It has been very quiet recently

[chiefpaddy]

After the new ownership group took over, there seemed to be a lot going on. The winters meetings were supposed to bring a lot of changes, nothing happened. It's been very quiet, whats going on?

[Eddiey]

After the new ownership group took over, there seemed to be a lot going on. The winters meetings were supposed to bring a lot of changes, nothing happened. It's been very quiet, whats going on?

I think the Rays management expected more activity also. The problem as
I see it is that the Rays want pitching and so does everyone else.

[raysnbran]

I hope Friedman and Hunsicker are not playing hard to get, like Lamar did, and try and rip other teams off and play hardball with every potential deal. There are deals to be made out there, mainly with Gathright and Lugo. We can't go into the season with the same SPs as 2005, that would be disasterous. Every team in the division is spending money and improving. It's time to do something, ANYTHING. Josh Paul and Sean Burroughs are not enough to get this team to .500 :mad:

[brooklynboy]

Well, promises made..Gifts exchanged....At least we won't lose 100 games as
our esteemed neighbors to the south will prolly do...:rolleyes:

[chiefpaddy]

With talk of a possible four team trade, with the Rays, Mets, Red Sox and Orioles involved maybe something big is about to happen.

[raysnbran]

I'm starting to believe it's not that the Rays are afraid to pull the trigger, it's that the Red Sox, Orioles and Mets need to make their decisions (on Manny, Tejada etc). If they do the deals, the domino effect will have the Rays making many deals, with Lugo, Baez and Huff probably going elsewhere.

[brooklynboy]

That trade story has been circulating around the NY papers for awhile....Supposedly Aaron Heilman and one other player (insert players name here, several have been mentioned) will go to the D'Rays...We in turn will wind up with Manny and the RS will get Tejada...Don't hold your breath just yet..

:crazy

[brooklynboy]

I'm a little confused about the Rays definition of rebuilding...Huff I might see but why Lugo and Baez?? Just who replaces them?/ The usual hot prospects??? For once, I would like to see the so called foundations of the future..

As Frank Zappa once sed.."We're Only in it for the Money"

[chiefpaddy]

I'm a little confused about the Rays definition of rebuilding...Huff I might see but why Lugo and Baez?? Just who replaces them?/ The usual hot prospects??? For once, I would like to see the so called foundations of the future..

As Frank Zappa once sed.."We're Only in it for the Money"
Well, Lugo would eventually be replaced by Upton. The Rays feel they have dome young pitchers who can fill Baez's closer role. The new manager may not be the type that uses a closer, one person who comes in when the team is leading in the ninth inning. I agree with you, lets keep Lugo, Huff and Baez and add a couple of players and see what happens. The feeling of ownership is the team is still a couple of years away. This way Crawford, Baldelli and Gomes will be joined by Upton and Delmon Young. If they can add a couple of top prospects thay will be ready to challenge in a couple of years.

[brooklynboy]

Well, Lugo would eventually be replaced by Upton. The Rays feel they have dome young pitchers who can fill Baez's closer role. The new manager may not be the type that uses a closer, one person who comes in when the team is leading in the ninth inning. I agree with you, lets keep Lugo, Huff and Baez and add a couple of players and see what happens. The feeling of ownership is the team is still a couple of years away. This way Crawford, Baldelli and Gomes will be joined by Upton and Delmon Young. If they can add a couple of top prospects thay will be ready to challenge in a couple of years.
I agree with you on the couple of years away....Maybe I'm just being being too
aggressive looking for a winning season...Sometimes I think we have the "Let's Shoot For 70 Wins this season and Call it a Success" syndrome....I would still like to see some kind of "Commitment Statement" from ownership...Sometimes you get tired always looking up at the division..This comes from a Mets fan who's spent 14 years looking up at the Braves..lol

[raysnbran]

Baez said in yesterdays paper he doesn't want to be a setup man for Wagner in NYC, and can't wait for his FA after the '06 season. If he goes, I think either Orvella or Colome would be the closer. Orvella closed in the minors, Colome has closers stuff, but has had arm trouble and inconsistency. He tries to hit 100 on the scoreboard gun every pitch instead of mixing in a slider once in a while. Huff is a good hitter but just an adequate fielder. He's been tried at 3B, 1B and RF and doesn't excel at any. With loads of OF prospects, I'd rather trade him now for an SP that can help us for a few years. Upton will start the season at Durham, he's still not ML ready defensively (and might not ever be, then they will have to make a decision on him).

