As I reported earlier in the week, the Tampa Bay Rays have released Cuban born 1B/OF Leslie Anderson so he could pursue a career in Asia. Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors writes,
“The Rays have released first baseman Leslie Anderson so that he can pursue an opportunity to play in Asia, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.
Tampa Bay signed Anderson after he defected from Cuba prior to the 2010 season, giving him a four-year deal worth $3.75MM. Anderson’s bat never fully took off in the minor leagues, however, and he found himself designated for assignment prior to the 2011 campaign. In 1599 plate appearances at the Triple-A level, the now-31-year-old Anderson owns a .295/.348/.439 batting line.”
The Jerry Sands acquisition makes a little more sense now. The question begs: Who is Jerry Sands? Furthermore, what can he offer the Rays?
Former Dodgers/Red Sox/Pirates 1B/OF Jerry Sands was DFA’d by the Pirates after only 343 at-bats with the Pirates Triple-A affiliate in 2013. A career .244 hitter in the minor leagues, Sands has power potential and low strikeout rates, averaging 30 homers per year (between the minors and majors) since 2008 and a 23.9% K%. The 26-year is rather patient at the plate, averaging a 12.0% walk-rate across the minors, posting a respectable 12.7% walk-rate last season.
After a pair of 25+ home run seasons with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, something happened — Sands had a power outage of sorts. According to Bucs Dugout, “Jerry Sands, struggled through an abysmal season, with a .640 OPS,” leading to him being named the biggest disappointment of the 2013 season within the Pirates organization. Still, there is rebound potential.
Since 2011, Sands has accumulated 1350 minor league plate appearances. During that time he batted a mere 37.6% GB%. Compare that to a 44.1% FB% — including an 8.4% infield fly-ball percentage. As Daniel Russell of DRaysBay asserts, “If Sands could convert half of those infield flies into line drives (20.6 LD% in Triple-A last year), perhaps with a swing adjustment, he’d have a batted ball make up similar to Chris Davis. That’s a big if, though. His outfield fly-ball rate dropped 12.1% at Triple-A last season.”
If everything goes right for Sands, he will be able to earn a roster slot, possibly as a right-handed compliment to Matt Joyce at DH, in Spring Training. That is, of course, assuming the Rays don’t add anyone else to the roster, or they don’t trade Joyce ahead of Spring Training.
Noteworthiness
- In Manny being Manny like news, this generation’s Manny Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, was arrested on Saturday morning in Florida on a charge of reckless driving. The Daily News reports that Puig was arrested at around 9:30 a.m. ET when officers clocked him driving his 2013 Mercedes at 110 mph while going westbound on Alligator Alley, a section of Interstate 75 with a 70-mph speed limit.
- The 100th anniversary of Tony Jannus’ flight across Tampa Bay is New Years Day, at 10:00 AM. Prior to his flight, the only way to get from St. Pete to Tampa was by boat. Jannus’ trip (which now takes 20-25 minutes by car) took an hour plus. Think about how convenient it is to cross the bay nowadays, with three bridges spanning the gap, from Pinellas to Hillsborough. Keep this in mind the next time you complain about going to a Bucs or Rays game. After all, it’s not like you need a Baldwin Red Devil to bridge the gap.