his shoe to help alleviate the soreness. He said he was told by manager Charlie Manuel late Saturday that he was going to sit out yesterday's game. Said Manuel, ..."

IBANEZ: GOTTA BE THE SHOES

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June 15

Camden Courier-Post

"For the first time all season, Raul Ibanez wasn't in the Phillies' lineup today, ending his streak of 222 consecutive games played. And, as it turns out, it was more than just a routine day off. Then again, maybe it wasn't. After the game, Charlie Manuel said Ibanez has been bothered by a sore left Achilles because of an uncomfortable, new pair of spikes. Manuel noticed Ibanez was limping slightly Saturday night and said Ibanez will get "checked out tomorrow." Asked if he thought it was serious, Manuel said, "I hope not." So, we asked Ibanez about it, and he seemed to think it was much ado about nothing. "It's fine," Ibanez said. "[Athletic trainer] Scotty [Sheridan] cut [the shoes] for ..."

Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez resents steroid speculation

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June 11

New York Daily News

"The words of Tom Glavine still echo throughout baseball Wednesday night, nearly two full years after the two-time Cy Young Award winner spoke exclusively to the Daily News about performance-enhancing drugs - and the cloud of suspicion for years to come. "Anytime you see somebody doing things in this game that nobody else has done, you're going to have people questioning that," Glavine said during a lengthy August 2007 interview at Shea. "You're also going, for a time, to see guys have an off-year or two, then come back and get their careers on track. Then everybody is going to be saying, 'Whoa, what did he do?' It's unfair. It's unfortunate. But things have gone on and, so to speak, we ..."

All-Star votes piling up for Ibanez

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June 2

Philadelphia Daily News

"If voting for the All-Star Game ended today, Raul Ibanez would be a starter. The Phillies' leftfielder, who ranked just sixth when the first tally of votes was announced last week, is second among National League outfielders with 817,849 votes. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun is roughly 90,000 votes ahead of him in first place. Ibanez has never appeared in an All-Star Game.Chase Utley appears well on his way to a fourth straight start, has more than twice the votes (1,111,963) as the next closest second baseman, the Dodgers' Orlando Hudson (486,359).Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is second at that position with 569,639 votes, nearly 17,000 behind Florida's Hanley Ramirez. Ryan Howard ranks third ..."

Phillies veteran Raul Ibanez, 36, hits his stride in Philadelphia

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May 29

USA Today

"One of his coaches has renamed him "Nice Goin' " and his manager would just as soon not mention him at all.How is Raul Ibanez ever going to get some recognition? The same way the Philadelphia Phillies mystery man-turned-left fielder has carved out an unlikely 14-year major league career and has emerged as the biggest threat in the powerful lineup of the defending World Series champions: hit. Phillies fans filled winter talk shows with their skepticism about a three-year, $31.5 million contract for a 36-year-old (he turns 37 Tuesday). Then they knew little about the replacement for free agent Pat Burrell, but now they display their knowledge with every at-bat, chanting, "Rauuuuuuul." ..."

Rigging voting for Raul

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May 19

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist John Gonzalez

"Politics is a dirty business. Unfortunately, that's what Major League Baseball's all-star voting has become - politics. It's a thinly veiled popularity contest designed to exploit the masses and usher players with big names to sweeping victories.The whole process is a sham. There are Third World despots who hold "free elections" with just one name on the ballot who wouldn't try to pass the MLB system off as legitimate.But that's OK. We all know what the deal is. Our eyes are open. That's why, to get what we want, we have to play the game.We have to cheat.In a just world, the country would recognize Raul Ibanez as the best candidate to start in the outfield for the National League and send ..."

Ibanez homers starting to pay off for Phillies fans

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May 18

Philadelphia Daily News

"Just in case Raul Ibanez hasn't done enough to get Phillies fans in his corner with a great start at the plate, he has now taken an additional tack:Giving away the Daily News' money.Ibanez' home run in the third inning of the Phillies' 8-5 win over the Nationals on Saturday afternoon in Washington was his first Payoff homer as a Phillie and won $1,000 for Al Shaffer, of Cherry Hill."I'm loving him," said the 51-year-old Shaffer, who works in the technology department at TD Bank. "It looks like he's a real well-rounded player and that's something they need right now."Ibanez actually hit three home runs Saturday, one earlier in the afternoon game and one in the Phillies' nightcap victory. ..."

