Rays sign Kapler, really?
The Rays have inked Gabe Kapler to a one year $1 million deal to be the fourth/fifth outfielder for 2009. They have been fairly active with minor leaguers too but I’ll leave that stuff to Rays Index. I’m as conflicted as a person be about this signing considering he’s a reserve outfielder. I like it in a sense because Kapler’s a decent outfielder and could platoon well with Gabe Gross if needed, but why do we need a platoon backup situation? I’ve never been in favor of platoons in general because I’ve always felt that if a guy can play, he can play, screw the other crap. Stats say otherwise and that’s the world we now live in so I’ll go with it. I don’t know much about Kapler other than he was once a highly touted prospect who turned into a journeyman type that was coaching before he decided to jump back into the player ranks. The problem I have with this signing is that Kapler got a mil and Rocco got less, granted there’s incentives, from the Red Sox.
Marc Topkin tried to justify by saying that the Baldelli deal “could be” worth more because of playing incentives, but how much more? Someone is either lying or just not getting it here. If you give Roc the same deal you give Kapler, he walks. If you offer Roc the same deal that Boston did, I think he stays. Putting this into perspective, how much does anybody think Rocco is actually going to play with the Sox? If he does play enough to earn the incentives in his contract wouldn’t that mean that someone got hurt and Rocco is healthy? All that being said, wouldn’t anyone rather pay a little more for a healthy Rocco than a Gabe Kapler if they are needed full time? I understand the Rays penny pinching, but this is stupid.
I can make sense of it thinking that Fernando Perez needs another year in AAA, but how did we end up with an overrated Gabe Kapler over Rocco Baldelli. This is why Boston is the most well rounded organization in baseball right now and not the Yankees, Rays, Phillies, etc. The Rays may be the best at operating as a small market, but they aren’t there just yet. It’s a tough position for the Rays to be in here and it’s hard to pick on them for the moves that they make, since they’ve been so good under tough conditions, but this move I can’t rationalize at all. Kapler over Baldelli, really?
January 15th, 2009 at 10:32 AM
You sir are an idiot. The Rays couldn’t afford to offer Rocco the same kind of deal the Red Sox did. If Rocco reaches all of his incentives his deal will be worth close to $5 million. And when you put those incentives into a contract you expect that player to reach them.
Platoons are important. Kapler hits left handed pitching very well, he does not hit RHP very well, but you’d really rather leave him in there? So if a player has a 1.000 OPS vs LHP but a .600 OPS vs RHP, and you have a guy on the bench who has a 1.000 OPS vs RHP, you’d really rather leave the first guy in full time?
January 15th, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Since I’m an idiot I’ll be quick. I don’t mind platoons if it’s a part time thing, I don’t like the idea of a platoon to fill out a position on a full time basis. I feel the team is better suited letting someone with talent and upside learn to play against both sides instead of having a couple average guys hold down a postion. As far as the salary thing goes, how do you know they can’t afford it? Do you work for the Rays? It’s essentially $4 million more IF he plays well consistantly. That’s a big if and he’s worth every penny if he does play well. They would then be able to utilize cheaper, younger players as options behind him to offset the incentives and things would be fine. The Rays stand to make a lot more money this season and the incentive laiden deals like Rocco got are worth the risk, otherwise we toil in the mediocrity that is Gabe Kapler.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:59 PM
“I don’t know much about Kapler other than he was once a highly touted prospect who turned into a journeyman type…”
“…but how did we end up with an overrated Gabe Kapler…”
So you don’t know much about him, but he’s overrated anyway? Makes sense to me!!!
January 16th, 2009 at 12:09 AM
“This is why Boston is the most well rounded organization in baseball right now and not the Yankees, Rays, Phillies, etc.”
So the Rays field a better team and have a better minor league system (with less money), but because Boston spends money on injured players, they are more well rounded?
January 16th, 2009 at 12:10 AM
I guess not knowing much means knowing nothing at all now. Way to beat a statement to death.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:20 AM
“….we toil in the mediocrity that is Gabe Kapler.”
Kapler had a 1.001 OPS against lefties last year. Can we please have some of that mediocrity!?
January 16th, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Scott- You are right-on on this one. In order for Rocco to earn past $2.25 million he must come up from 300 to 600 times this year. As a 4th outfielder (with a 5th available in Kotsay) it would probably take a couple of DL trips for Drew, Bay, Ellsbury and company. Also there is only $500,000 guaranteed. In order to reach $2.25 he must stay off the DL the entire season. Is that reasonable? and likely? I truly believe that the team abandoned Rocco in its quest for other talent and that when they returned to get the RH right field option they were too late to recover. I truly relieve that this non-signing could have a disasterous effect on the 2009 season. Kapler was well loved on Boston and Milwaukee but he is very, very prone to hot starts and cool finishes. The more Kapler plays the more he reverts back to form. Big mistake on the Ray’s part.
April 11th, 2009 at 6:49 PM
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