Could this guy work at 1st?

[SteelKeg]

Rays make room for Jeff Keppinger by dropping Triple-A MVP Russ Canzler

Aaron Gleeman

Jan 27, 2012, 4:16 PM EST
9 Comments
keppinger giants getty Getty Images

This hasn’t been a good couple weeks for Russ Canzler.

Last season he won the International League MVP award after hitting .314 with 18 homers, 40 doubles, and a .930 OPS for Durham, made his big-league debut in September with a handful of at-bats, and for a while at least it looked like the 25-year-old first baseman might get a chance as the Rays’ starter.

Then last week Tampa Bay signed Carlos Pena, ruling out that possibility, and now they dropped Canzler from the 40-man roster altogether to make room for Jeff Keppinger. From atop the depth chart to on the waiver wire in less than a week.

Keppinger, who was non-tendered by the Giants last month, finalized a one-year, $1.525 million deal with the Rays and they designated Canzler for assignment. It’ll be interesting to see if Canzler is claimed off waivers, because while certainly not a top prospect he’s had back-to-back big seasons in the minors and would seemingly be a nice bench bat at worst.

[jnn123]

I don't think he's a major league player, but I think someone should give him a shot, if even as an extra bat on the bench. He kind of made a living off of a ridiculously high .396 BABIP in 2011. I believe the next highest in his career was .333. He did show a willingness to take walks, but he was just generally a guy who didn't swing the bat a ton. Kind of locked in on one area and waited for mistakes, which you'll find more of in AAA than in the majors. Had a fairly high strikeout rate, and a strangely high number of looking strikeouts. Also doesnt have much to offer defensively. He's played all four corners, but third base is laughable, and the corner outfield spots weren't anything resembling good either. Even first is just one of those deals where you can stand hi there.

[emjayinTN]

I agree also that he is very well suited for an AL Team because he lacks a true position, and could DH and help out at a number of positions. Saw him play up the road when he was in the Cubs org, and he was definitely not a 1B option. We complain about Garrett Jones, but he looks like a Gold Glover compared to Canzler.

I thought the Pirates would have made a move already, but the only guys I think may be possibilities would be Casey Kotchman or DLee.

[DCBILL]

Given our paucity of 1Bs in the minors, how bad can he be. Sign him!

[Kipper]

Given our paucity of 1Bs in the minors, how bad can he be. Sign him!

Waste of money. We have Hague in AAA

[Kipper]

.396 BABIP

GEEZ is that a bloated number. Nothing says "shoving a rabbit's foot up my ***" like a near .400 BABIP

[exNCite]

Indians acquire Canzler to compete for first base
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
By The Associated Press

The Cleveland Indians added an MVP to their roster, and a possible replacement at first base.

Cleveland acquired versatile Russ Canzler, the top player in the International League last season, Tuesday from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.

Canzler, 25, played four positions -- right and left field, third and first base -- last season for Class AAA Durham, where he batted .314 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs in 131 games. Canzler made his major league debut for the Rays on Sept. 11 and had one hit in three games.

He was expected to be on Tampa Bay's roster this season, however, the club re-signed first baseman Carlos Pena and free agent infielder Jeff Keppinger, making Canzler the odd man out.

The Rays designated him for assignment last week after signing Keppinger.

Canzler led the International League in doubles (40) and slugging percentage (.530), finished second in runs (78) and third in hits (149). He appeared in 41 games in right field, 33 in left, 40 at third base and 17 at first.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12032...#ixzz1l97Zs9X2

Someone did sign him. Good call on the AL. Still think it wouldn't have hurt for us to give him a look.

[emjayinTN]

Ncite: Is it too soon to express our love for Matt LaPorta? I truly doubt that Cleveland will replace a glove at 1B in LaPorta with Canzler, but stranger things have happened. Don't know what Cleveland needs, possibly an outfielder, and every team always seems to need a reliever around this time of year. The fact is that LaPorta, who was a part of the Sabathia trade with the Brewers, just has not shown that he can bring his AA and AAA stats to the majors, and he could possibly benefit from a change of scenery.