Ibanez powers Phillies sweep

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May 17

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Charlie Manuel was trying to be polite, but as he bounced anxiously in the chair behind his desk at Nationals Park, the manager could not help but interrupt."Mmm. Yeah. Uh-huh," he muttered while listening to a reporter's question about Raul Ibanez's consistency. Speaking more forcefully, he said: "Very good. Don't need to talk about it. Leave him alone."Ibanez homered twice and drove in four runs as the Phillies defeated Washington, 8-5, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader yesterday, and Brett Myers contributed seven three-hit innings.In the nightcap, which was called in the top of the sixth inning giving the Phillies a 7-5 win, Chase Utley was 3 for 3, Ryan Howard added a ..."

Pat who? Here's Raul

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April 29

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist John Gonzalez

"After the Phillies won the World Series, Pat Burrell's improbable transformation from reviled to revered was complete. No one was bigger than Burrell at the end of his time here. He was Paul Bunyan with a baseball cap - a dog named Elvis at his side instead of a blue ox named Babe.When the parade was over and the last of the tickertape had been swept up, Burrell and his pooch decamped for Tampa Bay. It was sad, and a lot of us mourned the departure of a man we once mocked. It didn't make us any happier that the Phils brought in some ancient, arthritic 36-year-old stiff from Seattle to succeed Burrell. A lot of people were convinced this Raul Ibanez fellow would be just as bad, if not ..."

Ibanez's slam gives Phillies a wild win

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April 28

Camden Courier-Post

"Ryan Zimmerman jacked one off the ivy in center. Elijah Dukes rocked one into Ashburn Alley. Zimmerman hit another into the upper deck. The Nationals --the woebegone, sad-sack, featherweight Nationals -- turned into Murderer's Row overnight and the Phillies couldn't keep the ball inside the yard. Everything was upside down and wrong side up, until Ryan Howard's grand slam in the fifth -- a majestic, game-tying blast to straightaway center -- brought normality back. Even after the Nationals had taken the lead, given it back and later re-taken it on a monster, two-run homers by Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn, the Phillies were still themselves -- and so were the Nationals. The Phillies rallied ..."

Ibanez keeps tabs on pitchers

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April 8

Camden Courier-Post

"As he makes the transition to a new team in a new league, Raul Ibanez doesn't want to reveal all of his secrets. Let's just say he's taking a studious approach. Ibanez, the Phillies' new left fielder, said Tuesday he is watching more video than usual to become more familiar with National League pitchers. And after spending the last 13 seasons in the American League, he admitted he may even jot notes about each pitcher in a journal -- if he hasn't already started. "I'm not opposed to doing that," Ibanez said with a smile. "There's stuff I won't really get into. But I've always been a guy that takes advantage of every resource. The video is a resource. I'm taking advantage of it as much as I ..."

Unnoticed Ibanez brings big numbers

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April 2

Camden Courier-Post

"Say this for Pat Burrell: He knew how to make an exit. In his final at-bat for the Phillies, in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series, he snapped an 0-for-13 slump with a double to left-center field, setting up pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett to score the championship-clinching run. Then, two days later, he rode at the head of the Broad Street parade on a wagon pulled by Clydesdales. Surely, Burrell's last act will be tough to follow. But, with spring training finally lurching toward its conclusion and a new season poised to dawn, Raul Ibanez was here Wednesday to say he's not Pat Burrell. "Pat Burrell's a great player," said the Phillies' new left fielder, speaking softly and ..."

Raul Ibanez may fit perfectly for Philadelphia in left field

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December 21

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"It is the month when Ruben Amaro, aka Ponce de Ruben, has set up shop at the Phountain of Youth. The first major move of his stewardship as Phillies general manager has been to sign free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, age 36, in winter-meetings overtime. The classy veteran was introduced on Tuesday. Monday, veteran righthander Chan Ho Park, age 35, announced from his native Korea that he has agreed to terms of a one-year Phillies contract. The free agent also announced the Phillies will use him as a starter. This might be news to manager Charlie Manuel, who now has an added entry in what figures to be an overflow audition for the No. 5 spot in his rotation. Let's see ... J.A. Happ, Kyle ..."

