Hideki Matsui Will Be Called Up By Rays, According To Report

The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to call up designated hitter Hideki Matsui on Tuesday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay TImes. Matsui signed a minor-league contract with the Rays at the end of April, and he's been getting back into shape in extending spring training in Port Charlotte. He then reported to Triple-A Durham where he hit .170 in 13 games with the Bulls. That time in the minors will reportedly end Tuesday, via Topkin:

The Rays are expected to call up designated hitter/outfielder Hideki Matsui from Triple-A Durham, with the veteran left-handed hitter scheduled to join them for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.

Tampa Bay will make a corresponding roster move Tuesday, with C Stephen Vogt potentially getting sent down to make room.

While he will likely be in the dugout on Tuesday against the White Sox, it's still unclear whether manager Joe Maddon will put him in the lineup.

For more notes and analysis on the Tampa Bay Rays, check out the Rays blog DRaysBay. And stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay for breaking news and schedules for all Florida sports teams.

Hideki Matsui Draws A Media Crowd

Tampa Bay Rays Expected To Sign Hideki Matsui To Minor League Contract

The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to make an interesting addition to their organization in the form of veteran outfielder/designated hitter Hideki Matsui. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays will likely start Matsui in the minors as he serves in the role of injury insurance for the DH position.

Matsui would likely go to extended spring training in Port Charlotte then report to Triple-A Durham providing, at the least, insurance if current DH Luke Scott were to sustain an injury.

Matsui, 37, has played nine seasons in the majors, with the Yankees, Angels and last year with Oakland. He has a career .285 average with 173 homers and an .830 OPS. Last season with Oakland, he hit .251 with 12 homers and 72 RBIs in 141 games.

He mentions Luke Scott, and his presence on the roster is what makes this move so intriguing. Scott has been playing pretty well this season, so I don't believe that the Rays would want to threaten his place on the roster with Matsui. It will be interesting to see what role they have carved out for Hideki.

For more notes and analysis on the Tampa Bay Rays, check out the Rays blog DRaysBay. And stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay for breaking news and schedules for all Florida sports teams.

Tampa Bay Acquires Minor League Pitcher Matt Buschmann From Washington

The Tampa Bay Rays have made a minor organizational move on Monday, acquiring minor league pitcher Matt Buschmann from the Washington Nationals. The Rays acquire the pitcher without having to give up any players in return.

#Rays acquire minor league RHP Matt Buschmann from Washington for cash considerations and assigned him to Montgomery

— RMooneyTrib (@RMooneyTrib) April 16, 2012

Bushmann was a 15th round pick of the San Diego Padres in the 2006 Amateur Draft. The Nationals acquired Buschmann in the Rule 5 draft during the offseason following five years in the San Diego Padres system. He pitched relatively well until being promoted to the AAA level in 2011 when he was touched up to the tune of a 7.31 ERA in 15 starts and 20 overall appearances. He had yet to make his first appearance for the Harrisburg Senators in the Nationals system.

For more on this story and all things Tampa Bay Rays baseball please head over to DRaysBay.

Rays Spring Training 2012: Tampa Bay Preps For Pitching, Shortstop Competitions

In 2011, the Tampa Bay Rays had one of the single most amazing seasons in the history of the sport. They may have lost in the first round of the playoffs, but the Rays' magical, most unprecedented September led to a 9-game comeback and a dramatic, Hollywood-esque winning of the AL Wild Card over their rival the Boston Red Sox.

Tampa Bay begins their quest to repeat and improve upon 2011's success in just a matter of days. The Rays officially head down to Port Charlotte on Monday when pitchers and catchers make their first showing, but the complex is already buzzing with players and activity ahead of the reporting dates:

The team heads into came with at least three unanswered questions:

1) Will Reid Brignac or Sean Rodriguez win the starting job at shortstop? Or will they end up in one of Joe Maddon's fancy platoons? The team would obviously prefer one of the two to wow Maddon and earn a full-time position outright.

2) Will Wade Davis or Jeff Niemann go to the bullpen? The two starters have to prove all their worth because it looks like rookie sensation Matt Moore has already earned his rotation spot. If an injury or trade does not open a spot for Davis or Niemann, one of them will be a reliever at the start of the season.

3) How many games will Jose Molina be asked to start? Let us be frank: Molina is a defensive diamond. He is the very definition of the Rays' search for the extra 2% -- but he is 36 and playing the most physically demanding position on the field. The Rays said they wanted more catchers to compete with Molina, but for now they have only the young duo of Jose Lobaton and Robinson Chirinos, neither of whom may be ready for heavy catching duties at the MLB level.

