The Rays are acquiring utilityman Niko Goodrum from the Twins and will add him to their 40-man roster, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays’ interest in Goodrum was first reported yesterday afternoon.
Goodrum had an upward mobility clause in his minor league deal with Minnesota. He triggered that clause, which requires the Twins to gauge interest around the league and see whether another club would be willing to add Goodrum to the 40-man roster. Tampa Bay, in need of infield depth due to injuries, felt it had space and will presumably send cash back to the Twins to acquire Goodrum’s rights and add him to the 40-man roster. Goodrum has a pair of minor league option years remaining, so it’s not a sure thing he’ll go directly onto the Rays’ major league roster.
Goodrum, a veteran switch-hitter who can play just about any position on the diamond, fits the Rays’ typical mold of versatility. His acquisition was surely spurred by injuries to Taylor Walls (recovering from hip surgery) and Jonathan Aranda (who fractured a finger fielding a grounder this week) — to say nothing of the ongoing legal situation surrounding shortstop Wander Franco, whose MLB future is in doubt.
The 32-year-old Goodrum has played in parts of six big league seasons between the Tigers, Astros and Twins — who originally made him a second-round pick back in 2010. Goodrum returned to Minnesota on a minor league pact this winter but didn’t make the Opening Day roster after stumbling to to a .129/.270/.161 slash in 37 spring plate appearances. That ugly performance didn’t deter the Rays, who are surely looking at Goodrum’s versatility, defensive chops and broader track record in making this acquisition.
From 2018-19, Goodrum was a regular with the Tigers. He posted a solid .247/.318/.427 slash in that time while playing solid defense at multiple positions, and for a time he was even Detroit’s primary shortstop. Over those two years, Goodrum tallied 964 plate appearances and swatted 28 homers while swiping 24 bases. His bat tailed off in the three subsequent seasons before a resurgent 2023 showing between the Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate (.280/.448/.440) and the Korea Baseball Organization’s Lotte Giants (.295/.373/.387).
Goodrum seems likely to claim a bench spot in Tampa Bay. The Rays had previously looked to be whittling down the competition for their final two spots, but Topkin reported earlier this week that they were mulling some outside acquisitions for a backup infielder and backup catcher. Goodrum, it seems, was part of those deliberations and will now add some optionable depth who can be controlled through the 2025 season via arbitration if he makes a good impression on his new club.
That’s a bit of a reach.
Rays are this bad??? Long season ahead if this guy is good enough for your team lol.
I’m not seeing it… why?
Goodrum enough
Rocker
Troll
Just here to make negative comments because those get attention and anything else you say doesn’t get any attention
No, just someone who knows baseball. Imagine thinking Goodrum is a good player. You might need a new hobby.
Rocker
Troll, troll, troll
And your choice of screen name
F it.
Muted (troll)
They acquired him to be a bench player. Good players start. Versatile players make good bench players. Plus he is fast, and a switch hitter. He was a gold glove finalist the year he was Detroit’s SS.
They aren’t but management is making some really puzzling and head-scratching moves. Why sign Uwasawa for that amount if you don’t add him to the roster (When he wasn’t even that bd in ST)? Why get Rosario and Goodrum when they are shallow in OF and SP and full in INF? I really can’t understand the justification for these moves whatsoever. Unless they trade Ramirez or Brandon Lowe… In which case that would be even more unforgivable especially in Ramirez’ case given his strong Spring.
I can kinda see Rosario, but agree, especially regarding Uwasawa…we need starting pitching! Maybe we work some magic w Alexander? And then watch about catching? Are we really going with Alex gulp Jackson as the backup to a very young, unproven player? One of the strangest Rays offseasons that I can remember. I generally push doubt aside and trust these guys, but woah…
That’s how I’m seeing it. For those who believe Goodrum is a really good player as yourself why Detroit cast him off. Why didn’t any other team immediately pounce and get him on their roster? Most times when these players on the outer fringe of Major League Baseball find a job (usually minors depth) so many herald them as savvy moves. Rays will keep Goodrum around until one or two of their regulars are healthy, then it’s back to the waiver wire.
