Kapler Rumor/Kapler Signs with Rays
by Tommy Rancel on Jan 12, 2009 1:27 PM EST
110 comments
Update: The Heater confirms my earlier update, Gabe Kapler has signed with the Rays.
Kapler said he chose the Rays because of the chance to win, and liked the idea of being in the Tampa Bay area. "There's a great opportunity for me to perform in Tampa and I expect to take advantage of that opportunity,'' Kapler said.
He said the torn muscle in his right shoulder that limited him at the end of last season is healed and he is better shape going into this season than he was last year. "Going forward I expect to build on what I did last year and be better than I was last year,'' Kapler said.
Among other comments on a brief conference call, he said his "No. 1 goal at this point is to prove to my teammates that I am a great teammate,'' he puts a lot of emphasis on mental training, he continues to work out extensively, and he "loves" to eat healthy - "I'm fascinated by nutrition.''
I heard from a source today that Gabe Kapler has indeed met with the Rays and could be close on a contract. A deal could be announced soon.
Kapler hit .301/.340/.498 in 96 games with the Brewers last year. Overall he is a .273/.331/.425 hitter in nine seasons. He would serve as the right handed batter in an all "Gabe" right field platoon with fellow former Brewer, Gabe Gross. Kapler would get most of the AB vs LHP to which he has hit .294/.344/.484 for his career. He would also be a backup to B.J. Upton, who is rehabbing a surgerically repaired shoulder, in center field.
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Good
I have zero problems with this move, but there is really room for only one Gabe on this team. When can we expect Joyce to prove Gabraham is expendible?
by Thejeffg on Jan 12, 2009 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
We don't need Joyce to prove that Gross is expendible
We need someone to take Gross off our hands. If there’s one flaw this FO has shown, it’s that they often wait too long to dump guys.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Meh.
I think the problem is that despite whatever value exists for the role he contributes, the market as a whole undervalues him, and we wouldn’t get much anything for him in trade.
by GomesSweetGomes on Jan 12, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
NM
I should have read the whole thread first
by GomesSweetGomes on Jan 12, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know
Kapler is a nice pickup and all but this takes away Nando’s job. Hopefully we find a suitor for Gross and don’t have the “all Gabe platoon”. Joyce/Kapler sounds good.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
How good is this guy?
Would he compare at all to Burrell?
by plasticman on Jan 12, 2009 1:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Btw
What’s with our hard on for players named Gabe who played for the Brewers. It is a weird fascination indeed.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yay.
http://www.draysbay.com/2008/10/29/649642/how-to-sustain-success-in#comments
Finally might get one of those guys.
OFers to platoon with Gross
Kevin Mench
Scott Hairston
Josh Phelps
Gabe Kapler
Nick Swisher
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 12, 2009 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
oh why couldnt it be Swisher :(
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How about Aybar?
Good slash line against lhp, good fielder.
by RaysTheRoof on Jan 12, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think he will be a OF only in emergency
vs Righties it will be Gross/Joyce starter with Kapler on the bench and Zobrist if they have 2 freak injuries, lefties it would be Kapler with Gross/Joyce on the bench and again BenZo incase they need TWO replacements
One thing I have against this move is that I think Nando made the perfect 4th OF with his D and speed
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So who's off the 40-man?
The Day signing filled it, so who’s gone? Gotta be either Jau Kuk Ryu or Elliot Johnson, right?
www.raysprospects.com
Trade for Billy Butler!
by Imperialism32 on Jan 12, 2009 1:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gotta think Ryu
Not only does he suck but isn’t he out of options?
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like this.
We have enough OF’ers. I don’t see anything Kapler does that Gross, Nando or Joyce already gives us in Platoon form. Instead on spending money on the wildly inconsistent Kapler, we could:
- have resigned Rocco.
or
- Sign Ohman and sure up our bullpen.
by floridaroar on Jan 12, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I would of liked Ohman a lot
but I don’t know where he would fit for the few days that Percy is actually healthy.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Stop with the Rocco love
Instead on spending money on the wildly inconsistent Kapler
Because Rocco is the model of consistancy?
by Erik Hahmann on Jan 12, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can see an argument against Kapler.
