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« Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice Elected To HOF | Main | Braves Sign Omar Infante To Extension »
Rays Sign Gabe Kapler
According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays signed outfielder Gabe Kapler to a one-year, $1MM deal. An hour earlier, Tommy Rancel of DRays Bay wrote that the two sides could be close to a deal.
Hard not to like the signing. Kapler, 33, hit .301/.340/.498 while playing all three outfield positions in his comeback season (he spent '07 managing in the minors). ESPN's Keith Law suggested Kapler showed enough to merit an everyday job in center field.
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Now the free agent dam will break.
Posted by: coryjwilson | January 12, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Nice! I can't wait to see Gabe back in Boston when they play the Rays!
Posted by: Boh | January 12, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Now if only they can get rid of Bradford and his 3.5 million abd add a LOOGY, it'd be a perfect offseason for the Rays.
Posted by: tolo316 | January 12, 2009 at 01:51 PM
The AL East is going to be AWESOME this year... Kapler... when healthy, is a spectacular 4th OF.
Posted by: Boh | January 12, 2009 at 01:53 PM
doesnt make sense to me. there is a ton of other options for them. why kapler?
Posted by: mybeastwithin | January 12, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Great signing. Kapler played very well for the Brew Crew last year and should continue to play well for the Rays.
Posted by: Ace | January 12, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Ok this move doesn't piss me off or get me very excited.
Kapler is a better hitter than Perez but I loved his speed as a 4th OF....
Posted by: RaysFan | January 12, 2009 at 01:58 PM
so...potentially the rays have 7 outfielders now?
Crawford
Upton
Gross
Kapler
Joyce
Perez
Zobrist
this will be an interesting spring...
Posted by: Bryan | January 12, 2009 at 02:05 PM
that's a really good signing for the Rays.. hard to hate on an .800+ OPS for a 4th outfielder.
Posted by: bseballcrzy17 | January 12, 2009 at 02:07 PM
I know it would increase their payroll slightly but what trading Bradford and Brignac to Toronto for Downs(lefty specialist) and Mcdonald(utility guy)?
Posted by: aj7380 | January 12, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Damn.
Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | January 12, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Terms
1 year/1 million
Can't really lose there.
Posted by: RaysFan | January 12, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Solid signing. Kapler's a pretty class guy and a solid fourth outfielder.
Posted by: 0bsessions | January 12, 2009 at 02:33 PM
I doubt the Jays would part with McDonald to take on Bradford... who, if dealt there, would be on pace to fail everywhere in this division except New York.... give it time
Posted by: Boh | January 12, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Guess Ruggiano is out of the picture now. Too bad, I think he has potential to be a good player.
Posted by: Rangerfan | January 12, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Bryan,
I think the starters will be:
Crawford
Upton
Joyce (real high upside here)
I think Kapler will platoon with Joyce against righties and act as the overall 4th OF'er. Zobrist will be a backup/utility for INF and OF and Gross will be shown the door. I think Gross' fate was sealed with the Jackson for Joyce deal. Even moreso now with the signing of Kapler.
Posted by: candocantu | January 12, 2009 at 02:38 PM
Good for Gabe. Classy guy. Tell him to keep his head down when facing Joba.
Posted by: Little Bear | January 12, 2009 at 02:53 PM
that was my initial thinking too, with perez going back to durham maybe until midseason...gabe brings another veteran presence to this team and another solid platoon bat.
oh well, if this sets the 25 man though, let's hope they can showcase GG in the spring and get something decent for him
Posted by: Bryan | January 12, 2009 at 02:55 PM
candocantu is pretty damn close
Crawford starting LF
Upton starting CF
Gross Will be traded very soon or at most 2 months into the seasons
Kapler plays lefties in RF
Joyce plays righties in RF
Perez AAA
Zobrist subs for every spot except C and SP
Posted by: RaysFan | January 12, 2009 at 02:55 PM
rockford
I wish but they will finish 3rd at worst. If Ortiz's offense doesn't return then they will get 2nd, I think my Rays win the East again
Posted by: RaysFan | January 12, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Umm. Pat Burrell also can play the outfield. There's no reason he shouldn't see spot starts in left, with Crawford either taking a day off or shifting to center to give Upton a day off...
