Headlines

  • Rays Close To Contract Extension With Yandy Diaz
  • Mets To Extend Jeff McNeil
  • Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025
  • Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension
  • Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal
  • Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Free Agent Stock Watch: Casey Kotchman

By Mike Axisa | September 10, 2011 at 10:24am CDT

357110821397_Mariners_at_Rays The Rays signed a middle of the order hitter last offseason, but it wasn't Manny Ramirez. After just five games with Tampa, Manny abruptly retired rather than face a second suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. The Rays filled Ramirez's roster spot by promoting Casey Kotchman from Triple-A, and five months later, he's the middle of the order bat the team thought it was getting in Manny.

Kotchman, still just 28, has stepped in and hit .312/.380/.429 in 487 plate appearances since being promoted. He isn't hitting for much power (just eight homers), but he's drawing walks (42) and putting the ball in play (55) while providing his usual strong defense. After years of struggling against left-handers, Kotchman is hitting a respectable .300/.336/.367 against southpaws this season. 

There are reasons to believe that the improved performance is unsustainable, however. Kotchman's batting average on balls in play (.341) is the highest of his career (by far) even though there's been no significant change in his batted ball profile. More than half of the balls he puts in play are hit on the ground, just a quarter are fly balls, and fewer than one in five is a line drive. It could work, but it hasn't for him in the past.

Low power first baseman usually aren't in high demand on the free agent market, especially ones with the proverbial "one good year." That said, Kotchman could be a nice, budget friendly alternative to stopgap first basemen like Derrek Lee, Lyle Overbay, and Carlos Pena. The Diamondbacks, Pirates, and Dodgers could all be looking for help at first this winter, and of course re-signing with the Rays is always a possibility as well.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

Free Agent Stock Watch Tampa Bay Rays Casey Kotchman

Outrighted To Triple-A: Sutton, O’Connor, James
Main
NL West Notes: Giants, Dipoto, Zito, Rockies
View Comments (11)

Comments

  1. sourbob

    11 years ago

    I’m just so glad Jim Hendry was fired, so I (hopefully) don’t have to pretend to be optimistic about him as a Cub.

    Reply
  2. InLeylandWeTrust

    11 years ago

    Meh

    Reply
  3. qudjy1

    11 years ago

    I hope AZ signs overbay.   Nice compliment to Goldschmidt off bench.

    Reply
  4. truthlemonade

    11 years ago

    For what it’s worth, in 2007 Kotchman hit .296/.372/.467 for the Angels in 508 plate appearances.  Good for an OPS+ of 119.  So, this isn’t really his only “good year.”  Also, aren’t players supposed to peak at age 28? 

    Reply
    • notsureifsrs

      11 years ago

      yea, but his “peak” is not traditional. he hasn’t steadily improved; he’s sucked horribly for three years and then suddenly played pretty well

      Reply
      • bigpat

        11 years ago

        He also played in Seattle…  His whole career has been really odd but I think he’d be a worthwhile investment at 3-4M at most, better than a guy like Overbay or Lee.

        Reply
        • notsureifsrs

          11 years ago

          he played in seattle for one season, safeco isn’t that bad on left-handers, and he didn’t hit any better away from safeco than in it

  5. 5_tool_MiLB_fool

    11 years ago

    poor man’s todd helton that the cubs/dodgers/mets would give a huge contract to

    Reply
    • Infield Fly

      11 years ago

      Not really, ‘fool. There’s a new “sheriff” in Metstown called Sandy Alderson (you may have heard). He ain’t dishin’ out any huge contract to Kotchman what with likes of Ike Davis as the #1 starter, and capable but inexpensive options like Lucas Duda & Nick Evans lining up behind him.

      Pass.

      Reply
  6. AmericanMovieFan

    11 years ago

    I think Kotchman would be in line for a 2 year/$8MM contract with the performance he’s put up this year. I wonder how his Super 2 status will effect contract offers.

    I’d also take a chance on Pena at 1 year/$8MM for the numbers he’s put up. Nothing wrong with 30 HR power and with the right line up around him he could once again be a monster masher.

    Reply
  7. Rabbitov

    11 years ago

    I think Joe Maddon could make Garret Atkins into a Silver Slugger in 2012.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Rays Close To Contract Extension With Yandy Diaz

    Mets To Extend Jeff McNeil

    Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025

    Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension

    Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal

    Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar

    Orioles Acquire Cole Irvin From A’s

    Astros Name Dana Brown General Manager

    Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs

    Royals, Red Sox Swap Adalberto Mondesi For Josh Taylor

    Red Sox Designate Matt Barnes For Assignment

    Scott Rolen Elected Into Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Red Sox Sign Adam Duvall

    Brad Ausmus Reportedly Among Astros’ GM Finalists

    Mike Clevinger Under Investigation For Domestic Violence Allegations

    Arte Moreno No Longer Pursuing Sale Of Angels

    Twins Acquire Michael A. Taylor From Royals

    Padres Sign Nelson Cruz To One-Year Deal

    Sal Bando Passes Away

    Twins, Marlins Swap Luis Arraez For Pablo Lopez In Four-Player Trade

    Recent

    Guardians Promote JT Maguire To Coaching Staff

    Mariners Release Jason Vosler

    AL East Notes: LeMahieu, Yankees, Orioles, Bello

    Rays Close To Contract Extension With Yandy Diaz

    NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Hirokazu Sawamura

    Blue Jays Announce Rogers Centre’s New Outfield Dimensions

    Rangers Re-Sign Elier Hernandez To Minors Contract

    Mets To Extend Jeff McNeil

    Orioles Sign Curtis Terry To Minor League Contract

    Trio Of Free Agent Pitchers Work Out For Clubs

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version