The Minnesota Twins have reassigned infielder/outfielder Niko Goodrum to minor league camp, indicating that he will not be part of the club’s Opening Day roster. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Goodrum’s assignment clause has been triggered, and the Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in him.
Goodrum joined the Twins on a minor league deal in December. An assignment clause, also referred to as an upward mobility clause, mandates the signing team to offer the player to the other 29 clubs. If any club expresses interest, the signing team must decide whether to add the player to their roster or trade them to the interested club. If no interest is shown, the player remains with the original signing club.
The Rays, known for valuing versatility, may find Goodrum appealing due to his ability to switch-hit and play multiple positions. Although his offensive performance in recent years has declined, his versatility and base-stealing ability could still be valuable assets.
Goodrum’s history includes solid offensive production with the Tigers in 2018 and 2019 but a decline in subsequent years. He spent time with the Red Sox’s Triple-A club last year before opting out and joining the KBO’s Lotte Giants. Despite a less impressive showing in Spring Training with the Twins, his ability to draw walks remains consistent with his past performance in Triple-A and the KBO.
The Rays, facing recent losses in their position player depth, may view Goodrum as a potential versatile bench piece, despite his better performance against left-handed pitchers.
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