Tampa Bay Rays sign OF Gabe Kapler
UPDATE, 4:24: If you are wondering why the Rays could sign Kapler for $1-million after saying they couldn't afford to re-sign Rocco Baldelli, who got a $500,000 guaranteed salary from the Red Sox, the answer is the millions of dollars Baldelli can earn in incentives if he plays regularly. Kapler gets just the $1-million, which is all the Rays could afford, executive VP Andrew Friedman said.
"This was the extent of our financial flexibility,'' he said. "Any time you sign a player to an incentive-laden deal you have to expect them to make them, or a good portion of them. ... We were already pretty over-extended before this, and this was about the extent of our flexibility.''
Friedman said Kapler is a good fit for a number of reasons and greatly improves their depth. Though no decisions will be made anytime soon, it would seem that Fernando Perez is now likely to open the season in the minors, where he can continue to play every day rather than only occasionally in the majors. And Friedman also mentioned the idea of having more trade flexibility.
UPDATE, 3:45: 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.''
The Rays will have to drop a player to make room for the addition of Kapler on the 40-man roster, and that should be announced shortly. Pitchers Jae-Kuk Ryu and Juan Salas would seem to be among the most likely to go.
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The Rays have signed OF Gabe Kapler to a one-year, $1-million deal.
Kapler, 33, hit .301 in a part-time role for the Brewers last season with 8 homers and 38 RBIs. He spent the previous season as a minor-league manager before deciding he wanted to keep playing.
He has a career .273 average in 10 major-league seasons, and as a right-handed hitter could be part of a platoon in rightfield (with Gabe Gross) and also fill in in centerfield, which could be important as B.J. Upton recovers from off-season surgery.
Kapler was a member of the 2004 Red Sox championship team, has also played for the Tigers, Rangers and Rockies.
The Phillies reportedly also had interest in signing him.
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Looks like a nice addition to depth in the OF. With Zobrist and Aybar, the Rays have all the depth they need in the IF. Now, the OF has Crawford, Upton, Perez, Gross, Kapler and Joyce (and Burrell/Zobrist can also play OF). Rays have made some good moves this off-season. Cannot wait for April!
Posted by: 9equals8.com | January 13, 2009 at 11:53 AM
I would like to have Perez in there full time; maybe mid-season. Crawford, Upton, Perez--that's some outfield.
Posted by: brianj | January 12, 2009 at 09:56 PM
The AP is reporting that Kapler actually signed for $1,000,018, which is a million plus "chai" -- Yiddish for "life". How cool.
Posted by: George Miller | January 12, 2009 at 08:52 PM
This is a real nice addition to the Rays. Here's a guy who is not going to pout about being on the bench, help young players, and add more right-handed pop.
Posted by: Kennedy | January 12, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Kapler vs LHPs .622 SLG 1.001 OPS
Gross vs RHPs .509 SLG .842 OPS
It sounds like a nice platoon situation in RF to me.
Posted by: MarkFidrych | January 12, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Nick, it's possible Rocco could "go Josh Hamilton on us," but that seems like a pretty long shot. The point is, the Red Sox can afford to gamble on it, but the Rays cannot. Kapler is by no means a top-shelf talent, but he provides affordable depth.
Posted by: Kurt | January 12, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Mr. Steroid in the flesh
I'll take the new Gabe over the old Gabe any day of the week
Posted by: ali420 | January 12, 2009 at 04:45 PM
You know things have changed when players want to play for the Rays, in order to win. Gotta love it.
As for Rocco, he wanted to play for Boston. Even if the rays offered him slightly more money, I bet he still would have signed with the Sox.
Posted by: Mike B | January 12, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Kurt, you know this guy was coaching in the minors last year. I just hope Rocco doesn't go Josh Hamilton on us
Posted by: Nick | January 12, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Kurt, you are 100% correct. We have known since last year that Rocco was not coming back. Kapler is a nice addition and I think he will be better in right field than Gross.
Posted by: Robert | January 12, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Nick, Rocco signed for more than twice as much (over $2 million guaranteed if he stays on the Sox' active roster) as Kapler, and Rocco's health is highly questionable, unlike Kapler's. Rocco was only able to play in less than 30 games last year, and less the year before that. And, Rocco WANTED to go to the Sox. So get over it. Rocco is gone because of (1) Rocco's decision to leave and (2) the Red Sox' willingness to overpay for an injured, part-time player. We all liked Rocco, but he's gone now. Time to move on, Nick. Let's hope Matt Joyce develops quickly . . . Go Rays!
Posted by: Kurt | January 12, 2009 at 03:23 PM
But we couldn't sign Rocco who signed for less than this guy?
Posted by: Nick | January 12, 2009 at 03:07 PM