According to various reports, Amed Rosario has found a new team, signing a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Tampa Bay Rays. During his brief stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rosario showcased versatility by adding second base to his skill set, a development from his time with the Guardians. Despite facing challenges at the plate and in the field while with Cleveland, Rosario’s acquisition by the Dodgers on July 26, primarily to face left-handed pitching, proved beneficial. Even without significant playing time, his presence upgraded the roster, particularly considering the cash-neutral deal that brought him over from the Guardians, involving Noah Syndergaard.
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While Rosario’s offensive performance remained relatively consistent between his time with the Guardians and Dodgers, his defensive capabilities notably improved post-trade. Initially regarded as one of the least effective regular shortstops defensively, Rosario showcased average defensive performance at shortstop during his limited appearances with the Dodgers, demonstrating an improvement in metrics such as Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average. Most of Rosario’s defensive contributions for the Dodgers came at second base, a position he hadn’t previously played in the majors. Despite this, he displayed positive defensive metrics, further highlighting his adaptability and value to the team.
Having turned 28 in November, Rosario’s skill set has made him a desirable asset throughout his seven-year Major League career, which has seen stints with the Mets, Guardians, and Dodgers. Notably, he has excelled against left-handed pitchers, boasting a strong batting average and weighted runs created plus (wRC+) against them. However, despite his capabilities, the Dodgers opted not to include him on their NLDS roster, citing redundancy in their infield composition and instead opting for a left-handed batter, Kolten Wong.
Over the course of his career, Rosario has maintained a solid batting line of .272/.308/.400 with a 95 wRC+, with particularly strong numbers against left-handed pitching. His ability to contribute both offensively and defensively makes him a valuable addition to the Rays as they bolster their roster for the upcoming season.