But it doesn’t involve Rocco.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 12, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You're assuming that Ohman's cost is = to Kapler's, that's almost certainly untrue.
Which I feel confident in saying despite not knowing the cost of Kapler.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 12, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Kapler signs, Gross goes
Why do people feel Gross is greater than Joyce?
by Raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe i assumed it
when some thought Joyce would start the season at AAA
What will Gross get in arby? $1.2 mil?
He will go if that’s the case
by Raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"Why do people feel Gross is greater than Joyce?"
I’m not sure if most people do, but why give Gross away for literally nothing? Joyce has options left, Gross could fill a need on another team if a guy gets hurt, why not see if he can get off to a fast start and then let him go for something versus nothing? I feel that Joyce is going to be better than Gross in every way, but factor in some opportunity cost. Joyce will probably not be that much marginally better than Gross over the first quarter of the season to justify getting rid of a good role player for $0.00.
Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.
~George Costanza~
by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 12, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I say Joyce can become an everyday OFer
He’s done his time~let’s go
by Raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So what do you do with Gross?
Drop him? Give him away for another Glenn Gibson?
Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.
~George Costanza~
by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 12, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gross was great on defense
he struggled a bit offensively.. but he’s without a doubt the best solution for RF
by Penaholic on Jan 12, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In a platoon
he would rake. Especially a platoon with Kapler. Not because Joyce can’t fill it out, but Joyce probably wont be as good as Kapler against lefties and he wont be as good as Gross against righties. This lets him go and rake in AAA I guess, but the Gross/Kapler combination could net us a .345 wOBA with +5-10 runs in RF without taking in arm strength. Also, they are both named Gabe and former Brewers, how awesome is that?
by Navi's_Navy on Jan 12, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Too late to dump him now
Since the team has already offered arbitration, but it would have made sense to give him up for nothing so as to not need to pay him $1M next year.
The return that the team might get for Gross in a trade is likely so low that it will be worse than the marginal value lost by having him tie up a spot on the 40-man roster.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It's a valid argument that you raised above and in this comment
Although, if we offered arb before getting Joyce, they may have been hedging their bets in case we ended up getting no one.
Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.
~George Costanza~
by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 12, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not assuming that at all.
I’m saying if the Rays are willing to spend more money, there are more pressing needs than adding yet another platoon RF’er.
by floridaroar on Jan 12, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
has anyone checked his locker for 'roids?
by floridaroar on Jan 12, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nah...
Kapler has a reputation for being a finess and nutrition nut. I can understand the suspicions, but I’ve heard he’s clean.
by td32 on Jan 12, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not curious that he stepped out of baseball
just as the attention level on PED’s was skyrocketing, then returned a year later?
Frankly, I think Kapler is on the up & up. His return was solid. Good add. Bugs me some that this issue always arises.
Nothing wrong with keeping Gross for now – depth is a good thing for a contender to have. Joyce’s track record is short. Another round of experience in AAA won’t wreck him. Guess it’s a question of how much the org is willing to carry in $$‘s. More savings available moving Bradford, since there’s likely a market for him. But I’d keep him too if they can handle the cost – again the depth issue. He (and Gross for that matter) could be even more valuable in July if not required then.
Perhaps the PTBN for Bradford will be announced to make the roster room? Or did I miss that?
by nyyfaninlaaland on Jan 12, 2009 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
PBTNL for Bradford still hasn't been announced
But I doubt it’s going to be anyone on the 25-man roster. I suppose either Gross or Hammel would help the Rays from a roster perspective, but Gross is probably more expensive than what the O’s would want in return and they’d probably rather get a lottery ticket than a known mediocre quantity like Hammel.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also
We would be covered in case Maddon hits the DL with a broken funny bone after inevitably referring to Dewon Day as “Daysy”.
by PlayOnWords on Jan 12, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Joyce/Kapler platoon please.
Could be a nice .850OPS platoon that hits 30-35 home runs with good defense.
by twenty5psi on Jan 12, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I would think this is a little optimistic
but yeah give me some of that.
Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.
