The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to sign former Ranger Hank Blalock to a minor league deal, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
The paper suggests that the two sides were “very close” to striking a deal Sunday night. Blalock would give the Rays another left-handed bat off the bench and provide depth at both first and third base.
Blalock, 29, was an All-Star for Texas in 2003 and 2004, but his production dropped off in both 2005 and 2006 before he missed the majority of the 2007 and 2008 seasons with an assortment of injuries.
Blalock’s power returned last season, as he belted 25 home runs in 123 games, but he posted career lows in batting average (.234) and on-base percentage (.277).
