Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

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Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
By Mike Axisa [May 15 at 11:45am CST]
The Rays have designated Pat Burrell for assignment, reports Tony Fabrizio of The Tampa Tribune. The move frees up a roster spot for Hank Blalock, who will join the team today.

Burrell, 33, has been a major disappointment since signing a two year, $16MM contract prior to last season. Brought in to help balance out the lineup against lefties, Burrell has hit just .218/.311/.361 in 572 plate appearances since signing. He's been even worse than that against southpaws, if you can believe it.

Tampa now has ten days to trade, release, or waive Pat the Bat, but they still owe him $9MM for this season.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

Should the Reds try to make a deal for Pat "The Bat" Burrell? What should the Reds offer? I think Burrell could be a upgrade on the bench at least. Plus this could possibly get Cairo off the 40 man roster.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

No. Gomes is Pat Burrell at this point, but arguably a better option. I'd much rather just take my chances with Gomes.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

He's probably done for his career.

His line drive rates are way down, and he's swinging at a lot more pitches outside the strikezone. Signs of a slowing bat, happens to them all, usually at the age that Burrell is now.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

In the abstract I wouldn't mind taking a chance on him, but he doesn't add anything we don't get from Gomes.

Some AL team will take a chance on him, maybe the Mariners.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

Would he be better thain Cairo? Plus how bad is Nix hurt?

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

You trade for him you have to pay him that ridiculous salary, plus, he's likely done for and can't play D of any kind.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

Thanks for the info Kronored. So looks like we can find better internal options to replace Cairo.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

I guess he wasn't a Dunn clone from the RH side, he wore out a lot faster.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

Nobody's taking his salary, or more than a little of it, the Rays are going to be stuck with that.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

He's got a few years on Dunner. Burrell put up a .902 OPS during his age 30 season. That said, he's never had Dunn's power. When Dunn starts to go, I imagine he'll go quite quickly as well.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

If we could get him for (basically) free, he'd be worth a shot. Could be Gomes' platoon partner, as he has hit righties better than lefties for the last two years...

Maybe now is the time to spin this into a larger deal that includes Alonso and Brignac.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

if I'm in charge(and lucky for y'all I'm not)and I think I have a chance to go somewhere I definitely don't want Burrell. If I need a bat off the bench I'm calling Bonds, Barry Bonds. Him and his baggage could still help someone in big spots even after all this time I'd bet.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

Jonny Gomes 2009
314PA, .267AVG/.338OBP/.541SLG/.879OPS
Jonny Gomes 2010
104PA, .281AVG/.308OBP/.448SLG/.756OPS
Pat Burrell 2009
476PA, 221AVG/.315OBP/.367SLG/.682OPS
Pat Burrell 2010
96PA, .202AVG/.292OBP/.333SLG/.625OPS

Not to mention Burrell is almost four years older.

2009 Splits. Burrell had a 719OPS against RHP, 588OPS against LHP
Gomes - 859OPS against RHP, .914OPS against LHP.

Those #s continue in 2010.

Pass - Gomes is better, cheaper & younger. And already employed by the team.

Re: Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment
 

Pluses>
1. Awesome nickname.

Negatives>
1. Everything else.