~George Costanza~
by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 12, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i thought we were looking at joyce as an everyday guy
wouldn’t it hinder his development if we throw him in a platoon
Blake
USF--Class of '09
by usfraysfan on Jan 12, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Joyce plays every day in AAA to start the season
With a Gabe/Gabe platoon in RF
I could be wrong though
by staplemaniac on Jan 12, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It's Official
I want Baldelli to be healthy enough to play in 150 games, I just hope he sucks. Like Greg Vaughn suck.
by SeanDubbs on Jan 12, 2009 2:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kiss your ass goodbye!
I want Baldelli to be healthy enough to play in 150 games, I just hope he sucks. Like Greg Vaughn suck.
by SeanDubbs on Jan 12, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ehhh
This move doesn’t piss me off or give me an erection. Better bat than Nando, no where near the speed.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Terms
From what I’m hearing 1 yr/1 million
by Tommy Rancel on Jan 12, 2009 2:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Good job Tommy
your threads will now always be taken knowing you have a reliable source
Nice
by Raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was about to say the same
Nice to have someone hear with a very reliable source.
Also, wow. We added Matt Joyce, Pat Burrell, Gabe Kapler, and Joe Nelson for about 10 mil a year.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We had the Aybar deal a week ahead of time last year.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 12, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I am still a n00b
but damn, impressive stuff
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of~what becomes of him?
Where are his ABs?
by Raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This kid can mash
But for him to play regularly—someone has to get hurt
by Raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He can probably be quickly replaced by some other Goldman ibanker
who has dreams of taking a fun job after earning his millions. Stu known how to identify the intelligent people.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The stat this team must be the most improved in is...
…BMI.
Hinske —> Kapler→ Burrell
Floyd -
Wow. Just wow. Turns out, the front office IS selling jeans here.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hmm
Not sure why I got the strikethrough efffect there
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let's assume Niemann replaces Hammell and Joyce replaces Gross
Just look at this
Edwin Jackson -———> David Price
Trever Miller -————> Joe Nelson
Cliff Floyd -———→ Pat Burrell
Gabe Gross -———→ Matt Joyce
Eric Hinske -————> Gabe Kapler
jesus
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Niemann replacing Hammel
doesn’t help the team’s BMI though. Niemann is kinda chunky, Hammel is skinny as a rail.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see kapler being much of an upgrade over hinske.
by RaysTheRoof on Jan 12, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i love this team more than ever right now!
everybody probably dreamed this where players would want to come here for less money than they could get and now it is happening!
TB Rays in 09!!!
by RaysOfHope on Jan 12, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe that we went after Kapler instead of signing Rocco
and Rocco signed for less
by Penaholic on Jan 12, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe my job pays the lady who always calls in sick less than the rest of us.
by Tommy Rancel on Jan 12, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
She was a good worker and she has the potential, but she never shows up
All companies should pay based on potential more than you know….actual production.
by Tommy Rancel on Jan 12, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd be a freaking millionaire.
But I’m too lazy
by Erik Hahmann on Jan 12, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rocco will make 7 million this year*
- if he’s as healthy as everyone assumes.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 12, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
which he wont be
I love Rocco but we wanna win, not be in love with all our players
Kapler will have a better season and he can play all 3 OF spots, I wouldn’t trust Rocco in CF anymore.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Put your trust in Longo
And your heart will never be broken.
Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.
~George Costanza~
by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 12, 2009 4:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I trusted in him in the WS
and he broke my heart
by Penaholic on Jan 12, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
he was being treated for STDs.
he needs condoms, not faith
by plasticman on Jan 12, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Great signing
Good utility outfielder….especially for a mil
by bartletttoakitopena on Jan 12, 2009 3:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
btw
HELL of a fight for that RF job…if one of these guys can’t take it on full time, then I don’t know what to say. We shouldn’t have a problem getting a consistent starter with the choices that we have
by bartletttoakitopena on Jan 12, 2009 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don't know about that
Joyce and Gross are kinda bad against lefties, Kapler and Nando aren’t too against righties.
