Jayson Nix with the Evil Empire last season.
Jayson Nix with the Evil Empire last season.

I made mention the Rays were close to inking a deal with Jayson Nix. Tampa Bay made it official Friday, signing Nix to a minor league contract for the 2014 season, including an invite to Spring Training, with the Rays. Throughout his career, Nix has played second and third base, shortstop, and even the corner outfield positions. Suffice it to say, his versatility will be beneficial to the Rays if he makes the team. Nix slashed .236 BA/.308 OBP/.311 SLG/.619 OPS/.279 wOBA/70 wRC+ in 87 games last season, with three home runs, 32 runs and 42 RBI in 303 plate appearances — slightly above his career norms. What he lacks at the plate, he makes up for in the middle infield. Known for his range and glove work, Nix could fill Kelly Johnson’s vacated role as utility infielder, alongside Sean Rodriguez — among other things.

Moving on. Since no moves were made to procure a full time designated hitter, the Rays are expected shuffle the DH spot with Matt Joyce, Sean Rodriguez, and whoever may need of a day off his feet. Joe Maddon told Bill Chastain of MLB.com, “I’m OK with the rotating component of it for a variety of different reasons, and a lot of it has to do with our mixing and matching and getting guys off their feet, etc.” Considering that Tampa Bay hasn’t had a solid/productive designated hitter since 1999, when Jose Canseco mashed 34 homers in 144 games, platooning the DH hole could be the best (and most cost effective…cough, Pat Burrell) solution to the conundrum.

Marc Topkin tweeted (below) Thursday, that Josh Sale’s suspension is over. The 22 year old first round draft pick from 2010 was suspended last season after bragging, on Facebook, about getting thrown out of a strip club — leading to an indefinite suspension.

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Deadspin exposed Sale’s numb-nuttery last may, calling him the “Quintessential asshole baseball player.” It bears mentioning; Sale hasn’t done much since being drafted in 2010 — aside from earning a 50-game suspension after testing positive for amphetamines.

Noteworthiness 

  • While I continue to compile data and write on the Rays offensive output in 2013, DRaysBay put together a piece on  Tampa Bay’s improved BABIP that’s worth reading.

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