Phils, Mets, Cubs going after Ibanez

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December 9

ESPN.com

"The Phillies, Mets and Cubs appear to have separated themselves from the pack of teams pursuing outfielder Raul Ibanez. Ibanez also is on the radar screen of the Braves and Angels. But the Braves have their pursuit of all their outfield options on hold until they find out whether they can sign pitcher A.J. Burnett. And the Angels would pursue Ibanez only if they fail to land their primary offensive target, Mark Teixeira."

It's official: Ibanez becomes free agent

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December 8

Tacoma News Tribune

"As expected, Raul Ibañez declined the Seattle Mariners' offer of salary arbitration. Ibañez's agents notified Major League Baseball after Sunday's 9 p.m. deadline that he will apply for free agency. MLB officials then notified the Mariners. It wasn't much of a surprise to those familiar with the situation, including Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik. "I'm not surprised that he turned it down," Zduriencik said after hearing the news. "It's his right to do it as a player. Had he said yes to arbitration, we would've been happy to have him back." Ibañez was probably the Mariners' most consistent offensive producer last season, hitting .293 with 23 home runs and 110 RBI. At the end of ..."

Peavy would be nice, but lefty bat a priority

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December 7

Chicago Sun-Times

"If the Cubs and San Diego Padres swing a deal that brings 2007 Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy to Chicago in the coming week, it might be the blockbuster of the winter meetings. But regardless of how hot the Peavy talks get, the Cubs' primary concern this week -- and this offseason -- remains left-handed hitting, preferably a guy who can bat fourth or fifth. While that might not preclude trading for Peavy first -- if general manager Jim Hendry can make all the moving parts fit right -- the Cubs aren't likely to make a major move for a non-hitter without having the left-handed bat they want in hand first. So while the Cubs will listen to Padres GM Kevin Towers regarding Peavy, they have no ..."

Mariners offer outfielder Raul Ibanez arbitration

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December 2

Seattle Times

"The appearance was that the Mariners had just taken a first step toward re-signing free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez. But the reality is that Monday's decision by the team to offer arbitration to the 36-year-old was merely an insurance move for when Ibanez almost certainly leaves town. As if to confirm this, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in an afternoon conference call that he has no immediate plans for any deal with Ibanez beyond 2009. "That's a different subject," Zduriencik said. "What we're telling him is, at this point, we'd love to have him back this [coming] year." In several conversations late in the 2008 season, Ibanez indicated he'd be seeking a multiyear deal. ..."

Ibanez given chance to stay

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December 2

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Mariners offered salary arbitration to free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez on Monday. But while a guaranteed salary of perhaps $10 million per season might seem too good to pass up, Ibanez probably will take a pass on Seattle's offer. Ibanez has until Sunday to decide, but the decision already appears made for him by the marketplace. Coming off a third consecutive season with at least 20 home runs and 100 RBIs, Ibanez, 36, is positioned to get a deal of perhaps three seasons and $30 million from another team. The Phillies, Cubs and Mets all are thought to be interested in Ibanez, and the field undoubtedly will grow when baseball's winter meetings, usually a hotbed of interaction between ..."

Ibanez return lacking direction

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November 4

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"New Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has been around baseball all his life, so he knows plenty of people in the game. At 35, Raul Ibanez is 22 years younger than Zduriencik, but he, too, is a baseball lifer and seems to know just about everyone. Turns out they didn't know each other -- until they talked for the first time Monday morning on the first day of baseball's general managers' meetings. Ibanez, the Mariners left fielder since 2004, is a free agent. One of the running stories of this offseason will be whether the Mariners can lure their RBI leader back for 2009 and beyond. "It was a complimentary conversation out of respect, which he very well deserves," Zduriencik said of ..."

Steve Kelley After season of work, Raul Ibanez gets little fanfare

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September 29

Seattle Times

columnist Steve Kelley

"One last time this season, Raul Ibanez ran through the Safeco sunlight, stepped on second base and took his place in left field. For 11 big-league years - eight of them in Seattle - Ibanez has played baseball the way it is supposed to be played. He has prepared for every game the way a professional is supposed to prepare. Win or lose - and we all know there have been too many losses - he has been as consistent as a heartbeat. On the finger-pointing-est team in baseball, he has never made excuses and always stayed above the pettiness. In a clubhouse that felt so often like Dysfunction Junction, Ibanez was an island of dignity. On a team that needed leadership, he did what he could, hoping ..."

