Mets claim Andy Ibanez from A’s in desperate search for reinforcements

Nypost · Apr 30, 2026 · 275 words · By Ryan Dunleavy

Mets' poor performance/struggles

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What to know about Mets' poor performance/struggles

- The struggling Mets claimed infielder Andy Ibanez off waivers from the Athletics.

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 1

Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

- The struggling Mets claimed infielder Andy Ibanez off waivers from the Athletics.

Why it matters

- Ibanez is on his third team this year, hitting 2-for-18 with a .167 OBP in 11 games.

Common ground

- The reeling Mets have lost 16 of their last 19 games, with a lineup struggling to hit.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Mets' poor performance/struggles story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The Mets will be the third team of the calendar year for Ibanez, who signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 13. Three weeks later, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Athletics?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/30/sports/mets-claim-andy-ibanez-from-as-in-search-fo…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 4

schedule Pending 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “The Mets will be the third team of the calendar year for Ibanez, who signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 13. Three weeks later, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Athletics.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results consistently report the sequence of events: Ibanez signed with the Dodgers on Jan 13, was designated for assignment, and was subsequently claimed by the Athletics. The details regarding the contract value and date are consistent across sources.

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web search NEUTRAL — Infielder Andy Ibáñez, who was designated for assignment by the Dodgers Tuesday, was claimed off waivers by the Athletics on Friday.The Dodgers signed Ibáñez to a one-year, $1.2 million contract on Ja…
https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-roster/109624/andy-ibanez…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Dodgers first signed Ibáñez on January 13 to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million and added him to their 40-man roster. However, he was designated for assignment on Feb.
https://dodgerblue.com/athletics-claim-andy-ibanez-off-waive…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ibáñez signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal to join the Dodgers on Jan. 13 before being designated for assignment on Tuesday.
https://www.mlb.com/news/michael-siani-claimed-off-waivers-b…

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Claim 2: “The latest flier taken is on infielder Andy Ibanez, whom the Mets claimed off of waivers from the Athletics, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed.”

CORROBORATED

The claim is corroborated by multiple web search results, including one that directly quotes the confirmation from The Post's Joel Sherman, alongside other reports of the Mets claiming Ibanez from the A's.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2009 Major League Baseball draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. The drafting order is as follows:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Major_League_Baseball_dra…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 Chicago White Sox season was the club's 125th season in Chicago, their 124th in the American League and their 34th at Rate Field. It was their first full season under general manager Chris Ge…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Chicago_White_Sox_season

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Los Angeles Dodgers season is the 137th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 69th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 65th season playin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Los_Angeles_Dodgers_seaso…

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 3: “Thursday’s lineup against the Nationals included six hitters with a sub-.600 OPS at one point in the game.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “The reeling Mets have lost 16 of their last 19 games, with a lineup struggling to hit.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results provide specific information regarding the Mets' poor performance, noting a significant losing streak (16 of 18 or 16 of 19).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 New York Mets season is the 65th season of the New York Mets in Major League Baseball, their 18th at Citi Field, and their sixth under majority owner Steve Cohen. The Mets will attempt to imp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_New_York_Mets_season

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Mets

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Ode to the Mets" is a song by American rock band the Strokes, the ninth and final track on their sixth studio album, The New Abnormal (2020). Singer Julian Casablancas began writing the song while wa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_the_Mets

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 5: “Ibanez is 2-for-18 this season with a .167 on-base percentage in 11 games.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific statistics (2-for-18, .167 OBP, 11 games) are mentioned in web search results, but the evidence does not provide enough independent sources to confirm this exact statistical snapshot.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Ibáñez last started a game for the A's on April 19 at second base, but his last start before then was 10 days earlier on April 9, even with the A's facing a lefty starter on both April 14 and yesterda…
https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/onsi/a-s-designate-andy-iba…

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web search NEUTRAL — The club has designated infielder Andy Ibanez for assignment to clear a roster spot for Rooker, per a team announcement. Rooker is batting fourth as the DH today against the Rangers.Ibanez hit just .1…
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/athletics-designate-a…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Athletics designated INF Andy Ibáñez for assignment. The A’s needed to clear a spot on their active roster for the return of Brent Rooker (oblique) on Sunday and unfortunately for Ibáñez, he drew the …
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/andy-ibanez/48928/news

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Claim 6: “The struggling Mets claimed infielder Andy Ibanez off waivers from the Athletics.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the Mets claimed Andy Ibáñez off waivers from the Athletics. Sources include MLB.com, MSN, and Yahoo Sports, all reporting the same move.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 7: “Most of Ibanez’s experience is at second base and third base, with a smattering of appearances at first base, shortstop and the corner outfield positions.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered for this claim, making it impossible to verify or dispute.

info

Claim 8: “Ibanez only had more than 300 at-bats once during his first five MLB seasons (two with the Rangers and three with the Tigers).”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific detail about Ibanez having more than 300 at-bats only once during his first five MLB seasons (two with Rangers, three with Tigers) is reported in a single web search result, lacking independent corroboration.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — At the same time, the Detroit Tigers agreed to move from the AL East to the AL Central (to replace Milwaukee), with the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays joining the AL East.[113] Later, when the Houston…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball

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web search NEUTRAL — The A's brought in Ibáñez at the beginning of February, just before camp began, as a bit of insurance. The club didn't know for certain how third base would shake out, with Max Muncy and Darell Hernai…
https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/onsi/a-s-designate-andy-iba…

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web search NEUTRAL — The official source for player hitting stats, MLB home run leaders, batting average, OPS and stat leaders.
https://www.mlb.com/stats

info

Claim 9: “Ibanez is on his third team this year, hitting 2-for-18 with a .167 OBP in 11 games.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the claim contains specific statistics (2-for-18, .167 OBP, 11 games), the provided evidence does not contain enough independent sources to corroborate these exact numbers. The statistics appear to be drawn from a single context or article.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jayson Richard Gowan Werth (born May 20, 1979) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2017. His 15-season career was split among …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayson_Werth

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's ocean. Between 1950 and 2020, the average pH of the ocean surface fell from approximately 8.15 to 8.05. Carbon dioxide emissions fr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 10: “He has a career OPS of .688.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim regarding a career OPS of .688 is mentioned in a single web search result, but no other independent sources confirm this specific statistic.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Andy Ibáñez Velázquez (born April 3, 1993) is a Cuban professional baseball infielder for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers and Detroi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Ibáñez

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web search NEUTRAL — 1 hour ago · Ibanez only had more than 300 at-bats once during his first five MLB seasons (two with the Rangers and three with the Tigers). He has a career OPS of .688. He is at his best against left-…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/30/sports/mets-claim-andy-ibanez-…

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web search NEUTRAL — 20 hours ago · The New York Mets made a notable waiver claim on Thursday afternoon. According to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR, the Mets have acquired infielder Andy Ibanez from the Athletics. Ibanez, 3…
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/new-york-mets/news/mets-…

schedule

Claim 11: “The Mets just called up corner infielder Eric Wagaman from Triple-A earlier in the day after placing outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on the 10-day injured list.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 12: “He is at his best against left-handed pitching with a .763 OPS in 564 career plate appearances.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered for this claim, making it impossible to verify or dispute.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.