Earlier today it was reported that Luke Scott and the Rays have agreed on a 1-year contract with an option for 2013. According to Scott the contract includes some incentives and he expects to be the teams DH. He only played in 64 games in 2011 and struggled as he tried to play through a shoulder injury by hitting .220/.301/.402 with 9 HR in 236 PA.. He had season ending shoulder surgery in July and anticipates that he will be ready for Spring Training.
Scott has a career OPS of .843 and a lifetime slash line of .264/.349/.494. In his career he has been very effective versus right handed pitching with an OPS of .859 (.271/.357/.501) while being adequate versus left handed pitching with an OPS of .787 (.240/.318/.469). His most productive season came in 2010 when he posted an OPS of .902 by hitting .284/.368/.535 with 27 HR.
The numbers for Luke Scott are impressive but there are some numbers that could be concerning such as his home and away splits and his performance at Tropicana Field.
- From 2008 to 2010 he posted an OPS of .845 with a slash line of .266/.348/.497 averaging 25 HR and 71 RBI per season.
- From 2008 to 2010 he posted a OPS of .958 by hitting .294/.382/.576 with 48 HR at Camden Yards but posted an OPS of .731 by hitting .238/.313/.418 with 27 HR on the road.
- Like many of the 2011 Rays Scott's more comfortable away from Tropicana Field. In his career he has struggled at Tropicana Field posting an OPS of .656 by hitting .202/.291./365 in 117 PA.
- Some have suggested that these numbers are a reflection of Scott having to face the Rays pitching staff but at Camden Yards he has posted an OPS of .853 by hitting .255/.355/.489 against the Rays in 110 PA.
Do any of these numbers concern you?