The Rays will release first baseman James Loney, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. In late March, the Rays informed Loney that he would not be making the Opening Day roster, so his release was widely expected. The Rays are still on the hook for the $8MM that they owe the veteran for the 2016 season and they ostensibly could not find a trade partner willing to take on a portion of that money.
Injuries slowed Loney down in 2015 and limited him to a 104-game season. In 388 plate appearances, Loney slashed just .280/.322/.357 and posted his lowest OPS since 2012. Over the years, Loney has picked up a reputation for solid defensive play at first base, but the advanced numbers show that he has declined in that area recently. In 2015, he had a -5.4 UZR/150 and his 2014 UZR/150 of -1.8 was also poor. And, while Loney has multiple double-digit home run seasons on his resume, he doesn’t offer much in the way of power.
According to Baseball Reference, Loney has earned nearly $27MM in salary over the course of his big league career. His next deal probably won’t be the most lucrative contract of his career, but he’s also not hurting for cash. Prior to signing a three-year, $21MM deal with the Rays prior to the 2014 season, Loney spent six-and-a-half years with the Dodgers and had a short stint with the Red Sox.
Haha the funny thing was at school I watched something about baseball that featured him and everyone thought he was one of the best in the MLB.
What grade are you in?
He’s really not a bad player. Very overpaid, but he’s still serviceable. It’s to bad he doesn’t have a bit more pop in his bat, cause the average is there and the obp is about average
Very true. He’s not the traditional big bopper that is typical of first baseman. But still a very useful big leaguer.
He won’t be overpaid now (except by the Rays). Anyone else can have him for the league minimum. Problem is, that with so many pitchers, teams like bench guys that can play a lot of positions…
For a team with a need for 6 weeks, at MLB minimum, you could do worse. He’s not a longer-term starter except for a FO looking to tank for the year and save money at the position.
He could be a platoon player. He did not have the pop to hit’em over
The Mets shoukd consider him…they gave Campbell as the only real 1B backup. Loney (at league minimum) would be as good or better than Campbell.
Seem like bad roster construction to have two left-handed first basemen. Back before 12-man pitching staffs, Loney would be perfectly suited as a pinch-hitter, but teams don’t carry pinch hitters anymore.
Backup first baseman isn’t that important considering it is a very easy position to play
“Backup first baseman isn’t that important considering it is a very easy position to play”
Really?
I see it messed up every gameday.
After only 1 game Logan Morrison looked like Jose Canseco taking one off the dome. He was charged with two errors, failed to make several defensive plays that he should have made.
The baseball guy says first base base is easy to play, why don’t you go try playing first base with a bunch of little leaguers and tell me if it is easy.
Loney doesn’t play 3B. My Mets are as weak at 3B as they are at 1B, and Campbell backs up at both. Can’t hit, though.
Not sure what this is a reference to but a left handed player can’t play third base. Never has.
Flores will back up both.
Would be a great fit for the White Sox.
Yes.
Solid player. Team leader. Someone is going to get him cheap and he’s going to help that team enormously.
No
Yes.
Is it possible he could be a fit with the Angels? Maybe platoon with cron(I think he’s their DH) and play 1b to relieve pujols??
Big mistake Rays
just .280?
I’ll always remember him for the heart breaking grand slam he hit to center field against my Cubbies in the NLDS back in ’07 or ’08 whenever it was. Dang that moment sucked.