[brooklynboy]

Baez said in yesterdays paper he doesn't want to be a setup man for Wagner in NYC, and can't wait for his FA after the '06 season. If he goes, I think either Orvella or Colome would be the closer. Orvella closed in the minors, Colome has closers stuff, but has had arm trouble and inconsistency. He tries to hit 100 on the scoreboard gun every pitch instead of mixing in a slider once in a while. Huff is a good hitter but just an adequate fielder. He's been tried at 3B, 1B and RF and doesn't excel at any. With loads of OF prospects, I'd rather trade him now for an SP that can help us for a few years. Upton will start the season at Durham, he's still not ML ready defensively (and might not ever be, then they will have to make a decision on him).
In other words, D'Rays won't pay resign him as a free agent with a higher salary......In one sense, I can see that, in another, if he can close why not sign him??? Huff is a commodity which can return the so called hot prospects...
If we can get a decent SP for him, I say take it...

[raysnbran]

Top closers are a luxury a perennial cellar dweller can't afford. Baez is still priced reasonable for the Rays, and he's a bargain for damn near every other team. When this team is ready to compete, I expect them to invest in a closer like they will at other positions. But, as of today, Baez is more valuable as trade bait than to get us 35 saves out of our 65 wins...

[brooklynboy]

Top closers are a luxury a perennial cellar dweller can't afford. Baez is still priced reasonable for the Rays, and he's a bargain for damn near every other team. When this team is ready to compete, I expect them to invest in a closer like they will at other positions. But, as of today, Baez is more valuable as trade bait than to get us 35 saves out of our 65 wins...
That's a point well taken and true.....My problem is how long do we keep getting hot prospects for a given commodity???? I still haven't seen any firm committment from management other than talk...

[raysnbran]

I still haven't seen any firm committment from management other than talk...

I'm just glad Vince is outta here. :waving

I thought these new guys would make at least some sort of splash. Right now free parking at the Trop is not making me run out to buy season tickets.:cool:

[tonypug]

That's a point well taken and true.....My problem is how long do we keep getting hot prospects for a given commodity???? I still haven't seen any firm committment from management other than talk...
Actually , I wouldn't be that upset starting the season with Lugo, Huff and Baez. I would like to see a veteran starting pitcher or Two signed to start the season with. Once the season starts the demand for Lugo, Huff and Baez might increase.

[whatup]

The Rays BETTER sign some starting pitching if we're going to compete in the toughest division in mlb. Surely someone needs a Huff or Gathright.

[tonypug]

The Rays BETTER sign some starting pitching if we're going to compete in the toughest division in mlb. Surely someone needs a Huff or Gathright.
The problem is every team is looking for starting pitchers. It doesn't hurt to sign pitchers to minor league contracts and see what happens. The Red Sox seem to have needs that the Devil Rays can fill. The question is do they want to help a team in their division get stronger?

[brooklynboy]

The problem is every team is looking for starting pitchers. It doesn't hurt to sign pitchers to minor league contracts and see what happens. The Red Sox seem to have needs that the Devil Rays can fill. The question is do they want to help a team in their division get stronger?
The Red Sox would be more than willing to help if we would take Manny and his salary and/or help them dump Manny and his salary....

[tonypug]

The Red Sox would be more than willing to help if we would take Manny and his salary and/or help them dump Manny and his salary....
The last thing the Rays need is Manny. The Bosox on the other hand can use a center fielder and a shortstop, which the Rays happen to have available. I was thinking maybe new manager Joe Maddon asked ownership to hold off on making trades until he had a chance to look at everybody in spring training. That actually might not be a bad idea.

