The 2025 MLB season's second half is in full effect, and the Detroit Tigers are feeling pretty darn good about themselves. Manager A.J. Hinch & Co. are currently sitting atop the baseball world with a 59-35 record before the All-Star break, cementing the Tigers as one of the biggest World Series threats (+700, 2nd on FanDuel Sportsbook) down the stretch.
The middle of July is almost here, which means that this year's trade deadline isn't that far away either. The upcoming weeks will present the Tigers with various opportunities to upgrade their roster, which could see them swap one struggling veteran's bat with a more reliable option.
Tigers Must Upgrade From IF/OF Andy Ibanez by Trade Deadline
One veteran whom the Tigers might look to replace before the trade deadline is infielder/outfielder Andy Ibanez. The versatile 32-year-old's performance has declined with each passing season since moving to the Motor City in 2023, and it wouldn't be shocking to learn if his latest campaign is the final straw.
Through 46 games (94 at-bats) in 2025, Ibanez is only slashing .213/.292/.319 with two home runs, 15 RBIs, seven walks, and three stolen bases. He isn't hitting the ball with much strength, proven by his 34.6% hard-hit rate (league average is 39.2%), while his 30.0% extra bases taken percentage is also noticeably below that of an average MLB player (41.6%).
It'd be one thing if Ibanez were showing signs of life, but that hasn't been the case. He went from playing to a .259 batting average and .746 OPS in his first 25 games of the season to marks of .150 and .427, respectively, in his last 21 games. For someone who serves as the occasional pinch hitter, that isn't good enough.
In other words, the Tigers would be justified if they want to replace Ibanez with a more consistent bench bat. He has three years of arbitration eligibility left, too, meaning any potential deal that brings in an upgrade could involve Ibanez if a trade partner wants a cheap veteran who can play most infield and outfield positions.
With how quickly the 2025 MLB season is moving, Tigers fans will want to closely monitor Ibanez's situation throughout the next three weeks.
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