Pat the Ray

[knapplc]

Pat the Bat has to be the most undervalued guy this offseason. This was a great signing of a good hitter who generally flies under the radar.

[BigLebowski]

Good signing!

The best deals are gonna come in the next few weeks. There isn't a huge market right now so players are gonna have to "settle" for 80% of what they expect in a typical offseason.

[ayebatter]

So that makes him 'Pat the Bat Ray', decent signing for Tampa.

[deerayfan072]

Great signing for the Rays IMO. They needed a power right handed bat desperately and he fills that mold. Add in that he doesn't have to play OF, but can and it is a great fit. Nice job by the Rays.

[stevethumb]

seems like a very good fit and the $ is very agreeable BUT i have always thought of burrell as very ordinary/mediocre..his OBP and career HRs look good but .250 BA and averaged 'only' 92 RBIs the last 3 years in that lineup in that ballpark..meh

on a side note, does anyone have any concerns that he may be slow to adapt to the AL and his role as DH ?

is the Trop a neutral park ? will that dampen his power (compared to citizen's bank)?

[J35J]

Like I said the years and $$ make this an ok signing but I think he's being overrated in this thread. I'm going to guess that the change to a new team and a new league is going to hurt him....seeing all new pitchers and everything. Not to mention that he gets most of his stats in 2-3 months of the year and is pretty much useless the other 3-4 months and I think it is an "ok" signing....because there is little risk involved.

[Yoda]

Like I said the years and $$ make this an ok signing but I think he's being overrated in this thread. I'm going to guess that the change to a new team and a new league is going to hurt him....seeing all new pitchers and everything. Not to mention that he gets most of his stats in 2-3 months of the year and is pretty much useless the other 3-4 months and I think it is an "ok" signing....because there is little risk involved.

He is not being overrated by any means. Given that most relief pitchers are going for more than what he signed, I'd be thrilled with a 120+ OPS bat at that price. He can't run and field but that is what the DH is for.

[raiders_umpire]

Great signing for the Rays if he brings that .500 slugging percentage with quite a few walks, bat to the Trop. The Rays needed a good righthanded bat for the DH spot, and for 16 million over 2 years, Burrell seems to be a good fit. I was worried with the Rays possibly missing out on one of these DH type of bats, so I am glad to see the Rays jump right in now before the Angels or maybe even the Sox made a huge offer.

[mweir145]

Like I said the years and $$ make this an ok signing but I think he's being overrated in this thread. I'm going to guess that the change to a new team and a new league is going to hurt him....seeing all new pitchers and everything. Not to mention that he gets most of his stats in 2-3 months of the year and is pretty much useless the other 3-4 months and I think it is an "ok" signing....because there is little risk involved.

The guy is a career .852 OPS bat (he's hovered around .900 for the past 3 seasons), and he's being signed for only 8 million a season. I'd be ecstatic if I was a Rays fan right now. They really needed a hitter, and they got a very good one on the cheap. These are the kinds of signings they have to make if they want to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox.

[jake_harv88]

would it be cliche for me to say "great signing"

seriously though, great add by the rays...