Bill Mueller
After the 2005 season, Aybar was a candidate to start at third base for the Dodgers in 2006. However, in the offseason, the Dodgers signed free agent and former batting champion Bill Mueller as their starting third baseman. After they also signed Ramón Martínez to join Óscar Robles in being the primary backups, Aybar found himself out of a job. His .216 batting average during Spring training did not help his cause either.