Rays Designate Pat Burrell For Assignment

[Gallen5862]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

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.

[Gallen5862]

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.

[Brutus]

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.

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

[TheNext44]

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.

[RedsManRick]

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.

[Gallen5862]

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

[KronoRed]

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.

[blumj]

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.

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

[Gallen5862]

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

[Ghosts of 1990]

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

[RedsManRick]

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

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.

[Benihana]

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.

[GADawg]

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.

[Degenerate39]

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.

Dusty! I knew it was you!

[Will M]

From age 28-31 Burrell had four years with an OPS+ between 122-128.
At age 32 he fell off a cliff & was just released at age 33.

I believe this is the huge downside risk to the deal the Cards gave Holliday.
I also believe it is why the Howard deal is indefensible from the Phillie's standpoint as Howard's new deal won't even start until 2012.

Baseball is littered with guys who suddenly lose it in their early 30s.