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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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INF Keppinger signs with Rays

Posted Jan 27, 2012 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jan 27, 2012 at 03:08 PM

ROGER MOONEY

The Rays signed infielder Jeff Keppinger today to a one-year, $1.525 million deal with incentives.

The free agent split the 2011 season between the Astros and the Giants. He was non-tendered by the Giants after the season. He spent time on the disabled list with both teams after having surgery on his left foot before Opening Day and injuring his right wrist after the trade.

Keppinger (career stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keppije01.shtml) was used at second base by both teams but has played more than 100 games at second base, shortstop and third base during his seven-year career. He also has seen time at first base and all three outfield positions.

Keppinger will help the Rays against left-handed pitching. He is a career .324 hitter vs. lefties with a .371 on-base percentage and a .481 slugging percentage. He has struck out only 142 times in 2,287 career plate appearances, averaging the second most plate appearances per strikeout (16.1) among active players (minimum. 2,000 plate appearances) behind Juan Pierre.

“Jeff is a good player who fits our club well,” Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.  “He is a tough out, especially against left-handers, and his contact skills bring a useful dimension to our roster. We also value his defensive versatility, which will allow him to make an impact in many different ways.”

The 31-year-old, who made $2.3 million in 2011, will give the Rays another right-handed bat as well as depth around the infield. His experience – albeit not much – in the outfield would open options for Joe Maddon as Maddon goes to his bench during the late innings.

You might recall Keppinger as a tough out during the Rays three-game sweep last June in Houston. Keppinger was 5-for-11 with a double, home run and two RBI during the three games, getting those hits in his last five at-bats.