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Rays, Keppinger Closing In On Deal

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 24, 2012 at 4:35pm CDT

The Rays are closing in on a Major League deal with infielder Jeff Keppinger, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. The team will likely finalize an agreement with the CSE client by the end of the week.

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.

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Tampa Bay Rays Jeff Keppinger

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Rays Designate Justin Ruggiano For Assignment
View Comments (35)

Comments

  1. joeybw

    11 years ago

    Just one little question.

    Why?

    Reply
    • RAYS7

      11 years ago

      The Rays need depth at the infield position . Much better than Brignac !

      Reply
      • joeybw

        11 years ago

        Brignac has an incredible glove at both SS and 2B and since either one is just going to be a back up anyway, I prefer the defense. It’s like having a 2nd closer to bring in Reid in the 9th.

        Reply
        • Henry

          11 years ago

          dnt forget about sean rodriguez

        • joeybw

          11 years ago

          One of the best defenders at 2B in the AL but he is still a work in progress at SS. So far, so good but Reid is automatic at SS.

    • diesel2410

      11 years ago

      He’s a much better hitter and he owns lefties

      Reply
      • joeybw

        11 years ago

        Yeah, I just saw the career numbers vs lefties and decided this is a good signing. Still don’t like his defense, but they can’t all be great, even on the Rays. I take this one back and my only “why” of the Rays off season has been Rodney, otherwise, they have done a great job.

        Reply
        • diesel2410

          11 years ago

          I wasn’t thrilled with the Rodney signing but he does have potential. And those guys who have that potential usually find it in Tampa (Farnsworth, Cruz, Benoit, etc.) 

        • Ryan

          11 years ago

          Who is he going to replace in the lineup against LHP?  I think I would have preferred Guyer or Canzler.

    • diesel2410

      11 years ago

      Sorry, double post

      Reply
  2. javywoz

    11 years ago

    Replaces EJ (infield sub), and will start games against tough lefties (@.800 OPS for career against lefties) at 2B, allowing Zobrist to replace Pena or Joyce in the lineup.  Keeps the Rays lefty heavy lineup from being too weak against the likes of Sabathia, Lester, etc….

    Reply
    • RAYS7

      11 years ago

      I totally agree with you that he has a great glove !!!!

      Reply
      • diesel2410

        11 years ago

        Keppinger’s glove isn’t great, but he’ll be fine. We have Brignac or Sean Rodriguez to sub if need be

        Reply
  3. Tampa Bay Rays Fan Resign Kotc

    11 years ago

    Rays are going all out on this year.

    Reply
    • Onetimeaccount

      11 years ago

      bump

      Reply
    • Onetimeaccount

      11 years ago

      It really would be best if you keep this name until Kotchman passes away.

      Reply
  4. Mitchell McDivitt

    11 years ago

    Rays need the depth, i think they could trade one of there starters like, davis, niemann, torres, cobb for a good/great bat.

    Reply
    • joeybw

      11 years ago

      I wanted that great bat real bad for a while but after signing both Scott and Pena and knowing the Rays already went over what they budgeted, I would be more than happy with a nice C prospect. Or a power prospect….if he’s a catcher and he his power, well, we’re not getting him!

      Reply
      • diesel2410

        11 years ago

        Their payroll is around $65 million right now, and if we can trade Upton and Davis for a bat, then our payroll shouldn’t increase at all

        Reply
  5. diesel2410

    11 years ago

    Love this signing. He hits lefties extremely well.

    Reply
  6. joeybw

    11 years ago

    Let’s recap the Rays off season, this being before an SP is traded for help in 2012 or in the future and hopefully before we find a way to get another C…

    Sonny -> Badenhop (very nice)
    Cruz -> Rodney (Both have very live arms and control issues, push)
    Shop -> Molina (Neither can hit but you don’t run on a Molina so upgrade)
    Damon -> Scott (Not everyone loved it but I did, I did a lot, more power from our DH spot and this one can actually play 1B and soon enough LF and RF, not just DH like Johnny
    Kotchman -> Pena (HR’s = runs, a little more runs and we win that ALDS, you never know what happens after that, love this upgrade)
    Niemann/Davis -> Moore (hasn’t proven anything but the potential to be a HUGE upgrade)
    Probably Elliot -> Keppinger (Elliot couldn’t do his 1 job which was to bunt, upgrade)

    There is one hole though, not loving Chirinos/Lobaton on the roster as of now, as bad as Jaso was, I hope we trade for a catcher.

    Reply
    • BeisbolJunkie

      11 years ago

      They will keep both. Joe wants Jose to mentor them.

      Reply
    • alan104

      11 years ago

      Chirinos/Lobaton are a work in progress. Chirinos had some clutch hits last year. I kinda like them both. It would be nice if they could stay away from the injury bug. I think Molina will prove to be a valuable asset and will help these young guys improve their game.

      Reply
  7. Brian

    11 years ago

    I don’t know what’s slower: keppinger moving to his left (or right) on the field or bengie molina running the bases.

    Reply
    • alan104

      11 years ago

      Hopefully it’s Bengie. Are you kidding me?

      Reply
    • alan104

      11 years ago

      Hopefully it’s Bengie. Are you kidding me?

      Reply
  8. joeybw

    11 years ago

    Speaking of SS’s, we are inviting Beckham to ST again this year. Isn’t he going to be out of options? I’m wondering how far away he really is. He’s Durham bound but I wonder how close to Tampa is.

    Reply
    • Ryan

      11 years ago

      I’m pretty sure ST invites don’t count for options.  I think it only matters if he is on the 40 man or not.  As of right now, Beckham is still not on the 40 man and probably won’t be until later in the year, if at all. 

      Reply
    • johnsmith4

      11 years ago

      A player’s 3 seasons of assignment options don’t start until the player is placed on the team’s 40-man roster.  A player is allowed 4 (5 if turned pro at age 18) seasons of pro-ball before having to go on the 40-man roster to be protected from Rule 5 draft.

      P.S. A player gets 4 seasons of assignment options if he goes onto 40-man roster right out of high school.

      Reply
    • johnsmith4

      11 years ago

      A player’s 3 seasons of assignment options don’t start until the player is placed on the team’s 40-man roster.  A player is allowed 4 (5 if turned pro at age 18) seasons of pro-ball before having to go on the 40-man roster to be protected from Rule 5 draft.

      P.S. A player gets 4 seasons of assignment options if he goes onto 40-man roster right out of high school.

      Reply
  9. rjc

    11 years ago

    Now lets just deal Davis/Neiman for an everyday catcher and this will be one strong lineup.  I’m feeling much better going into spring training this year than I did last year.

    Reply
    • joeybw

      11 years ago

      If we can get a useful catcher back for Niemann/Davis then we are just 1 move away from finishing off the roster. I think they trade the SP for prospects though and I’m hopeful we trade for a Soto/Suzuki type.

      Reply
    • joeybw

      11 years ago

      If we can get a useful catcher back for Niemann/Davis then we are just 1 move away from finishing off the roster. I think they trade the SP for prospects though and I’m hopeful we trade for a Soto/Suzuki type.

      Reply
  10. BeisbolJunkie

    11 years ago

    So I am assuming if this is really a Major League deal, Elliot Johnson gets DFA’d?

    Reply
    • Onetimeaccount

      11 years ago

      He was getting DFA’d anyways, but correct.

      Reply

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