CLEVELAND – The Indians added a new piece to their hopeful puzzle of a playoff bound roster on Monday when they made a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Brandon Guyer.
Guyer comes to the Tribe hitting .241 (51-for-212) with seven homers and 18 RBI in 63 games in Tampa, where he spent the last five seasons.
He gets a chance to come to the Indians, a place where he might just be playing baseball into October if the Indians can maintain their lead in the AL Central.
“Just kind of surprised, shocked, didn’t really expect it,” Guyer said when he found out he was dealt.
“In this game anything can happen, so it’s one of those things where I left some great guys, guys I played with for awhile, but I’m coming to a first-place team, so you can’t ask for much more than that.
“I’m going to embrace that and do whatever I can to help this team win.”
There’s plenty to like about Guyer, who can play all three outfield positions and is hitting .344 (22-for-64) with four doubles, four homers, nine RBI and a 1.082 OPS against lefties, a spot that had the Indians attention when the front office was looking for another outfielder before the deadline.
“When you are wanted it’s always great,” Guyer said.
“I know it wasn’t a situation where the Rays just wanted to get rid of me, so feel like the last five years I contributed a lot there, they gave me an opportunity in the big leagues, and I am very thankful for that.”
Guyer, who is making $1.1 million this season, was a draft pick of the Cubs back in 2007, and made his MLB debut with the Rays back in 2011.
His best season in the Majors was 2015 in Tampa when he hit .265 with eight homers and 28 RBI in 128 games.
Guyer said he feels right at home with the Indians, a team that reminds him very much of Tampa, where former Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash is now the manager.
“I feel like they are very similar to the Rays, just laid back, go out and play hard,” Guyer said.
“Great pitching staff, great defense, so the fact it’s like that might make it a little easier transition.”
The Indians were looking at Guyer before the deadline, and the fact he can play all three outfield spots and hit lefties was something that the Indians
“Guyer from watching him and talking to him, this kid plays hard, he’s a gamer,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
“Plays all three (outfield positions), can hit lefties, can play everyday if need be, it’s a really good complementary player to our roster.”
Here’s to hoping Guyer is that solid piece to the Indians roster puzzle the team has been looking for.
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