Depth. Not sure he will stick around for the whole season. 98 WRC in ’23 is not terrible.
He didn’t play in the big leagues in ’23. Depth is a minor league signing where the player is stashed in AAA. This is a 40 man roster move where he is likely to make the active roster come opening day.
They will DFA him when Walls comes back. I just don’t know why they can’t plug in a AAA guy instead of Goodrum. About the same production plus valuable development. Also Walls isn’t ML calibre either so… We are effed as Rays fans…
Walls has always been and will continue to be a darling of the Rays for his affordability. If he were better he’d want paid, and TB wants nothing to do with players who want paid.
You don’t develop a player by sitting him on the bench. Adding Goodrum allows that player to develop by playing everyday in the minors.
That’s the Ray’s excuse for manipulating service time. They have AAAA guys waiting for their chance and the Rays decide to go out and get Amed Rosario and Niko Goodrum. How much did playing every day help Aranda? Then he finally got consistent playing time in the bigs and is now FINALLY adjusting to MLB pitching. I’m not talking a bench role, I’m talking playing every day. If the Rays are gonna be bad (and it really seems like they will be offensively putrid), then why not give more playing time to guys who seem ready to make the jump and get them used to the speed of the game?
Then it was his previous time. Probably overlooked that when I read it somewhere.
His contact vs power splits were odd in Detroit. As in he had more power hitting right handed but made more contact hitting left.
That’s not too unusual. Luis Castillo (the 2nd baseman) had far more contact from the left side but more power from the right.
What is the Rays fascination with light-hitting MI types?
It’s possible the Rays have a viewpoint on players that doesn’t take into account their fantasy value.
Oh god no. Whyyy?? So who’s spot are they sacrificing to add him? Austin Shenton? I really think the Rays are giving up this season.
I know Shenton cannot run or field, but the guy has been known as a hitter for years in the minors. Why not give him a shot to replace Aranda? Lefty…power…why not?
The Rays really do not want a hitter with a BA over . 280. As soon as they hit above that threshold the Rays will either trade that player or let them walk in FA.
Rays fans want offense-minded players. Management wants cheap defensive players. And this why most fans know that this team will never make it to the World Series again (unless a massive cultural shift occurs).
I am more of a gin man myself.
At least until Wander returns.
So Nico makes his 10 year service time in St Pete?
Right! Once they get this whole misunderstanding cleared up in the DR, Franco will ramp up in extended ST and be back at SS directly. It’s true that blowing a large amount of smoke up your backside does result in seeing the world through rose-colored glasses.
Those are Rays-colored glasses
I think this is the year Rays will finish under .500 for season. Their pitching isn’t near as good as past years and I just don’t see them scoring many runs. Their run I believe is over
They remind me a lot of CLE in that when you look at the roster you have to ask yourself a very big question: where are the runs gonna come from?
Like “upward mobility clause”. Never knew there was such thing until now. Cool
Signed for his glove, only.
It’s almost like a Troy Weaver strategy with the Pistons: sign a lot of former high draft picks and hot prospects that failed elsewhere, hoping to cleverly piece them together into a working unit. Sometimes it actually works…
Rays to Os after they signed Kemp: hold my beer
ugh. really? Can’t find anyone better? ANYONE???
So we just got cash for him? No minor league lottery ticket or anything? Too bad we couldn’t have pried another lower level Joe Ryan from their minor leagues 🙂
Love that trade for the Rays.
Be excited Rays fandom. This young fella is a great locker room/clubhouse glue guy. He puts in 110%, and is the first to leave and the last to arrive at the baseball field
say it with me… Bargain Mart Rays!
Adams has no clue about proper syntax. “Goodrum, it seems, was part of those deliberations…” is a mess. All “it seems” does is obfuscate the point by interjecting. “It seems Goodrum was part of those deliberations…” is much more straightforward.