The Ultimate Challenge

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

You are given the chance to become GM of the D'Rays for 1 year. You have to get the team into the playoff by the end of the season to keep your job. What moves do you make for the D'Rays to sport a roster with a likely chance to get into the playoffs.

All trades must be logical, realistic and fair to both teams and we are leaving out Roger Clemens as an option.

This is just a fun little game to show what we as fans might do to finally bring a winning season to Tampa Bay. It's been 9 years and counting...

Here is what you have to work with.

40 Man Roster
40-Man Roster
Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
59 Shawn Camp R/R 6-1 200 11/18/75
* -- Marcos Carvajal R/R 6-4 175 08/19/84
39 Jason Childers R/R 6-0 160 01/13/75
47 Scott Dunn R/R 6-3 200 05/23/78
15 Casey Fossum L/L 6-1 160 01/09/78
69 Jason Hammel R/R 6-6 200 09/02/82
38 Travis Harper L/R 6-4 190 05/21/76
* 30 Mark Hendrickson L/L 6-9 230 06/23/74 15-day Disabled List
* 36 Edwin Jackson R/R 6-3 190 09/09/83
26 Scott Kazmir L/L 6-0 190 01/24/84
45 Ruddy Lugo R/R 5-10 205 05/22/80
37 Seth McClung R/R 6-6 235 02/07/81
46 Brian Meadows R/R 6-3 240 11/21/75
33 Dan Miceli R/R 6-0 215 09/09/70
* 11 Shinji Mori L/R 6-4 195 09/12/74 60-day Disabled List
* 34 Jeff Niemann R/R 6-9 260 02/28/83
* 54 Chad Orvella R/R 5-11 190 10/01/80
* 57 Chris Seddon L/L 6-3 190 10/13/83
* 50 Jamie Shields R/R 6-3 215 12/20/81
* 72 Brian Stokes R/R 6-1 205 09/07/79
40 Doug Waechter R/R 6-4 210 01/28/81
Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
44 Toby Hall R/R 6-3 240 10/21/75
8 Josh Paul R/R 6-1 220 05/19/75
* 65 Shawn Riggans R/R 6-2 190 07/25/80
Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
* 64 Wes Bankston R/R 6-4 210 11/23/83
29 Russell Branyan L/R 6-3 195 12/19/75
* 24 Sean Burroughs L/R 6-2 180 09/12/80 15-day Disabled List
3 Jorge Cantu R/R 6-1 185 01/30/82
18 Nick Green R/R 6-0 175 09/10/78
* 19 Aubrey Huff L/R 6-4 230 12/20/76 15-day Disabled List
16 Travis Lee L/L 6-3 225 05/26/75
* 23 Julio Lugo R/R 6-1 170 11/16/75 15-day Disabled List
* 10 Luis Ordaz R/R 5-11 170 08/12/75 60-day Disabled List
9 Tomas Perez S/R 5-11 190 12/29/73
* 9 B.J. Upton R/R 6-3 180 08/21/84
21 Ty Wigginton R/R 6-0 225 10/11/77
Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
* 5 Rocco Baldelli R/R 6-4 200 09/25/81 15-day Disabled List
13 Carl Crawford L/L 6-2 220 08/05/81
4 Joey Gathright L/R 5-10 170 04/27/81
31 Jonny Gomes R/R 6-1 205 11/22/80
27 Damon Hollins R/L 5-11 180 06/12/74
* 35 Delmon Young R/R 6-3 205 09/14/85

* Not on Active Roster

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

Move 1
Travis Harper to Orioles for John Halama.
Halama is a solid vet, who could fit on any team.

Move 2
Joey Gathright and Seth McClung to D'Backs for Miguel Batista and Eric Byrnes.
Byrnes is a good teammate and solid OF. Batista is a versatile and above average pitcher. He can fill many roles.

Move 3
Travis Lee, Damon Hollins, and Jeff Niemann to A's for Haren and Dan Johnson.
Haren is a very solid up and coming pitcher who would be a solid addition to the rotation. Dan Johnson is a solid role player, who is above average starting or off the bench.

Move 4
Casey Fossum and Ty Wigginton to Red Sox for Lenny DiNardo and Alex Cora.
DiNardo is a young and solid reliever who is another option for the team to go to. Cora is another very solid role player who knows how to win.

Move 5
Toby Hall to Royals for Elmer Dessens.
Dessens is a very solid long reliever/ starter providing depth.

Move 6
Doug Waechter and Shawn Camp to Cardinals for Jeff Suppan.
Suppan is a very solid starter. He'd be an asset to alot of rotations. He'll win you more than he'll lose you.

Move 7
Julio Lugo and Russel Branyan to Kelvim Escobar.
A number 2 or 3 starter on most rotations.

Move 8
Jason Childers to White Sox for Chris Widger.
A solid catcher. Provides option since Hall is gone.

Move 9
Brian Meadows and Scott Dunn to Blue Jays for Scott Schoeneweiss.
Versatile reliever. Very Solid set-up guy.

Move 10
Mark Hendrickson and Brian Stokes to Nationals for Jon Rauch and Daryl Ward.
Rauch is another solid reliever and another option out of the bullpen. Ward is a back-up guy filled with power off the bench.

Move 11
Edwin Jackson and Ruddy Lugo to Rangers for Antonio Alfonseca and Laynce Nix.
Nix is a great back-up OF and bat off the bench. Alfonseca provides another strong arm out of the bullpen.

Move 12
Nick Green to Yankees for Miguel Cairo.
Cairo provides a solid bat and glove. A trade for experience.

Move 13
Dan Miceli and Jason Hammel to Nationals for Matt LeCroy.
LeCroy provides a power bat at catcher and 1B. Great Role player.

That's my moves.:atthepc

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

So here is what the team comes down to. (assuming all are healthy)


Lineup
LF Carl Crawford
CF Rocco Baldeli
2B Jorge Cantu
3B Aubrey Huff
DH Johnny Gomes
1B Dan Johnson
RF Laynce Nix
C Matt LeCroy
SS Alex Cora

Bench
OF Eric Byrnes
INF Miguel Cairo
1B Daryl Ward
C Chris Widger
OF Delmon Young
INF B.J. Upton

Rotation
1 R Scott Kazmir
2 R Jeff Suppan
3 R Kelvim Escobar
4 R Miguel Batista
5 R Danny Haren

Bullpen
LR L Lenny DiNardo
LR R Jon Rauch
MR L John Halama
MR R Elmer Dessens
SU L Scott Schoenweiss
CL R Antonio Alfonseca

That's about as close to the playoffs I could get without trading away B.J. Upton and Delmon Young.