[brooklynboy]

The last thing the Rays need is Manny. The Bosox on the other hand can use a center fielder and a shortstop, which the Rays happen to have available. I was thinking maybe new manager Joe Maddon asked ownership to hold off on making trades until he had a chance to look at everybody in spring training. That actually might not be a bad idea.
I agree all around...It's still early...Perhaps we expect too much..too soon!!

[tonypug]

The Devil Rays announced the signing of Ty Wigginton. Wigginton was released by the Pirates in September. I think its a good signing, it only cost about $650,000, which is like minimum wage these days in baseball. He can play first, second and third base as well as right or left field. He has some power and was very highly regarded with the Mets. He was part of the trade that brought Kris Benson to the Mets. He had injuries with the Pirates and never really showed what he could do.

[raysnbran]

I like that signing too. I liked Wigginton on the Mets, a very versatile player. He's an upgrade over Eduardo Perez off the bench, and he's better than Geoff Blum was in this same role. He might play a lot at 3B for us too.

[brooklynboy]

I like that signing too. I liked Wigginton on the Mets, a very versatile player. He's an upgrade over Eduardo Perez off the bench, and he's better than Geoff Blum was in this same role. He might play a lot at 3B for us too.
Was surprized when the Mets let Wigginton go...He's agood utility player that
will give the Rays versatility..

[tonypug]

Was surprized when the Mets let Wigginton go...He's agood utility player that
will give the Rays versatility..
Wigginton was with the Pirates, he was part of the Beson trade two years ago. What I am surprised about, is the Mets didn't try to sign him.

[tonypug]

The Rays announced that they traded Danys Baez and Lance Carter tomthe Loa Angeles Dodgers. In return the Rays recieved pitchers Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany. I expected trades but I don't know about this one.

[brooklynboy]

Yea....Somebody's gonna have to explain this one to me.....

[Wolverineman]

Its a very good trade for Tampa. Obviously Jackson is a huge risk/huge reward guy. If his mechancis can be fixed, he could be the best pitcher on the team. And if he doesn't find success as a starter, he has the stuff to be a dominating reliever as well. Tiffany looks pretty damn good as well. I love the K/9 and H/9 #s he's put up. His HR/9 was up a bit last year, but Vero Beach apparently is a homerun paradise, so that makes sense. Seems to have great potential. And to get both of those for a decent reliever and a nobody, great trade.

[chiefpaddy]

Its a very good trade for Tampa. Obviously Jackson is a huge risk/huge reward guy. If his mechancis can be fixed, he could be the best pitcher on the team. And if he doesn't find success as a starter, he has the stuff to be a dominating reliever as well. Tiffany looks pretty damn good as well. I love the K/9 and H/9 #s he's put up. His HR/9 was up a bit last year, but Vero Beach apparently is a homerun paradise, so that makes sense. Seems to have great potential. And to get both of those for a decent reliever and a nobody, great trade.
Jackson reminds me a lot of a pitcher the Rays just got rid of, Dewon Brazleton. The Padres are sying the same thing about him, if we can straighten out his mechanics, we have a great pitcher. I was hoping the Rays could gat a bit more for Baez, however he has said he is looking forward to next year when he can become a free agent. Probably better to get something for him now then nothing later.

[brooklynboy]

Gotta agree with chiefpaddy...If we had Mazzone as our pitching coach, I might agree...We could have and should have gotten better for Baez...Perhaps if they waited till July..If the Rays don't wanna pay him fine...but get some established
talent in return...

ps Who is our pitching coach??

