That's the rumor coming out of Major League Baseball's GM meetings in Florida. Ruben Amaro is down there touting his veteran left fielder, leading some reporters to believe he's trying to trade Raul.
Every person I've spoken to and suggested the Phils trade Ibanez scoffed at the notion, with responses typically somewhere along the lines of, "Who would be stupid enough to do that?" The 38-year-old is due to make $11.5 mil next season, then become a free agent.
It might not be that outrageous though. In a lineup with Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins, Ibanez is just another guy. For one season though, he could help one of the many less fortunate clubs without their making a huge commitment to a highly paid, aging player.
That's not to say any of those teams are willing to give up very much. That doesn't seem to be the point either. Moving Ibanez would be more like a salary dump, perhaps in preparation of reaching a new deal with Werth. It also opens up a spot in the outfield so Donald Brown can become an everyday player.
We have to be rooting for this, right? Ibanez is a solid player who has the right attitude, but moving him could solve both of the Phillies' biggest off-season problems: finding a way to hold on to Werth, and infusing some youth into the starting lineup.
>> On the block? Amaro Talks Up Ibanez at Meetings [CSN]
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