Even after signing Burrell, the Rays remain interested in adding free- agent outfielder Gabe Kapler, who could enter their right-field mix and also play center if B.J. Upton is not fully recovered from shoulder surgery at the start of the season. The Burrell signing, however, stretched the Rays financially, and might restrict them from making further moves . . .
Rosenthal. Kapler's FG page.
5 months ago
R.J. Anderson
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Perhaps the Gabe Squared platoon has a chance after all.
He shouldn’t be too expensive. Decent fielder, meh hitter, hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time over the last few years.
by R.J. Anderson on
Jan 6, 2009 10:08 AM EST
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Explain...
And don’t give me Rocco has more potential. We know Rocco is more talented, but he’s a huge question mark even for the Rays who know his medical records better than anybody. Assuming they are both looking for around the same deal, Kapler is the better signing.
by Tommy Rancel on
Jan 6, 2009 10:23 AM EST
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As Tommy pointed out to me
Kapler and Gross can argue about religion and talk about playing for the Brewers.
by Erik Hahmann on
Jan 6, 2009 10:34 AM EST
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In all seriousness
Trying to figure out why Gabe Kapler has been so unreliable. He’s not necessarily injury prone; he mashes lefties pretty good (and early in his career he seemed to handle Righties as well), but dude goes ahead and signs with Japan, which fails, then abruptly retires from baseball?
The first thing that pops into my mind is ‘head-case.’
by kericr on
Jan 6, 2009 10:36 AM EST
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Head-cases are fine, as long as they don't get too attached.
by R.J. Anderson on
Jan 6, 2009 10:38 AM EST
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see: Bubba Trammell
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on
Jan 6, 2009 10:58 AM EST
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him and Pat will have a "flex-off" many times I bet. Kapler wins.
Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on
Jan 6, 2009 10:58 AM EST
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If Baldelli can play on consecutive days
I agree with this. If he can’t, then I think Baldelli would limit lineup flexibility too much for him to be worth it. Rocco certainly has more upside, and frankly, he’s probably cheaper than Kapler looking at the market that’s out there.
If Rocco can’t play in the field on consecutive days, then the fact that we’d either need to play Joyce/Gross against lefties on some days or that we would need to play Burrell in the field on some days probably counteracts any marginal benefit he has over Kapler.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on
Jan 6, 2009 10:58 AM EST
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Correction
It probably counteracts any marginal benefit he’d have over playing Perez or Ruggiano or any number of other cheaper internal options as well.
Also, something else interesting. I realize this is very SSS, but looking at his splits from last year, it really looks like he couldn’t hit for snot when he was playing outfield. That would make a lot of sense, considering the symptoms of his condition, whatever it might be.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=baldero01&year=2008
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on
Jan 6, 2009 11:03 AM EST
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Assuming he gets ~200 PAs
Is 3 runs in the field, 1.4 at the plate (Marcels) and spends most of his time in the corners, that’s ~0.5 WAR or 2.82 mil. If you assume he’s a little worse at the plate ( -3), then you’re talking 0.2 WAR or 1.4 mil. He made 0.8 mil last year. I wonder if that makes him more or less willing to take market value.
by R.J. Anderson on
Jan 6, 2009 10:16 AM EST
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Something from Olney today. Kind of obvious, but still.
The Red Sox have AL MVP Dustin Pedroia and first baseman Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz may well bounce back. Mark Teixeira should greatly augment the Yankees’ lineup. But it is reasonable to think that Tampa Bay may field the best offense, coupled with the best defense and perhaps the deepest rotation, in the AL East. A lot will ride on how effectively the Rays can plug the back end of their bullpen.
by Erik Hahmann on
Jan 6, 2009 10:23 AM EST
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I think Buster wants a front office job
by Tommy Rancel on
Jan 6, 2009 10:27 AM EST
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"RJ Anerson" wants KLAW in the FO too.
Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on
Jan 6, 2009 10:59 AM EST
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Why?
