Raul Ibanez, Angels agree on $2.75 million deal

The Los Angeles Angels have signed free agent outfielder Raul Ibanez to a one year deal worth $2.75 million, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo was the first to report that a deal was close.

Los Angeles has seen Ibanez plenty over his 18-year career as he spent 11 of those seasons over three stints with the division-rival Seattle Mariners. He re-joined Seattle in 2013, hitting .242/.306/.487 with 29 home runs, proving that he could still be an asset despite now being 41 years old.

Power has been becoming an increasingly rare trait in baseball and Ibanez was among the top home-run hitting options on the market. He profiles similarly to new Diamondbacks outfielder Mark Trumbo, whom the Angels traded away. Like Ibanez, Trumbo's biggest asset is his power as he has shown poor on-base skills and mediocre defense both in the outfield and at first base. Trumbo netted the Angels top pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs as well as another decent arm in Hector Santiago.

Ibanez could fill a role that was left open by the Trumbo trade. The Angels are currently lacking a designated hitter, though Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols figure to see some time at the position. Ibanez can now take over at DH primarily with Hamilton remaining in left field and Kole Calhoun taking over in right.

Ibanez's relatively cheap contract also means the Angels will not feel obligated to give him expanded playing time. While he will likely play most of the year, the team can slot either Pujols or Hamilton in at DH and play Calhoun at first or Ibanez or J.B. Shuck in the outfield.