ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Leave it to the Rays to sign a proven commodity on the cheap. Tuesday’s signing of Amed Rosario to a one-year, $1.5-million deal, or little more than twice the MLB minimum of $740,000, provides manager Kevin Cash with a veteran right-handed bat, a little speed and, most important in the Rays Way of doing business, roster flexibility.
True, Rosario’s .964 fielding percentage in 95 games (84 starts) at shortstop with the Guardians and Dodgers last season would have ranked only 19th given he had enough reps to qualify for MLB leadership. That being noted, the 28-year-old is likely not going be asked to be the starting shortstop, something he was with the Mets and Guardians. Rather, Rosario provides a security blanket at a position the club would like to see recently obtained Jose Caballero comfortably occupy come opening day.
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The Rays obtained the 27-year-old Caballero from Seattle for Luke Raley in January. As a rookie last season, Caballero started only 13 games at shortstop while playing mostly at second. He played in all of 94 games at short in his minor league career as he was not about to supplant J.P. Crawford with the parent club.
With Wander Franco’s status unknown and Taylor Walls likely to miss at least the first few weeks of the season as he continues to rehab from hip surgery, signing Rosario provides more experience at the position. It also gives Cash more flexibility on a game-to-game basis given Rosario’s ability to play second and in the outfield, albeit in small sample sizes throughout his career.
At the plate, Rosario has a career .272/.308/.400 slash line with 96 stolen bases. He compiled a .263/.305/.378 and 15 thefts last season with Cleveland and Los Angeles.
Providing even more potential depth is Yu Chang, who is in Port Charlotte after the Rays signed him to a minor league deal Tuesday. Chang is a familiar face having played 36 games (.260 in 96 ABs) with the Rays in 2022 while providing superb defense at second, short and third.
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