Rays Trade for Shoppach
December 1st, 2009 | by Jason Collette |Per Twitter
The Indians and Rays are discussing a trade of C Kelly Shoppach to Tampa Bay.
Shoppach is big power but comes with big holes in his swing. Bill James projects a .249/.333/.465 line for him that includes 19 homers and 61 RBI; much better than what the Rays got from the catching position in 2009. What could the Rays give up? I doubt the Indians would take Andy Sonnanstine since they’d rather face him than own him but Mitch Talbot could be interesting given he is out of options and the Rays rotation is already full while the bullpen is rapidly filling out.
Just as I published, Marc Topkin tweeted the Rays have indeed traded for Kelly Shoppach for the ever popular player to be named later. I guess we have seen the last of the Zaunbie Nation and now Dioner Navarro and Shoppach will share the load at catcher. Shoppach should be limited in his exposure to righties as he has a slash line of .224/.307/.430 against them in 689 at bats but has mashed lefties to the tune of .295/.386/.614 in 220 at bats. Navarro has not exactly hit righties well either going .245/.302/.339 in 1204 at bats which makes for a very odd platoon with these two given they both prefer hitting lefties. Does this mean Navarro is a non-tender candidate and the Rays are not done shopping for catching help?
Tags: Dioner Navarro, Kelly Shoppach
