The Rays signed Chris Carter to a minor league deal, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The Mets non-tendered the 28-year-old in December after he appeared in a career-high 100 games in 2010. Rubin reports that Carter will earn $12K per month in the minors and $420K in the majors.
Carter, who arrived in New York in the 2009 Billy Wagner trade, has big league experience in left and right field. The left-handed hitter posted a .263/.317/.389 line in 180 plate appearances last year. The Mets shielded him from southpaws in 2010; all but 7 of his plate appearances came against right-handed pitching.
The Rays will be able to retain Carter long after 2011 if they deem him worthy of a roster spot going forward.
…all he does is catch fly balls in the outfield.
This is clearly a bullpen move. The Rays will likely ship him to the Mets for a Type A ranked closer. That was probably Carter’s largest contribution to an MLB team so far.
Wait, Minaya doesn’t run the Mets anymore? Well, then I guess I don’t see the point of this move either.
Does anyone run the Mets anymore?
Probably one of the most respected people in baseball, with two former GM’s as his assistants.
It’s not enough to have men of reason making sane decisions. We need a BIG SPLASH to put BUTTS IN THE SEATS.
Not sure what that has to do with what I said, but ok. There’ll be money coming off the books next year in what looks like a better FA market. Be patient, there isn’t money to spend right now so nobody should be expecting a big splash.
Too bad respect does not win championships.
too bad cliches don’t win championships either or you’d be doing pretty well in the standings
I hate cliches but sometimes they bring the point across.
Funny you mention championships, since the guy running the Mets has one.
And how does this qualify the Mets as a championship contending team?
Who said they were? You’re the one who brought up championships.
The Mets aren’t a championship team right now. But with one of the brightest front offices in baseball now, who says they can’t compete in a few years?
Stop trolling.
Even that should break their payroll.
It would be nice if the Rays would sign a RH DH type for change.
In fact, if they can sign Vlad for 4-5 million they should be on the phone. Having a still productive and power threat behind Longoria not only improves their offense but gurantees that Longo will get pitches to hit in 2012. Without a legit bat behind him, Longoria will lead the league in intentiona(and most likely the “unintentional intentional walk) next year.
Right. Call up San Francisco and get Pat Burrell on the next plane back to St. Petersburg, stat.
Carter is my good friend. Went to Stanford with me. He’s a good guy, he will do good in Tampa
I tell you, $12k a month to be a very mediocre to below average minor lge player is a good gig. Especially, since that can balloon to a prorated $400k if he gets called up. If he lives w/in his means (nice 4 bedroom house, his/her cars and good public schools in a good community) then he can really make a good living for himself if he saves. Who knows, at the end, maybe parlay that into a coaching or broadcasting job as well?
I can understand saying he is a below average major league player, perhaps not even that. But his minor league offensive numbers are quite good with a .307/.380/.514 career line. Last year, in limited PAs, he hit .336/.390/.611 in Buffalo (AAA) and had an OPS of 871 & 823 the previous 2 seasons in AAA in more extensive time.
Admittedly, for a corner player that is not great, but it is better than mediocre or below average.
I can understand saying he is a below average major league player, perhaps not even that. But his minor league offensive numbers are quite good with a .307/.380/.514 career line. Last year, in limited PAs, he hit .336/.390/.611 in Buffalo (AAA) and had an OPS of 871 & 823 the previous 2 seasons in AAA in more extensive time.
Admittedly, for a corner player that is not great, but it is better than mediocre or below average.
I saw a lot of Carter during his time with the Red Sox AAA team in Pawtucket. He’s a good hitter. He came up a 1B before switching to the corner OF, so he’s a solid bat bench with some pop who can play 3 positions.
Great guy, fine pinch hitter, tremendous work ethic, beloved teammate but the worst defensive player I’ve ever seen in more than 40 years. I saw him plenty last season with the Mets. His arm is a major league embarrassment. I’ve never seen him at first base but he should never go near left field, let alone right.
Agreed, he was a fun player to watch even though he is an awful defender. He’s a LF by default, not by trade. It would be interesting to see how he develops as a hitter at the major league level if given the chance.
well i guess that is your dh for the year. the rays are not going after anybody like a jim thome. I mean for a price like that, it might be a good fit
So this is what he did after the X-files…
No no no, after the X-Files he became one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. NOW he’s conquering baseball, too. 😉
This is the Rays DH hitter. They won’t spend. Stu is now running the club to show Selig just exactly what the St.Pete market can bare. The Rays will draw less this year and Stu will have his data to show MLB St.Pete can’t support a team. That will allow him to bust the lease and then it’s open to the highest bidder. Florida or elsewhere.
How’s that tinfoil hat fitting?
I just wanted to make a comment after i seen some retarded comments towards the mets and chris carter. Let me start off by saying that I was very disapointed that my mets did not bring back chris for another season because he was an above average pinch hitter for us and he can hit with power but saying that i do understand the move because the guy can not play the outfield and we have a home grown infield where we had no room for him and i hope nothing but the best for the kid. he got a lot of heart and a lot of talent. as far as the mets, the front office came out and said that they have payroll restrictions and they are playing for the long term not the short term and i agree being this year was not a great free agent class so some of you fans need to get ya facts straight and dont be mad that your rays are dealing away all your stars.