[Wolverineman]

I think the outlook on Jackson is a lot brighter than Brazelton, and I was saying that before the Rays got him. Plus I do think Brazelton has a good chance to make something out his career in San Diego. I just think Jackson's more talented and has more potential than Brazelton, for one. Plus I haven't really heard anything bad about Jackson's personality/off field stuff. Brazelton had that whole AWOL thing, and I want to say he had some other problems but I can't remember for sure. Jackson obviously had some problems, he was rushed way too fast by LA, and when he struggled a bit in '04 they sent him down to the hitters paradise in Las Vegas and he got shelled and lost all his confidence. He seemed to regain that at Jacksonville somewhat, so it seems to me to be a good risk to take. And like was said, Baez wants to be a free agent after this year. With the incredible unlikelyhood of Tampa competing this year, Baez's value to the team was very little. And I don't expect he would have had a great first half to up his trade value any. In fact it was quite possible he wouldn't of been as lucky as normal and then Tampa wouldn't of really gotten anything for him. So yeah we didn't get 'established' talent, but any 'established' talent we would have gotten would have been average, the potential for both of these guys is way above that. Considering how little was really given up for that, I still think its a great trade.

[brooklynboy]

I think the outlook on Jackson is a lot brighter than Brazelton, and I was saying that before the Rays got him. Plus I do think Brazelton has a good chance to make something out his career in San Diego. I just think Jackson's more talented and has more potential than Brazelton, for one. Plus I haven't really heard anything bad about Jackson's personality/off field stuff. Brazelton had that whole AWOL thing, and I want to say he had some other problems but I can't remember for sure. Jackson obviously had some problems, he was rushed way too fast by LA, and when he struggled a bit in '04 they sent him down to the hitters paradise in Las Vegas and he got shelled and lost all his confidence. He seemed to regain that at Jacksonville somewhat, so it seems to me to be a good risk to take. And like was said, Baez wants to be a free agent after this year. With the incredible unlikelyhood of Tampa competing this year, Baez's value to the team was very little. And I don't expect he would have had a great first half to up his trade value any. In fact it was quite possible he wouldn't of been as lucky as normal and then Tampa wouldn't of really gotten anything for him. So yeah we didn't get 'established' talent, but any 'established' talent we would have gotten would have been average, the potential for both of these guys is way above that. Considering how little was really given up for that, I still think its a great trade.
Majoe League history is littered with potentials.....These guys are a year or 2 away from contributing....Right now, we have a #1 SP and........No closer and
apparently a BP by committee....I figure that's good for what??? 95 losses??

[chiefpaddy]

Gotta agree with chiefpaddy...If we had Mazzone as our pitching coach, I might agree...We could have and should have gotten better for Baez...Perhaps if they waited till July..If the Rays don't wanna pay him fine...but get some established
talent in return...

ps Who is our pitching coach??
The Rays pitching coach is Mike Butcher. He came from the Angels organization. He was in 11 games over several years with the Angels, the last time in 95.

I hope this trade pans out, but I still have my doubts.

[FedEx]

Sadly this trade isn't going to go anywhere. I wish it would, but it was basically giving the only established veteran presence in our pitching staff away for a player that we just got rid of (Brazelton). I will agree Jackson has much more potential then Brazelton ever had, but its just that. Potential. He has a lot of the same problems, and really I don't see why this trade happened at all.

[Wolverineman]

Yes, it is just potential. Its possible that both Jackson and Tiffany bottom out and we get nothing out of the deal. However, what do we lose? One year of an okay relief pitcher. For a team that has no realistic shot at the playoffs this year, I don't see the problem. Having Baez over Orvella as closer if we were in a pennant race is maybe a plus, but on a team thats going to hover around the Orioles for 4th/5th place this year, its not a difference. In fact I'd rather Orvella get the chance now to close, see how well he does when it doesn't really matter. If he does well, then we have a closer for the next few years. If not, thats something to address at the end of the season. Instead of the 1-2 wins at best Baez might provide this year, we get two guys who have a decent chance to help us, potentially a lot, in a year or two when the team should be in a better spot to contend.

