Headlines

  • Marlins To Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Sprain
  • White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor
  • Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony
  • Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence
  • Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.
  • Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • 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
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction 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

Rays Interested In Jeff Keppinger

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 23, 2012 at 2:11pm CDT

The Rays have expressed interest in free agent infielder Jeff Keppinger, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweets. The CSE client is still in contact with multiple clubs.

Keppinger posted a .277/.300/.377 line in 399 plate appearances for the Astros and Giants in 2011. The 31-year-old only played second base last year, but he has started 80-plus games at shortstop and third base in his seven-year career. Keppinger earned $2.3MM last year and would have obtained a raise through arbitration, so the Giants non-tendered him in December, holding onto Mike Fontenot instead. It wouldn't be a surprise to see clubs such as the Yankees and Mariners express interest in Keppinger.

Share 0 Retweet 21 Send via email0

Tampa Bay Rays Jeff Keppinger

Latest On Ryan Zimmerman
Main
Diamondbacks Claim Craig Tatum
View Comments (10)
Post a Comment

10 Comments

  1. Tampa Bay Rays Fan Resign Kotc

    13 years ago

    Oh please, God no. Trade Upton for somebody, don’t sign this guy.

    Reply
    • turbandog

      13 years ago

      Do you have some specific reason for this or are you just being dramatic? His numbers don’t look horrible for a utility infielder type. He can play shortstop AND bat more than .250, something we did not have last year.  I’m not a stats guru but his fielding numbers might be slightly suspect but I’d trade 2 extra errors during the year for an extra 50 average points at SS.  But that’s just me.  This guy got an extra foot growing out of his ear or something?  What gives? 

      BTW, all that said it is my considered opinion that S-Rod should be and will be the pretty regular SS this year.  I have faith that his hitting will continue to improve as it did over the year in 2011, that Brignac will never hit anything but a golf ball with that whacked out swing of his, and that there is not a significant defensive advantage to either.  Brignac’s a little slicker fielder but you never know where that throw is going.  Sean is not so slick but IMO, much steadier.  Where the difference to me lies is that Sean plays hardnosed, old time hockey type baseball, the way it should be played.  If you disagree, ask Mike Napoli.  I’m glad neither player was hurt on that collision so I can say that it was a thing of beauty.  That’s just one example but if you read what JoeMa and some of the other players say about Sean, I think you’ll agree with the opinion.  So Sean is my SS choice if he can keep his average above .230 cause he’s a ballplayer and they’re rare these days.

      Reply
      • Hodor 2

        13 years ago

        Well put.  I would agree with going with S.Rod any day over Brignac.  That uppercut swing of his is going to be his ticket back to AAA (Hello hitting coach, where are you?).  S.Rod just needs to step up and do something with his average this year.  If he hit over .240 and had solid defense I would very happy.  Now we just need to deal either Davis/Neiman for an everyday catcher and we will be good to go for 2012.

        Reply
  2. harrigang

    13 years ago

    I like it. Brignac was pitiful to watch at the plate. S-Rod is sometimes a great hitter, but a lot of the time he was pretty bad as well. 😛

    Reply
  3. Otownpr

    13 years ago

    I like this.  He’ll be a huge improvement.  Good contact hitter with low strikeouts, this coul dbe a steal…

    Reply
  4. Nylund

    13 years ago

    As a Giants fan, I thought Keppinger did a great job stepping in when Freddy Sanchez got hurt.  Kepp did have a cold spell there for a while, but, in general, he’s pretty decent, hits for contact, decen’t average, good eye, and rarely strikes out.

    In many ways, I wish the Giants had kept him instead of Fontenot.  Despite what this post says, Keppinger isn’t really anything other than a second baseman. He doesn’t have the range or arm to play SS or 3B regularly.  That’s precisely why the Giants kept Fontenot as their backup utility player. If the Giants had faith that Keppinger could step in at SS or 3B if someone got hurt, the Giants would surely have kept him over the light-hitting Fontenot.  But he can’t truly play those other positions.  The Giants will surely kick themselves if/when Freddy Sanchez lands on the DL again.  Still, he’d be a pretty solid pickup for a team who needs help at second. He won’t be an all-star but there are a few teams for whom he’d surely be an upgrade.  I don’t follow the Rays enough to know what options they have at second, so I won’t comment if the Rays are such a team, but there are such teams out there.

    Reply
    • lefty177

      13 years ago

      what do the Red Sox have at 2B if Pedroia goes down? Aviles?

      Reply
  5. zack

    13 years ago

    I like him as depth in the infield he should replace Elliot Johnson from last year

    Reply
  6. javywoz

    13 years ago

     I think the Rays are looking at Keppinger in two ways.  Back up infielder to provide depth for 3B, SS, and 2B.  And likely 2B starter against tough lefties.  Keppingers got a near .800 OPS career against lefties.  That would allow them to keep SRod at SS, have Keppinger at 2nd, move Zobrist into RF, have Luke Scott play 1B (Scott doesn’t have dramatic splits) and Brandon Guyer DH.  Gives Joyce and Pena a rest against tough lefties whom they both drastically struggle against. 

    Reply
  7. alan104

    13 years ago

    Rays are also looking at Edfgar Renteria for bench help.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Marlins To Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Sprain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Recent

    Nats Notes: Nuñez, Chapparo, Williams

    The Orioles’ Long-Term Catching Situation

    Marlins To Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Sprain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Angels Select Shaun Anderson, Designate Garrett McDaniels For Assignment

    Fantasy Baseball: The New CSW Darlings

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Red Sox Designate Robert Stock For Assignment, Select Brian Van Belle

    Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

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

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • 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
    • RSS/Twitter 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 arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version