He seems to be doing just fine with what he’s doing. I guess there’s the challenge and all, but there are certainly more qualified journalists out there, and considering he’s probably one of the top 10 baseball writers out there right now (by acclamation anyway), I doubt he’d want to give that up to take a job in middle management somewhere.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on
Jan 6, 2009 10:59 AM EST
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First Burrell, now possibly Kapler
I see a pattern
by Ben Tumbling on
Jan 6, 2009 11:00 AM EST
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See, now I gotta make one for this too.
by kericr on
Jan 6, 2009 11:16 AM EST
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do one for Bob Wickman too
Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on
Jan 6, 2009 12:14 PM EST
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New Rule
Player has to be on the team before they get buttsecks.
by kericr on
Jan 6, 2009 12:35 PM EST
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agree
he was just the first non-ripped fat guy that came to mind for some reason. Probably because he went to my Alma Mater.
I guess Percy would have been easier.
Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on
Jan 6, 2009 1:31 PM EST
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I want one of Jeremy Brown
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on
Jan 6, 2009 11:50 AM EST
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Rays 2009 player calendars coming soon
by steve-o1285 on
Jan 6, 2009 11:08 AM EST
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alright, time to change the subject
I say bring Rocco and his pics with actual shirts on back before Kapler!
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on
Jan 6, 2009 11:10 AM EST
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Again, it all depends on what Rocco is wanting, and how much he can play.
by Erik Hahmann on
Jan 6, 2009 11:18 AM EST
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Actually, it appears to me that it depends on how good he looks to the ladies with his shirt off.
by kericr on
Jan 6, 2009 11:19 AM EST
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Ladies like sob stories.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on
Jan 6, 2009 11:24 AM EST
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He's known as the "Hebrew Hammer"
When he participated in the closing of Tiger Stadium, he wore a black jersey to represent Ty Cobb. The irony being Cobb’s racism and anti-semitism.
Lay off the stadium, Iwamura
by Orlando Rays on
Jan 6, 2009 12:46 PM EST
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Ryan Braun is the Hebrew Hammer!
Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on
Jan 6, 2009 1:22 PM EST
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Aren't we out of Money now?
RJ, weren’t you talking about posting the payroll today? I think we are north of 60 million at this point, not the 53 discussed yesterday.
by plasticman on
Jan 6, 2009 11:22 AM EST
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The Burrell signing, however, stretched the Rays financially, and might restrict them from making further moves . . .
by Erik Hahmann on
Jan 6, 2009 11:23 AM EST
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yes...
But does anyone know how much we are spending.
Less vagueness.
by plasticman on
Jan 6, 2009 11:33 AM EST
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We're all taking rough guesses because we all don't know for certain
We can knock off $1M off of the numbers we came up with, Burrell’s contract is scheduled to pay $7M this year and $9M next; I had calculated 8/8 and I think RJ did too.
by kericr on
Jan 6, 2009 11:37 AM EST
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Also, after Arbitration, the Rays are likely going to clear $60M assuming no more moves are made
And while these don’t technically count towards the payroll total, you can add the Baldelli and Floyd buyouts at $4.25M as payroll obligations, bringing total spending to the virge of $65M.
They’ve doubled their payroll in the last two years.
by kericr on
Jan 6, 2009 11:38 AM EST
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Mrs. Kapler
Adding her and having Mrs. Burrell on board certainly makes the annual fashion show a must see event :)
by Jason Collette on
Jan 6, 2009 11:30 AM EST
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They should sign Griffey or Baldelli to incentive laden contracts
Devil Rays World Series 2009
by Japhei on
Jan 6, 2009 12:38 PM EST
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Why don't you ask me if I would rather lose my left or right nut
I would choose Rocco easily there though.
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
by joeybw on
Jan 6, 2009 12:43 PM EST
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rocco/joyce platoon works for me
again like everyone has said, it all depends on how much money he wants and if he is able to play back to back games
MLB-Rays,Marlins,Twins, and Reds
NFL-Vikings,Lions(i know Shut up),texans, and Bills
NBA-Timberwolves(also shut up),Cavilers(bye bye LeBron in '10)
NHL- Wild and Penguins
College-Gophers,Gators,Longhorns and Irish.
all of the above mentioned teams are in order by my favorites
by RaysOfHope on
Jan 6, 2009 1:19 PM EST
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Shelley Duncan is now available.
He was DFAed by the Yankees.
Suppose we sign Duncan and NY signs Gomes!
by bobr on
Jan 6, 2009 6:11 PM EST
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