Devil Rays Close On Carlos Pena
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times writes that the Devil Rays are close to signing first baseman Carlos Pena to a minor league deal. Tampa Bay wanted him last year too after Detroit released him. The Yankees picked him up but he didn't get the call. He then exercised his option to become a free agent and signed with Boston. Pena's best season was 2004, when he hit .241/.338/.472 in 142 games. He'll turn 29 in May.
Pena will join a contingent of first basemen competing for time in Tampa Bay. They've got Ty Wigginton, Greg Norton, Hee Seop Choi, and Elijah Dukes as other possibilities.
I beleive there was also a column in the SPTimes in December that said that Gomes wanted a crack at 1B too.
Posted by: wihargo | January 24, 2007 at 09:30 AM
He has no chance to play. When in your best year you hit .241....sorry. Every one of those guys are better.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 24, 2007 at 09:49 AM
"He has no chance to play. When in your best year you hit .241....sorry"
Tell that to Eric Munson. Damn my dad for not making me left-handed.
PECOTA has Pena at .258 AVG and .818 OPS....I think the Rays could probably do better...
Posted by: Darin | January 24, 2007 at 12:00 PM
I think the DRAYS should go with a Wigginton and Choi platoon. Have them bat 7th. I can also see Upton playin a Ryan Freel type utility role this year and see if he is ready offensivly so that Baldelli can be moved at the deadline for some much needed pitching.
Posted by: hood | January 24, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Any Brave fans on here know exactly what the payroll is at. I wonder if they gonna have some money at the deadline to fill any holes.
Posted by: hood | January 24, 2007 at 01:13 PM
I think they should go entirely with Dukes at first.
Posted by: RotoAuthority | January 24, 2007 at 05:52 PM
There has also been talk of Joel Guzman at 1B. Personally, I think Pena could find a home and a starting gig in SF.
Posted by: Havok1517 | January 24, 2007 at 05:57 PM