The Los Angeles Dodgers have strengthened their infield depth by signing Ibáñez and acquiring Fitzgerald.

Multiple reports, including those from Francys Romero, indicate that the Dodgers have agreed to a one-year deal with infielder Andy Ibáñez today. While the team has not officially confirmed this, they also recently claimed infielder Ryan Fitzgerald off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. This means that if Ibáñez is officially added to the 40-man roster, the Dodgers will need to make a corresponding roster move.

The Dodgers’ starting infield lineup is mostly set: Freddie Freeman will hold first base, Max Muncy will cover third base, and Mookie Betts will play shortstop. However, the second base position remains uncertain, at least during the early part of the new season.

Utility player Tommy Edman is expected to get significant starting time at second base, but due to ankle surgery during the offseason, he may miss some spring training. If he is absent at the start of the regular season, the Dodgers’ alternatives include Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim, the farm system’s fourth-ranked prospect Alex Freeland, and the two most recent additions to the roster.

The 32-year-old Ibáñez was not re-signed by the Detroit Tigers last November. Last season, he primarily played third base, but throughout his five-year major league career, he has covered all infield positions and made occasional appearances in the outfield. In 2025, he appeared in 91 games for the Tigers, posting a .239 batting average and a 0.653 OPS, with a brief demotion to Triple-A Toledo midseason. This right-handed hitter has performed better against left-handed pitching during his career, with a .280 batting average and a 0.778 OPS.

The 31-year-old Fitzgerald was designated for assignment by the Twins last week. He spent most of last season with Triple-A St. Paul, where he posted a .277/.367/.469 slash line while playing second base and shortstop. He also made his major league debut that year, appearing in 24 games for the Twins and recording 9 hits in 46 at-bats for a .196 batting average.