Former Dodger Hero Released by Tampa Bay Rays
Former Dodgers utility man (and 2016 regular season hero) Charlie Culberson has been granted a release from the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Friday morning on Twitter.
Culberson signed a minor league deal with the Rays early in February, but clearly, wasn't going to make the Opening Day roster. So, he's heading back to the open market as a free agent.
Culberson played for the Dodgers in 2016 and 2017, and sent the team to the postseason in 2016 in the team's final home game of the year (and Vin Scully's last home game as the team's announcer).
Overall, Culberson hit .299 that year in 34 games, but then struggled in 2017, ultimately leading to him being traded in the offseason in a salary dump move that saw the Dodgers bring back Matt Kemp.
Since then, Culberson has bounced around the league. He spent three seasons with the Atlanta Braves and then two years with the Texas Rangers. And then, he signed with the Rays this offseason, but will now be back looking for a new home.
In his career, the 33-year-old is a .248 hitter with 30 home runs, 145 RBIs and an OPS of .679. He can play all over the infield and outfield, which could help him find a new home this year. But we'll see if another team takes a chance on him this season, at least on a minor league deal.
