It was not the most attention-grabbing move of the offseason, but it was one that reflects the Tampa Bay Rays low-risk, high reward philosophy with their free agent acquisitions. The Rays claimed 26-year-old first baseman/corner outfielder Jerry Sands off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sands has embarked on an odyssey over the last two years. In October 2012, he was packaged with pitcher Rubby De La Rosa as the players to be named later sent to Boston in the blockbuster deal that shipped Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers that August.
A 25th round draft pick out of tiny Catawba College (N.C.) in 2008, Sands posted impressive power numbers while climbing the Dodgers farm system, including 29 home runs in 2011 and 26 home runs in 2012 – both at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Expected to contend for an Opening Day roster spot with the Pirates, Sands spent the entire 2013 campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis, recording a career-worst .207 batting average, .329 slugging percentage and .640 OPS in 397 plate appearances, swatting just seven home runs.
Sands was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh along with pitcher Ryan Reid earlier this month to clear space on the 40-man roster for Clint Barmes and Edinson Volquez.
The Rays recently inked James Loney to a three-year deal and filled their void at first base. Matt Joyce and David DeJesus are slated to share time in left field in 2014, but Joyce has been linked to trade rumors.
Joyce, DeJesus and Sean Rodriguez currently occupy the DH spot on the Rays depth chart. Sands provides versatility that Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon covets with the ability to play left field, right field, first base and DH.
Likely, Sands will open the season at Triple-A Durham. He has just four home runs and 26 RBI and a .244 batting average in 251 Major League plate appearances with the Dodgers in 2011 and 2012.
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