[tonypug]

Yes, it is just potential. Its possible that both Jackson and Tiffany bottom out and we get nothing out of the deal. However, what do we lose? One year of an okay relief pitcher. For a team that has no realistic shot at the playoffs this year, I don't see the problem. Having Baez over Orvella as closer if we were in a pennant race is maybe a plus, but on a team thats going to hover around the Orioles for 4th/5th place this year, its not a difference. In fact I'd rather Orvella get the chance now to close, see how well he does when it doesn't really matter. If he does well, then we have a closer for the next few years. If not, thats something to address at the end of the season. Instead of the 1-2 wins at best Baez might provide this year, we get two guys who have a decent chance to help us, potentially a lot, in a year or two when the team should be in a better spot to contend.
If the Rays had pulled the trigger on the deal with the Mets, they would have recieved Jae Seo and a prospect for Baez and Carter. The Rays wnted Aaron Heilman and the deal went dead. I would have preferred Seo over Jackson. Seo won several games last year for the Mets when they were still in the wild card chase. Mets management said that the Rays are very hard to deal with. I don't want them to get screwed in a deal but they do have to be realistic when making deals.

[chiefpaddy]

The Rays signed Luis Rivas to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Usually this sort of signing is no big deal, but new manager Joe Maddon seems really excited about the signing. He said he sees Rivas as a super sub in the same way the Angels use Chone Figgins. I guess he sees more in Rivas then I do.

[brooklynboy]

Yes, it is just potential. Its possible that both Jackson and Tiffany bottom out and we get nothing out of the deal. However, what do we lose? One year of an okay relief pitcher. For a team that has no realistic shot at the playoffs this year, I don't see the problem. Having Baez over Orvella as closer if we were in a pennant race is maybe a plus, but on a team thats going to hover around the Orioles for 4th/5th place this year, its not a difference. In fact I'd rather Orvella get the chance now to close, see how well he does when it doesn't really matter. If he does well, then we have a closer for the next few years. If not, thats something to address at the end of the season. Instead of the 1-2 wins at best Baez might provide this year, we get two guys who have a decent chance to help us, potentially a lot, in a year or two when the team should be in a better spot to contend.
It's gonna take a lot more than Jackson and Tiffany to get this team to contend
in the AL East.....
The team advertising slogan this year should be "Wait Till Next year....And Next Year....And Next Year.....etc"

With apologies to the Brooklyn Doger fans...

[chiefpaddy]

I truly feel the Rays will be more competitive this year, although that doesn't mean they will contend. I would like to see them be more consistant, and avoid the long loseing streaks they have endured over the years. Their early season problems last year caused a lot of fans to lose interest in the team early.

[Maldonado]

I really hate to be a naysayer, but I think 2006 will be another disastrous season for the Rays. The reason for it is abundantly simple and obvious - pitching.

[brooklynboy]

I'm still looking for 90-95 losses....hoping we don't hit 100

[KingJ]

This is one quiet rebuilding.

[tonypug]

This is one quiet rebuilding.
Quiet,don't talk so loud, it's a secret rebuilding.

[brooklynboy]

Quiet,don't talk so loud, it's a secret rebuilding.
It's so secret even the Rays don't know....Somebody needs to tell the
management!!!

As Casey once sed..."Amazin...Simply Amazin..."

[tonypug]

There has been some renewed talk involving Julio Lugo with the Mets and Cubs.

[brooklynboy]

Last I heard here in NY was that the Rays were demanding Heilman..Unless
they've backed off that demand, it ain't gonna happen....

[tonypug]

I am of the opinion now that the Rays should go to spring training with the team they have now. AS other teams realize what holes they have the Rays might be in a better bargaining position. THe Rays aren't going to be competing for the AL East pennant, so there really isn't any urgency on their part.

[tonypug]

The Rays quietly signed Russell Branyon to a minor league deal. First Ty Wigginton, then Branyon, who can both play third base.Perhaps they don't have a lot of faith in Mr. Burroughs. Lugo, Huff and Gathright are all still Rays, the last time I looked, very interesting.

[brooklynboy]

Rumor has it the Rays were asking for too much in return (
at least from the Mets Standpoint).....

:noidea