Winter moves may hit M's hard at plate

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September 25

Seattle Times

"There is one distraction Raul Ibanez has been unable to block out as he puts together one of his finest seasons. Ibanez compares himself to "a racehorse with blinders on" because of the way he can focus on nothing more than the task ahead. It's part of the mental training techniques he picked up from renowned sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman, and explains Ibanez's continued production while everything around him is falling apart. Yet as successful as Ibanez has been at shutting out questions about his pending free agency, the position he'll play in 2009 and the firings of his team's manager and general manager, he has been unable to completely zone out when it comes to the Mariners' ..."

This week could be it for Ibanez as a Mariner

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September 22

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Mariners' final homestand of the season begins Monday. Will it be the final time Raul Ibanez calls Safeco Field home? Logic and baseball history says it probably will be. Ibanez, who will be a free agent this winter, doesn't want to think in such terms. But the Mariners, owners of the worst record in baseball despite a $121 million payroll, almost certainly aren't going to win next year. Ibanez, 36, will probably be signing his last multi-year contract. It will be his final chance to play for a winner. After three consecutive seasons of 100-plus RBIs, he is going to get good money. But the perk of playing for a contender in 2009 is something the Mariners can't offer. "I'm not thinking ..."

Ibanez pushing Ichiro to limit for club batting title

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September 15

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Ichiro Suzuki doesn't have a closer friend on the Mariners than Raul Ibanez. Their lockers are adjacent in the Safeco Field clubhouse. Ichiro has taught Ibanez some Japanese. Ibanez has taught Ichiro some Spanish. And as the 2008 season runs into its final two weeks, Ichiro doesn't have a closer competitor on the roster, either. Ichiro has finished each of his first seven seasons as the Mariners' leader in batting average. The discrepancy between Ichiro and whoever was in second was seldom close. This year, however, Ibanez enters the final two weeks with a .312 batting average after going 1-for-5 on Sunday. Ichiro, also 1-for-5 on Sunday, is at .311. And while Ichiro is almost certain to ..."

Mariners' Raul Ibanez showing worth of his bat

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September 7

Seattle Times

"Long after this latest defeat was in the books, Mariners manager Jim Riggleman pulled Raul Ibanez aside for a question. "Can you DH tomorrow?" Riggleman asked. The pair headed toward Riggleman's office to finish the conversation, but it's a question bound to be asked about Ibanez again as the season draws to a close. Ibanez drove in all four runs in his team's 7-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday night to surpass the 100 mark in runs batted in for a third consecutive year. But for each level Ibanez's bat climbs, questions increase about his defense and whether he'd be willing to switch to first base or a designated-hitter role should he remain in Seattle. A pending free agent, ..."

Raul Ibanez, Jarrod Washburn tested on market

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August 14

Seattle Times

"Once again, fans are left to wonder whether this latest night of hitting exploits by Raul Ibanez was his final one in a Mariners uniform. The countdown to Ibanez's potential departure carried right up to the July 31 trade deadline, then resumed Wednesday when it was learned that both he and starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn had been claimed on revocable waivers. Ibanez shrugged off the latest news, then went out a few hours later and produced a solo home run, two doubles, a single and scored the decisive run on a Wladimir Balentien homer in the 12th inning of a 10-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Seattle has just over 48 hours to negotiate a trade with any club claiming the two players ..."

Teams put in claims for Ibanez, but he doesn't expect to move

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August 14

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Baseball's waiver rules are so complex and the rumors so rampant, sometimes it seems like anything can happen. "I heard the Red Wings put in a claim on me," Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez said. OK, almost anything. Ibanez won't be strapping on skates, but there's a chance he could be in the uniform of another team by the end of the week. He said he has been told the Mariners put him through waivers and that more than one team claimed him. One report had Tampa Bay, which just lost outfielder Carl Crawford for the season, close to a deal for Ibanez. "I would bet that it's not true," Ibanez said. "That's what I'd bet. I've heard there were claims, but that doesn't mean anything." For one ..."