One thing became glaringly obvious following the transition from Spring Training to the regular season: the Rays are strapped for left handed bench depth. On a few different occasions this season, Tampa Bay has faced less than favorable matchups in key situations late in a game, yet they haven’t been able to do anything to change it. Tampa Bay might have a solution in veteran switch-hitter Wilson Betemit.
Betemit, 32, is no stranger to the big leagues. He made his major league debut in 2001, playing the better part of 11 seasons in the big leagues — slashing .267 BA/.332 OBP/.442 SLG/.774 OPS over the span of his career. Betemit was off to a slow start in Triple-A, something that could be attributed to his late start in Spring Training because of visa issues. However he’s finally getting toasty, putting together a healthy .270 BA/.349 OBP/. 676 SLG/1.025 OPS slash line over the last few weeks, with eight home runs overall.
Though not the end-all-be-all, activating Betemit would help alleviate the Rays bench issues. Betemit has been much better against righties in his career (.819 OPS vs. 639 OPS against LHP; .921 OPS vs. .436 against LHP this season), and he would fill the Rays’ bench need nicely. Additionally, he’s been a RHP killer in Triple-A this season, with all eight of his home runs coming against righties.
He is also versatile player that has spent time at all four infield spots as well as both corner outfield spots over the course of his big league career. It’s been said that Betemit fits a big need, as well as adds some extra value with his versatility, so now that he is hot it makes plenty of sense to give him a big league opportunity. I tend to agree.
Making room for Betemit would be easy, with the most logical demotion option being Logan Forsythe, who has struggled this season, slashing .191 BA/.263 OBP/.265 SLG/.528 OPS. Forsythe is a talented player who will be an important part of the Rays future, but he is only hurting the club at the moment. Sending him down could be the best thing for Forsythe (and the Rays), and there would be no risk of losing him — Forsythe still has an option remaining.
In my mind it makes plenty of sense to send Forsythe down to Triple-A, and bring up Betemit. The Rays need someone that can pinch-hit against right handers late in games, and giving Betemit the job would bolster the bench.