The Tampa Bay Rays acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach with an eye toward him providing a power source from behind the dish, but that will have to wait.
News broke Monday that Shoppach will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times via Twitter, the surgery will knock him out for four to six weeks.
The former Red Sox prospect was off to a 2-for-8 start (.250) for the Rays, sharing time with incumbent backstop Dioner Navarro. He hit the disabled list on April 13 after injuring himself April 10.
The 29-year-old was traded to Cleveland in the deal for Coco Crisp prior to
2006. He cranked 21 home runs for the Indians in 2008 and was dealt to Tampa Bay this past offseason.
