The Rays have agreed to a new minor league contract with outfielder Austin Slater, as first indicated on the team’s transaction log. The Ballengee Group client opted out of his previous minor league deal late last month but didn’t latch on with another club, so he’ll head back to Triple-A Durham. Slater’s deal became official yesterday, and so long as it was submitted ahead of noon ET, he’d be eligible for the postseason roster if a need arises.
Slater has taken 65 plate appearances in the majors this season, suiting up not only for the Rays but also the Mets and Marlins. The 33-year-old has posted a tepid .231/.311/.277 slash in that time — his third straight year with below-average production. Through his past 446 plate appearances, Slater carries just a .215/.301/.308 batting line.
Though he hasn’t hit big league pitching, he’s ripped up Triple-A opponents with a .305/.407/.453 slash. Slater has walked in close to 15% of his minor league plate appearances this season. He’s a right-handed hitter with a lifetime .263/.353/.420 batting line against left-handed pitching, so he could have some value off the bench if the Rays need help against southpaws in the season’s final weeks.
Slater has played all three outfield spots and first base in recent years, though he’s best suited for corner outfield/first base work. He’s previously seen brief action at second base and at third base, but the Rays likely wouldn’t consider him anything more than an emergency option at either spot. Even if he’s added to the roster down the stretch, he’ll be a free agent at season’s end, as Slater has picked up more than eight years of major league service dating back to his 2017 debut with the Giants. In 1932 plate appearances, he’s a career .248/.335/.380 hitter.