I am pushing for a Joyce/Kapler platoon now.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on Jan 12, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
The only thing tempering me is that Joyce’s minor league track record. Joyce is more of a risk, with obvious reward potential.
by GomesSweetGomes on Jan 12, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
kapler playing issue
nobody in this league has given him the chance to play all if not most of the games…that’s got to be a big notch in his inconsistency belt. The more you play, the more experience you get, I know that’s simple, but if you’re gonna play him every other game or every 3rd game, you are going to get crappy numbers that are associated with that amount of playing time
by bartletttoakitopena on Jan 12, 2009 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jesus
You’re talking about his splits. It has nothing to do with how much “experience” he gets. He’s in his 30’s. The reason he doesn’t play every single day is because he can’t hit right handers very well, but he does hit lefties very well.
by Erik Hahmann on Jan 12, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If this is true, awesome.
We need people like that.
by plasticman on Jan 12, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's micromanaging
let the man play…he hit .272 against righties, if he saw more time against them, maybe he’d hit ’em better
by bartletttoakitopena on Jan 13, 2009 2:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Um.
You … but… platoon splits don’t magically change after ~3,000 PAs. That’s silly.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 13, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
bottom line
I’m just a fan of giving someone a chance to prove themselves in that role for the whole season, look at Pedroia, he was terrible, but they still went with him and now look
by bartletttoakitopena on Jan 13, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You cannot be serious here.
Dustin Pedroia was 23/24 with a minor league track record of success. In 2007 he had a wOBA of .364 in Triple-A. His major league wOBAs are .365 and .382.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 13, 2009 7:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
statistics
I understand baseball is statistics but there is WAY too much emphasis about that on this site. I love coming here for Rays information because it is rich with knowledge but I guess being on the end of a stat-attack gets to me a little bit.
I just want to know how players like Carl Crawford, and BJ Upton play everyday. Why couldn’t Gabe play everyday? Why? Avoiding a statistical barrage, plain and simple language for a n00b for this site…Why would he not be an everyday right fielder? He hits just as well as the gross, zobrist, hinskey platoon….Why couldn’t he cement a job out there?
by bartletttoakitopena on Jan 14, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He would serve as the right handed batter in an all “Gabe” right field platoon with fellow former Brewer, Gabe Gross
Actually, this happened last year in the first 25 games for the Brewers, except not in right. Cameron had to serve a suspension, so there was the Gabe platoon in center.
Kapler looked and rated well in center last year. He’s fine as a backup CF, shouldn’t hurt too much on defense— he’s probably about average.
Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.
by Jordan M on Jan 12, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I want a Gross/Kapler platoon precisely because I think Joyce is better than Gross
both now and in the future.
First, as to Gross. A number of people have demonstrated that he was a useful player in 2008. I have yet to see any counter-argument with even a smidgeon of evidence or logic and am mystified that some people dismiss him without any apparent rationale.
As for Joyce, we expect him ultimately to become a solid regular. But we also know he has a serious weakness against lefties which he cannot improve by watching from the bench. His minor league career split against lefties shows a line of .239/.328/.393, and in 2008 it was .217/.308/.348. In the majors, he walked enough but his line was .227/.393/.318. If that is all he can do, he becomes not much more than Gross.
Additionally, after a hot debut (essentially a debut) in July, his numbers got worse each month, as if pitchers exploited a weakness, and I think he was already platooning by then. Apparently he was in the winter league to work on hitting off-speed pitches. Again, the Rays cannot afford to let him flounder in the majors. That is one disadvantage of being a contender; you cannot be patient with players once they arrive in TB.
Unless the Rays think that he is fully ready to flourish in the majors, they have to start him in Durham. To bring him up and platoon him hurts both the team and Joyce. It is nice to have the luxury of Gross on hand to be the place-holder as he can do a solid job, especially now that he appears to have a useful platoon partner. I can think of nothing worse for Joyce than to relegate him to a platoon role at this stage of his career.
by bobr on Jan 12, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I mostly agree
Except maybe for the Joyce is better than Gross right now part. Purely platooning, I’m not sure that Gross isn’t better than Joyce.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2009 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gross/Kapler Platoon
I agree bobr and also extend the same argument for Fernando Perez. Both Perez and Joyce still have an opportunity to be everyday players if given the opportunity to work through their weaknesses (by playing everyday). I believe Andrew’s comments regarding both players were just that. When the trade was completed for Joyce, Friedman was careful not to state that Joyce was the immediate RF answer. The RFO has had a stellar hot stove league.
by bobbyray1 on Jan 12, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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