Rays acquire OF Gross from Milwaukee

The Rays have acquired OF Gabe Gross from Milwaukee for minor league RHP Josh Butler.

The left-handed hitting Gross, 28, was hitting .209 with no homers and 2 RBI for the Brewers. The former Auburn starting quarterback was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2001, and can play all three outfield positions. In his fifth season in the majors, Gross has hit .241 with 20 homers and 87 RBI, but appeared the odd man out in Milwaukee when Mike Cameron returned from a 25-game suspension.

Butler, the Rays second round pick in 2006, was 0-2 with a 6.35 in three starts for Class-A Vero this season.

The Rays will have to make another accomodating roster move, most possibly optioning down OF Justin Ruggiano.

But with the addition of Gross, the Rays can nearly fill a lineup with left-handed (or switch-hitting) batters, though they are not likely to do so.

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Einhard]

I don't see how acquiring a lefty hitter who cannot hit lefty pitchers will affect Gomes's playing time. Actually, as he is off to an uncharacteristically good start against right handed pitchers, Gomes is getting more playing time than expected.

As for strikeouts, while they are damaging in specific situations, as a rule they are no more a problem than any other kind of out. Strikeouts or not, Gomes is a pretty useful hitter because he walks a lot and hits for power. If he can keep his average in the mid .200s, he should be on base near 35% of the time and slug near .500 which would make him very productive.

Johnson is similar to Gomes, which is a good thing and not redundant as he hits from the left side. The difference is that his righty-lefty split is very close, so he is a bit more versatile hitter. As insurance against a Pena injury or slump and also against Floyd being out a long time, he serves a purpose. And even more important, he provides the depth that allows the Rays to deal him or other players if an attractive trade is available.

The difference between the 2008 Rays and earlier versions is that in the past players like Hinske, Johnson, Gross, Aybar and the like were expected to be core players, roles for which they are unsuited. Think Ty Wigginton, for example. On this team they are complementary players, available as short term fill-ins and as reserves. That is a good sign of progress.

[Gomes]

Come on, Gomes is a strike out waiting to happen and can't play Defense.

What is more puzzling in the Dan Johnson thing. He's literally the same player as Hinske(bats left and plays first and RF).........who that is called 'redundancy'..........the OF pick out is a good pick up because we need more OF help, especially someone who can fill in at Centerfield.

[Poor Jonny]

I think they are doing Jonny Gomes dirty. He rarely has at bats and they refuse to give him any solid playing time in RF. I wonder if they will trade him.

[Einhard]

The point is not really whether Gross will be useful or not. It is that he is essentially free talent who provides the Rays more options, not just within games but in future deals. He provides depth, and no matter how many useful players a team has, unless he is blocking someone else who is better, having depth of talent is useful.

I suppose it is possible that he steals some time from Gomes, but I doubt it. Gross has an abysmal record against lefties, so Gomes is safe there, and while Jonny hits righties, he most likely will continue to play.

The key is that the Rays continue to acquire players with some skills & some performance history. It is further evidence that the front office is pro-active and willing to make moves to improve the present team, and not simply look to the future. For two years the criticism has been that the Rays keep dealing for the future, a criticism that was wrong-headed and short-sighted. The focus has now shifted to winning now, and moves for Johnson and Gross exemplify that new focus.

Additionally, Hinske is a free agent after this year so players like Gross and Johnson provide insurance there as well. In other words, the Rays seek to bolster this year's team while keeping an eye on the future as well. That is smart planning.

Maddon is platooning where it is reasonable to do so. He is not platooning Pena, despite his struggles, because Pena has been at least adequate against lefties. Nor has he platooned Crawford or Upton or Longoria or Iwamura or Bartlett. But historically, Hinske has been awful against lefties and Gomes has been terrible against righties. While Gomes is hitting, he plays, but it is unlikely he will continue to hit righties and so it is good to have a platoon partner available. In reality, there is very little platooning going on.

On the other hand, one of Maddon's skills is roster management, his ability to find playing time for everyone. That is to be admired, not criticized.

[Bodog]

@Einhard
I don't know if I agree with that assessment. I'm like Raysfan "Why did we need or want another OF. They just brought in Johnson from Oakland RF/1B Left hand bat, Ruggiano is on the bench and no doubt is probably gonna get sent down. I don't know guys - this move really puzzles me. By acquiring another OF is really pushing JG out of the picture, I don't see any playing time for JG. Another thing - I wish Joe would decide on one line up and let these guys play for a minute together instead of continuing to platoon these guys.

[Einhard]

He is a better hitter than Haynes and thus can form the lefty half of a right field platoon with Gomes or Ruggiano. Until Floyd returns, that allows the Rays to use Hinske at DH rather than in the field where he is a liability. Gross is a very good outfielder with experience in CF also.

It is practically free talent as Butler is an A ball pitcher right now in a system deep in pitching while Gross has had some sporadic success already in the majors, fills a specific need and has some upside as a patient hitter with some pop.

[raysfan]

why did we need/want to get gabe gross? not that i'm bothered by it, just curious