Angels release veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez

The Los Angeles Angels have released veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez.

Ibanez was signed by the Angels in the offseason to a one-year, $2.75 million dollar contract to provide some left-handed pop in their lineup.

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In reality, the 42-year-old Ibanez did not provide much of anything during his time with the team. He was hitting just .157 with three home runs and 21 RBI on the season. His average had not been above .200 since April 7th, and his last home run came on April 13. He has gone a staggering 128 at-bats without a home run.

Will this be the end for Ibanez? There is no way to know for sure, but I am guessing that some team will take a chance on the veteran leadership, or the chance that he still has some power in that bat.

Ibanez made his major league debut on August 1, 1996 with the Seattle Mariners. His main claims to fame from his time in Seattle were his first major league hit (a triple on August 16, 1997), first major league home run (September 27, 1997), and he also hit the first grand slam in Safeco Field history in 1999.

Next, he signed with the Kansas City Royals prior to the 2001 season, and stayed through the 2003 season. His only notable accomplishment with the Royals is that he proved he could be an everyday player. He spent the entire 2002 season in the majors for the first time in his career.

He returned to Seattle before the 2004 season, and stayed through 2007. He enjoyed his most productve major league season with the Mariners in 2006 when he .289 with a career high in home runs (33) and RBI(123).

Ibanez then signed with the Phillies before the 2009 season. That year, Ibanez made his first all star team at the age of 37, and set a new career high with 34 home runs.

Ibanez signed with the Yankees for the 2012 season, and made noise in the playoffs when he was used as a pinch hitter for Alex Rodriguez in game 3 of the ALDS. He became the first player to hit two home runs in a postseason game that he did not start. He was also the oldest player to hit two home runs in a playoff game, and the oldest player to hit a walk off home run in a playoff game.

For 2013, it was back to Seattle for Ibanez once again. He hit 29 home runs on the season which tied him with Ted Williams for the most home runs in a season by someone 40 years old or older.

Ibanez is a career .273 hitter with 303 home runs and 1,202 RBI.

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