The Padres outrighted Gamel off their 40-man roster last week, and the veteran outfielder has elected free agency rather than remain in the organization and report to Triple-A El Paso. Gamel -- who has spent most of this season in the minors -- is a career .252/.332/.384 hitter over parts of eight big-league seasons.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Gets outrighted to minors
Rotowire
The Padres outrighted Gamel to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.
Gamel looks poised to remain in the San Diego organization as a depth outfielder at El Paso after going unclaimed off waivers over the weekend. Before being dropped from the 40-man roster, Gamel appeared in six games for the Padres and went 3-for-15 with a double and two RBI.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Gamel was designated for assignment by the Padres on Thursday.
Gamel appeared in only six games during his three-week stay in the majors and went 3-for-15 (.200) with a double and two singles. Glenn Otto, claimed off waivers from the Rangers, will fill the vacated 40-man roster spot.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Another start Wednesday
Rotowire
Gamel will serve as the Padres' designated hitter and bat eighth Wednesday versus the Orioles.
Gamel started in right field in his Padres debut Tuesday and went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI as part of a 10-3 blowout victory. Facing a 5.5-game deficit for the third NL Wild Card spot, San Diego will continue to ride the hot hand. That said, Gamel is a career .253/.333/.385 hitter in 2,210 plate appearances at the major-league level and should not be trusted for sustained fantasy production.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Knocks in two in team debut
Rotowire
Gamel went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 10-3 win against Baltimore.
The Padres acquired Gamel in a trade with the Rays in July, but the veteran outfielder had spent all of his time in the minors this season prior to being called up Tuesday. He contributed to a big offensive effort by San Diego with a two-run ground-rule double in the fifth inning to make the score 10-0. Gamel can play all three outfield spots and also saw some time at first base at Triple-A this season, so he has a path to somewhat frequent playing time, though he isn't expected to have an everyday role while up with San Diego.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Promotion made official
Rotowire
Gamel's contract was selected by the Padres prior to Monday's game against the Orioles.
Gamel was brought up to the big leagues after Ji-Man Choi was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a left ribcage strain. The Padres were able to clear a spot for Gamel on the 40-man roster by moving Drew Carlton (elbow) to the 60-day IL.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Expected to be recalled
Rotowire
Gamel will be called up by the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The move is not official yet, but Gamel is set to join the big club for the first time since being acquired by San Diego in mid-July.
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Padres' Ben Gamel: Shipped to San Diego
Rotowire
The Rays traded Gamel to the Padres on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Gamel signed a minor-league deal with the Rays ahead of the 2023 season and has slashed .276/.402/.463 across 250 plate appearances in Triple-A. The 31-year-old outfielder will serve as organizational depth for San Diego and could earn a promotion if injuries hit the Padres outfield down the stretch.
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
