The Rays announced Monday morning that they had signed infielder/outfielder Jamie Westbrook to a minor league contract. The ALIGND Sports client will report to major league camp and provide Tampa Bay with more depth at several positions. The accord was initially reported by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Westbrook, 29, made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2024. He was originally drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, but he has since started to bounce about like a journeyman. The Sox were Westbrook’s fifth team in his career, and his fifth in six seasons. The Rays will form six organizations in seven years.
Though he struggled in a tiny sample of 48 big league plate appearances, hitting.150/.234/.350, Westbrook had a much sharper.277/.369/.450 production with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate in Worcester, which was roughly 15% better than league average offensive output. Westbrook has also had successful Triple-A seasons with the Yankees, Brewers, and D-backs over the years. He’s been in parts of six Triple-A seasons and has a combined.281/.375/.458 batting line with a 15.8% strikeout rate and an impressive 11.3% walk rate.
Westbrook has primarily played second base in the minors, totaling 5372 innings. However, he has played an even 2500 innings in the outfield corners (mostly in left field), as well as slightly shy of 900 innings at third base. He’s a right-handed hitter who has dominated left-handed pitching and has held his own in right-on-right matchups at the top minor league level.
The Rays have plenty of depth at the positions Westbrook has played the most. Brandon Lowe returns as the primary second baseman, but ballyhooed rookie Junior Caminero will get regular reps at third. Chris Morel and Josh Lowe appear to be in line for regular corner outfield time. Utility players Jose Caballero and Richie Palacios provide coverage at numerous spots, while former top prospect Curtis Mead has spent time at second and third base. Outfielders Kameron Misner and Jake Mangum are both on the 40-man roster and can play any of the three outfield positions.
Westbrook will most likely spend time at second base and in the outfield in Triple-A, but he might be in the discussion for a bench spot if he has a strong spring performance and/or if spring injuries thin out the main league roster.
