State of the Rays: First Base

[yankeebiscuitfan]

After Carlos Pena filed for free agency after the 2010 season, many thought this would be a huge blow.
At bat Pena posted a far from impressive .196 BA. Pena's fielding percentage was a respectable .995.

Pena's replacement, Casey Kotchman, batted .306 for the 2011 season and posted an almost flawless fielding percentage of .998.

So in the end, losing Pena wasn't a big blow. In fact his successor was an upgrade.


2012

Since the Rays signed Kotchman to a minor league contract, you can wonder what they are up to with him.

IMO they would be crazy if they would let him go. He has proven himself a stable factor to the team.

In Dan Johnson, the Rays would have an immediate backup, but he can hardly be called an upgrade over Kotchman. At bat he only posted a .119 BA and he had a .994 fielding percentage.

In the farm system provides one valuable option: Stephen Vogt. But it would be a waste of his catching talent to let him play 1B.
In the games that Vogt played at first he (18 overall, 13 at Montgomery and 5 at Durham) he didn't commit any error.

The Future:

Besides Stephen Vogt, the Rays don't have a good option to play first base, so they have to look for an FA or get a talent from another club and let him work his way through the minors. At the moment the future for that position looks quite bleak.

[RickD]

After 7 years, Kotchman had a career year. His career numbers are nothing to write home about except that he has been without error at 1B However, he is more of a journeyman player as opposed to a long term solution.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

After 7 years, Kotchman had a career year. His career numbers are nothing to write home about except that he has been without error at 1B However, he is more of a journeyman player as opposed to a long term solution.

Maybe you are right, but after such a season I would give it another shot. At least until the next talent from the minors shows up.

[Cubs Fan]

Yes, I would say stick with Casey. But it looks like he just had a good year according to his previous numbers. If Casey gets injured, it looks like your top option is Dan Johnson.

[OutfieldGrass]

There is more to baseball than batting average and I would say that Pena is still an upgrade over Kotchman. Outside his final season in Tampa Bay he was a solid player. Not a #3 hitter but he can hit for power, take a walk and play a very good 1B.

As for current options I would say Kotchman is their best bet and I think Johnson would be a huge dropoff. They might benefit from looking at Derrek Lee as an option. Unless he resigned and I missed it.

[Cubs Fan]

Nope Lee is still a free agent.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

You can wonder if Lee wants to play for a team with a limited pay roll. He was honest to tell in an interview overhere that he signed with the O's because they met his demands....

Of course he would be a great pick up, but not one Tampa Bay can afford I fear.

[Cubs Fan]

But it would still just be another stop for him. A short term fix if of course he DID sign.

[tonypug]

Dan Johnson is no longer a member of the Rays. Until Prince Fielder signs somewhere, Pena and Kotchman are waitin to see what is available. Both would like multi year contracts. Ben Zobrist and Sean Rodriguez can play first base, although the Rays wouldprefer to use both in multiple positions as they have in the past. Kotchman is still a possibility though the Rays would like to find more power there.