BREAKING: #Rays are close to signing Steve Pearce to a 1-year deal, just pending a physical. Would get DH at-bats, play 1B vs. LHP, some OF
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 21, 2016
Pearce put together a monster 2014 season with the Baltimore Orioles, however, his production regressed the following season. Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors) wrote about his offensive struggles in 2015, noting,
His strikeout and walk rates trended in the wrong direction this past season, but the larger factor behind Pearce’s 2015 struggles was likely a 90-point drop in BABIP. Pearce did see a fairly notable dip in his percentage of hard contact (34.6 percent in 2014, 30.1 percent in 2015), but that shouldn’t result in such a drastic drop in his fortune on balls in play, so there’s good reason to believe that he can bounce back to some extent in 2016.
While a return to his mammoth 2014 levels* is unrealistic, if Pearce can approach anything resembling his cumulative production of the past two seasons ― a healthy .258 BA/.335 OBP/.494 SLG/.829 OPS line ― he’d be an excellent pickup for Tampa Bay. And though his track record is rather spotty, Pearce’s 31 homers over his past 592 Major League plate appearances is undeniable. Moreover, Pearce has hit extremely well at Tropicana Field, collecting a 1.039 OPS over 23 games, with seven home runs and 14 RBI.
It is thought that manager Kevin Cash could platoon Pearce with either Logan Morrison or James Loney** at 1B/DH, though he may also see time in the outfield, providing Tampa Bay another option should Desmond Jennings or Steven Souza Jr. spend more time on the DL. In any case, while inflicting more damage against left-handed pitching over the past two seasons, Pearce has also hit righties well, slashing .258 BA/.336 OBP/.481 SLG/.817 OPS against right handed pitching.
Keep checking back for more details on this story.
*When he collected an impressive .293 BA/.373 OBP/.556 SLG/.929 OPS slash line.
**The Rays made room on the 40-man roster for Pearce by trading Jake McGee. One still can’t help but wonder if they’ll deal James Loney?
Noteworthiness
― Pearce was excited by the prospects of playing for his hometown team:
So pumped for the opportunity to help bring a championship to my home state of FL as a member of the 2016 Tampa Bay Rays!
— Steve Pearce (@WayneTwentyOcho) January 29, 2016
While I am looking forward to the new challenge, I will forever remember my years in Baltimore with such great teammates, ownership,
— Steve Pearce (@WayneTwentyOcho) January 29, 2016
front office personal, members of the media, and especially, the tremendous fans! Thank you to all of you! My family enjoyed every moment!
— Steve Pearce (@WayneTwentyOcho) January 29, 2016