Retreating Rays, Carlos Gomez agree to one-year, $4 million deal
In a week that saw the Tampa Bay Rays sell off most of their valuable assets, the club added a former two-time All-Star to the mix.
Carlos Gomez and the Rays agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Gomez, 32, will provide a right-handed bat to the Rays' heavy left-handed outfield, which includes Denard Span, Kevin Kiermaier and Mallex Smith. A career .256 hitter, he will be competing for a starting role in either corner of the outfield.
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Last season with the Texas Rangers, the 32-year-old hit .255 with 17 home runs, 51 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 105 games.
Over the last four days, the Rays, who won 80 games in 2017, sent three key pieces of their roster packing.
On Saturday, the Rays traded starter Jake Odorizzi to the Minnesota Twins and designated outfielder Corey Dickerson for assignment in order to cut payroll. And on Tuesday, they sent outfielder Steven Souza to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team swap.
This comes on the heels of trading their franchise player -- third baseman Evan Longoria -- to the San Francisco Giants in December.
Two-time Gold Glove Award winning center fielder Kevin Kiermaier blasted the latest moves when he arrived at camp.
"I am 100% frustrated and very upset with the moves," Kiermaier said, according to The Tampa Bay Times. "No beating around the bush. It's one of those things that makes you scratch your head, you don't know the reasoning why. And then you see the team's explanation and still it's just like, 'OK, well, so be it.'"