Former Ray Kotchman signs with Indians

Casey Kotchman, who hit a career-best .306 last season while playing first base for the Tampa Bay Rays, accepted a one-year, $3 million deal Thursday from the Indians.
 
"Like I've said before, it's an honor and a privilege to put on a major league uniform," Kotchman said. "And it's an honor to have the opportunity to put on another uniform. I want to take advantage of his opportunity and help (the Indians) continue and improve upon what they started last year."

The Seminole product, playing in front of his hometown fans for the first time since high school, enjoyed the best offensive season of his career in 2011 while providing his normal steady glove at first.

In addition to his career-high batting average, Kotchman set career highs in games (153) and on-base percentage (.378). Kotchman finished eighth in the AL in batting, making him the third Ray to finish in the top 10. Jason Bartlett (.317) was seventh in 2009 and Aubrey Huff (.311) was ninth in 2003.

Kotchman credited treatment to cure the infection in his eyelids in December 2010 for his resurgence at the plate.

Kotchman led all major league first basemen with a .998 fielding percentage. It was the fourth straight season he finished with the highest fielding percentage among first basemen.

Kotchman accepted a minor-league deal from the Rays with an invite to major league camp in January 2010. He didn't make the team out despite hitting .354 in the Grapefruit League. He accepted an assignment to Triple-A Durham, but didn't stay with the Bulls for very long.

Kotchman was recalled on Apr. 8 and replaced Manny Ramirez on the roster after the designated hitter retired rather than face a 100-game suspension for failing Major League Baseball's performance enhancing policy for a second time.

With Dan Johnson struggling at the plate, Kotchman soon found himself in the lineup.

Beginning Apr. 23, Kotchman played in 143 of the Rays' remaining 147 games.

Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman maintained all offseason that Kotchman was very much in the discussion as Friedman looked for a first baseman. But a desire for more offensive production led to the Rays re-signing Carlos Peña, the Rays' all-time home run leader.