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Banister: Gomez not here to be a backup
- Updated: August 21, 2016
ST. PETERSBURG — Manager Jeff Banister corrected the initial perception of why the Rangers signed Carlos Gomez. He is not coming to provide outfield depth.
Gomez is coming to be the everyday left fielder.
“We’ll get him out there and let him play,” Banister said Sunday morning. “This is a veteran outfielder who, when he is out there, can impact the game. This is not a young guy who has to get by with youthful exuberance. He’s got exuberance, but he is in the middle part of his career. This is a guy who can take over a game.”
Texas is undaunted by Gomez’s struggles in Houston this season. He was hitting .210 with five home runs, 29 RBIs, a .272 on-base percentage and a .322 slugging percentage before being released Thursday. He struck out 100 times in 295 at-bats.
The Rangers are hoping that Gomez will revert back to what he was with the Brewers in 2013-14, when he was a two-time National League All-Star. Banister strongly suggested the club expects to get an impact player for left field.
“I love the energy he plays with, I love the skill set, I love the two-way player,” Banister said. “He can impact the game in multiple ways. Drop him in our lineup with the veteran core around him and he has a chance to resurrect himself.”
The Rangers also appear to be unconcerned …
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