Posted by: jrfukudome | January 12, 2009 at 03:15 PM
True about Burrell, a ton of depth on the team and just for a added bonus, Aybar is supposedly going to learn LF/RF in the Spring.
Posted by: RaysFan | January 12, 2009 at 03:21 PM
"I know it would increase their payroll slightly but what trading Bradford and Brignac to Toronto for Downs(lefty specialist) and Mcdonald(utility guy)?"
Maybe we can also give Toronto Upton, Price and Jennings?
Posted by: Selgy | January 12, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Burrell has a great throwing arm but he doesn't maneuver real well in the OF lol
Posted by: Aaron | January 12, 2009 at 03:34 PM
"Burrell has a great throwing arm but he doesn't maneuver real well in the OF lol"
well than maybe we (the Rays) can trade him along with Upton, Price, Jennings, Bradford and Brignac for Downs and McDonald
"I know it would increase their payroll slightly but what trading Bradford and Brignac to Toronto for Downs(lefty specialist) and Mcdonald(utility guy)?"
= )
Posted by: Selgy | January 12, 2009 at 03:39 PM
I don't think Bradford and Brignac for Downs and something (not McDonald though) is that outlandish to require you to make a suggestion like that.
Posted by: CubbyFan23 | January 12, 2009 at 03:41 PM
"I don't think Bradford and Brignac for Downs and something (not McDonald though) is that outlandish to require you to make a suggestion like that."
Was just having fun and being silly.
With Zobrist and Aybar, there is no need for a McDonald and with Joe Nelson and Bradford, there is no need for a lefty specialist.
Posted by: Selgy | January 12, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Rays expert (if you will) here to add some insight
Most likely scenerio, the opening day starters will be Crawford, Upton and Gabe/Gabe platoon. Thats right, Gabe Gross v. RHP, Gabe Kapler v. LHP. Should be a very solid platoon capable of a 850 OPS. Joyce, Perez, and Ruggiano all still have options and will likely start the year in Durham. Joyce still has some things to work on and was very inconsistent last year. Plus the Rays likely would not want to platoon him, rather see him grow into an everyday player. Same goes for Perez. Given a couple months of good play in Durham, Joyce will be called upon and Gross will be shown the door.
Posted by: delmonmvp | January 12, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Poor Gabe Gross. First he gets chased out of Milwaukee because Kapler has a hot start to the season and now he probably gets chased out of Tampa Bay because they sign Kapler and to make things worse it is by someone else named Gabe!
Posted by: Ender | January 12, 2009 at 05:48 PM
Gross wont be chased out of tampa bay by Kapler, they compliment each other in a platoon situtation. He will eventually be chased out by Matt Joyce, who makes Gross redundant. It just so happens to be that Joyce is also left handed, and it makes more sense to keep Kapler, who kills LHP, around for protection.
Posted by: delmonmvp | January 12, 2009 at 06:53 PM
A potential insane OF in Durham
Ruggiano LF Perez CF Joyce RF
If Joyce kills the ball in the Spring, Gross may get shown the door earlier.
Posted by: RaysFan | January 12, 2009 at 09:19 PM
The whole team should be pretty rediculous
They also have Brignac (shortstop) and Jaso (catcher) who are the top prospects. Not to mention Hughs and Nowak manning the corner infield. In the rotation they will have top pitching prospect Davis and good young arms in Rollins, Talbot, Mason and Houser. Even their bullpen is stacked with Salas, Thayer, and Reid.
Posted by: delmonmvp | January 13, 2009 at 02:35 AM
whata bargain
Posted by: BBGiants25 | January 16, 2009 at 04:28 PM