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The Kansas City Royals have no shortage of needs to address this winter. While finding upgrades in the outfield, seeking more options at second base and finding a way to capitalize on their starting pitching surplus may be a top their to-do list, they have plenty of other areas that require attention<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of those under-the-radar needs is veteran depth presence, preferably with an element of veratility. A replacement for free agent Adam Frazier if you will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While the Royals could always go out and bring back the familiar name in Frazier, whom they so clearly coveted enough to re-acquire<\/a> his services at the trade deadline this year after just a half season away, he doesn’t come without his uncertainties. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He’s just days away from turning 34, and while he might a valued voice in the clubhouse, Kansas City unfortunately knows firsthand just how bad the bat can be after his 65 wRC+ season in 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is where a younger and just as versatile of veteran like former Detroit Tigers utility man Andy Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez could come into play as a cost-effective offensive solution.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, by no means am I saying Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez is statement-worthy signing. Most utility veterans aren’t and he wouldn’t be a “top bargain signing”, like Bleacher Report tabbed him earlier this week<\/a>, if he didn’t have some holes in his game.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, the Royals need adequate bench options and there’s reasons as to why he would compliment their existing core of utility personnel in Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin better than a name like Frazier.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For one, Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez still provides that veteran profile but at younger age, as he’s a full year younger than Frazier. He also happens to be a right-handed hitting option in a lineup that’s dominated by lefties and starving for some differentiation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On top of this, his bat is very similar and he arguably provides more positional versatility than Frazier, having played at least a solid amount first base, second base, third base and the corner outfield in the last three seasons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And while he may’ve have only been an 84 wRC+ hitter this past season, he’s only two years removed from being an above average bat, having held a 103 wRC+ in 2023 where Frazier’s last above average season came all the way back in 2021.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez also has his strengths despite being an overall below-average bat. He only strikes out 13.5% of the time and whiffs at just an 18.5% clip He also makes contact at an excellent rate, with a 92.5% in-zone contact rate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not to mention, as the Royals continue to move into a place of contention, they’ll need players on their roster from top to bottom who can perform when the lights are brightest. With a .300 AVG, .800 OPS and 121 wRC+ in the postseason, Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez has been able to come up in the clutch when called upon on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ANDY! BASES CLEARING TRIPLE! pic.twitter.com\/X5KXPKBwSY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n What also can’t be ignored is getting another one-up on their division rivals and stealing a potentially useful asset from them, after the Tigers simply let him walk for nothing after non-tendering last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Again Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez is by no means the be-all-end-all priority for the Royals this winter, nor should he be for any team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But to be a successful major league team, you can’t forget about the moves to strengthen between the margins, and when it comes to Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez, he could do precisely that for them.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nRoyals should consider pursuing Tigers castoff Andy Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez in free agency<\/h2>\n
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