Gamel and the Rays are expected to finalize a minor-league deal Wednesday, pending a physical, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Gamel's deal includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where he'll look to prove himself and potentially crack the Opening Day roster. Gamel spent the 2022 campaign as a member of the Pirates' organization, producing a .232 average with nine homers, 46 RBI, 42 runs and five stolen bases over 371 at-bats in 115 games with the club. The outfielder has never really recaptured the touch he had at the plate early in his career with the Mariners, but he does bring a level of defensive prowess to Tampa Bay this spring.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Sits in season finale
Rotowire
Gamel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
With lefty Matthew Liberatore on the hill for the Cardinals, the lefty-hitting Gamel will bow out of the lineup for the series finale. Diego Castillo will step in at first base for Gamel, who will finish with a .232/.324/.369 slash line in 2022 unless he's used off the bench.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Gets breather Monday
Rotowire
Gamel isn't starting Monday against the Cardinals.
Gamel went 2-for-7 with a homer, a double, three RBI and two runs over his last two games, but he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three matchups. Diego Castillo is taking over at first base and batting seventh.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Huge home run in win
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Gamel went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 7-5 victory over the Cardinals.
With two runners on base and the Pirates down 3-0 in the second inning, Gamel came through with a huge 404-foot home run to right field to tie the game. The home run was Gamel's ninth this season, his highest total since hitting 11 in 2017. In 20 games since the beginning of September, Gamel is batting .170 (9-for-53) with two home runs, five RBI and six runs scored.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Losing work to rookies
Rotowire
Gamel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
The lefty-hitting Gamel is on the bench against a right-handed pitcher (Chase Anderson) for the third straight matchup and looks to have moved into a reserve role as the season winds down. The non-contending Pirates evidently see more value in giving at-bats to rookies Cal Mitchell, Jack Suwinski and Ji-hwan Bae rather than Gamel, a 30-year-old journeyman on an expiring contract.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Heads to bench Sunday
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Gamel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Gamel has a .532 OPS through 14 games in September and will take a seat Sunday for the second time in Pittsburgh's past three contests. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter while Ji-hwan Bae starts in center field.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Gamel isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
Gamel has been in a 5-for-39 funk at the plate over the past three weeks and has seen his playing decrease because of it. Oneil Cruz will fill in as Pittsburgh's designated hitter Friday, giving Kevin Newman a start at shortstop while batting fifth.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Gamel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Mets.
Gamel started the last three games and will head to the bench after he went 0-for-8 with three walks and six strikeouts in that stretch. Bryan Reynolds will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Jack Suwinski mans center field.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: On bench against southpaw
Rotowire
Gamel isn't starting Wednesday against the Reds.
Gamel started both games of Tuesday's doubleheader and went 3-for-8 with a double and an RBI. Rodolfo Castro will serve as the designated hitter and bat third Wednesday since left-hander Nick Lodolo is starting for Cincinnati.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Sits against lefty
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Gamel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
The lefty-hitting Gamel will retreat to the bench with southpaw Mike Minor taking the hill for Cincinnati. The righty-hitting Diego Castillo will spell Gamel as the Pirates' designated hitter.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Not in lineup for matinee
Rotowire
Gamel isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.
Gamel started the last two games and went 0-for-6 with a run, two walks and a strikeout. Bryan Reynolds is serving as the designated hitter and batting second during Wednesday's matinee.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Back in action at DH
Rotowire
Gamel (foot) will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter and cleanup batter in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
The 30-year-old will check back into the starting nine after missing the Pirates' previous two games with a left foot injury. The Pirates could limit Gamel's exposure to the outfield for the next few days while he works to fully move past the foot issue, but he should reclaim a regular spot in the lineup.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Remains sidelined
Rotowire
Gamel (foot) will sit for the second straight game Saturday against Toronto, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Gamel was seen limping prior to Friday's series opener and sat the game out. He'll miss at least one more game, with his expected return date still not clear. Cal Mitchell starts in right field Saturday.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Out with foot injury
Rotowire
Gamel is dealing with a left foot issue and will not start Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Manager Derek Shelton didn't seem overly concerned about the issue, but it was enough to cause Gamel to limp and enough to cost him at least one start. Jack Suwinski will be the right fielder Friday.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Smacks seventh homer
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Gamel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Brewers.
Gamel took Freddy Peralta yard in the fourth inning to tally Pittsburgh's only run of the day. He now has seven homers on the season, two of which have come in his last five starts. While the power production is positive, Gamel is hitting only .156 across his last 32 at-bats. For the season, he owns a .243/.326/.380 line in 353 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Sitting out Sunday
Rotowire
Gamel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
With Ke'Bryan Hayes getting a day out of the field to serve as the designated hitter while usual first baseman Bligh Madris gets a turn in right field, Gamel will take a seat for the series finale. Gamel had started in each of the Bucs' last 18 games, slashing .257/.297/.400 with two home runs, 15 RBI and a stolen base during that stretch.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Smacks sixth homer
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Gamel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Phillies.
Gamel took Connor Brogdon yard in the seventh inning to tally his sixth homer of the season. It was only his second home run since July 10 -- spanning 39 games -- and he's also hit .239 with 19 RBI and 12 runs scored in that span. Even with the Pirates' efforts to get a look at a number of players within their system, Gamel has retained an everyday role.
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Pirates' Ben Gamel: Drives in two
Rotowire
Gamel went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Thursday against the Red Sox.
Gamel delivered a two-out knock in the fourth inning and has now tallied at least one RBI in seven of his last nine games. He has driven in a total of 12 runs in that span while also scoring twice, though he is hitting just .222 across 36 at-bats. Despite the Pirates primarily turning to youth, the 30-year-old Gamel is locked into an everyday role, splitting his time between right field and designated hitter.
