RealGM

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/b ... right.html

Presumably he'll be a fourth outfielder and play centre when Vernon is injured or DHing. Thoughts?

well he swings from the left side, which is nice. zero power. if he miraculously started hitting, he's got the tools to be an occasional fill-in for the leadoff position. as a fourth outfielder at minimal cost he should be fine. decent move as long as cito doesn't have him stealing at-bats from any of the young guys that need to develop.

I don't understand this signing at all. Unless this is a move made to accommodate another move, we need to be focusing on a lot more then adding depth outfielders with no power and basically average-at-best everywhere else.

A real pinch runner on the bench? Sounds like a plan to me, but I'm with Jim Todd about AB stealing. He's a niche player and has a bit of value as long as you use him for what he's good at. If Lind/Wells/Snider is the OF next year he's probably gonna be a defensive replacement and/or pinch runner pretty freaking often.

We'll have to wait and see whether it's a major league deal or not, because I don't see any indication in the article. If it's a minor league deal, he's basically just a replacement for Buck Coats, who signed with Kansas City.

lol at this being completely shot down by his representatives.

IIRC Gathright used to be a track star,
He was kicked around as Carl Crawford Version 2.0 in his youth with the Rays,

But its been a while, I have no idea how his wheels are anymore but his hitting ranges from terrible to awful so assuming he makes the roster he will be your designated pinch runner.

This signing could end up paying huge dividends. Gathright use to be one of the better prospects within the Rays organization. If he can get his bat going, I don't care who he steals playing time from.

But, they're all big If's.

Let's just hope he's a 4th OF and pinch runner, because if he's the answer for the lead off spot, it's about to get ugly. Career .630 OPS ugly.

Not a bad signing, he could be a decent player off the bench for us with his speed.

I've always liked his speed, of course no power. He is capable of hitting .300 and stealing a lot of bases, something we could really use on the bench.

EDIT: I think this was a false report...

pinch runner for next season.