Rays 2012 Roster

The best for the Rays roster probably looks something like this:

Starters
LF Desmond Jennings
2B Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
1B Carlos Pena
DH Luke Scott
RF Matt Joyce
CF B.J. Upton
C Jose Molina
SS Sean Rodriguez

Bench
INF Jeff Keppinger
C Jose Lobaton
OF Sam Fuld
INF Elliot Johnson or Reid Brignac

Rotation
1. James Shields
2. David Price
3. Jeremy Hellickson
4. Matt Moore
5. Jeff Niemann
or Wade Davis

Projected bullpen
Closer: Kyle Farnsworth
RH fireman: Joel Peralta
LH fireman: J.P. Howell
Groundball: Burke Badenhop
LOOGY: Jake McGee
Middle: Josh Lueke / Fernando Rodney
Swing man: Davis or Niemann

2012 Rays Spring Training Schedule

The Rays kick off their Grapefruit League action on March 3 and take only one off day (March 19) until Spring Training concludes in early April. Here's a look at their opening slate of games:

Saturday, Mar. 3: Rays @ Twins, 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, Mar. 4: Rays vs. Twins*, 1:05 p.m.

Monday, Mar. 5: Rays vs. Orioles*, 1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Mar. 6: Rays vs. Twins, 1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, Mar. 7: Rays @ Yankees, 1:05 p.m.

Thursday, Mar. 8: Rays* vs. Tigers, 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 8: Rays* @ Twins, 1:05 p.m.

Friday, Mar. 9: Rays vs. Orioles, 1:05 p.m.

*split squad

For more notes and analysis on the Tampa Bay Rays, check out the Rays blog DRaysBay. And stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay for breaking news and schedules for all Florida sports teams.

Rays Offseason 2012: Tampa Bay VP Andrew Friedman Talks Upcoming Season

Tampa Bay Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman took the air ways Thursday, as he joined the Countdown to Opening Day radio show on 620-WDAE and talked Rays offseason. Friedman addressed multiple issues including: offseason acquisitions, manger Joe Madden, Triple-A pitching depth and the battle between Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac.

"If you had told me then where we stand now with upgrading where we did and also maintaining our depth in the meantime, I would have said that that was a dream scenario,'' said Friedman. "We still have a lot of work to do in terms of this division and this league, but as far within the scope of what we can do, this off-season worked out very well in our estimation.’’

Friedman quickly touched on the catching situation, which will feature veteran Jose Molina paired with either Jose Lobaton or Robinson Chirinos, is an upgrade from last year.

Meanwhile, he said that Madden should be with the team for many years to come and that Rodriguez and Brignac have really pushed each other during the offseason and are "going to be a lot of fun to watch.''

For more tidbits from the interview, here's the link to Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin post.

For more on the Rays 2012 offseason, check back to this StoryStream. To join in the conversation about this news, drop on by SB Nation's Rays blog, DRaysBay.

2012 Rays Roster: Sean Rodriguez, Reid Brignac And The Shortstop Battle

The Rays shortstop competition comes down to four infielders, but the future of certain outfielders could very well change the competition entirely.

A's, Orioles Reportedly Interested In Manny Ramirez

Does The Jeff Keppinger Signing Imply A B.J. Upton Trade Is Looming?

The recent signing of infielder Jeff Keppinger does not necessitate a trade, but it certainly prepares the team for the possibility of trading B.J. Upton.

Tampa Bay Rays Sign Jeff Keppinger To One-Year Deal

Andrew Friedman loves depth. Loves it. While the Tampa Bay Rays can't compete with the Yankees or Red Sox for top free agents, they have still managed to stay competitive through acquiring undervalued players and building deep, strong rosters. If the Rays suffer injuries to a handful of their starters, no problem, they have multiple top pitching prospects that can fill in and keep the Rays in contention.

Yesterday evening, the Rays beefed up their bench and depth by signing infielder Jeff Keppinger to a one-year, major-league deal. The Rays already had a rather deep bench -- Elliot Johnson, Reid Brignac, Sam Fuld, and Brandon Guyer all look like possibilities -- but Keppinger fills in a hole:

Out of Keppinger, Brignac, and Johnson, Kepp is the best player. His defense may be mediocre to poor, but he makes up for it with his bat. He has a good walk rate, doesn't strike out much, and he posted a .295 wOBA last season while struggling through two separate injuries (foot and wrist). That was a down year for Keppinger, too; he is projected to post around a .318 wOBA, and he posted a .332 wOBA in 2010.

Also, Keppinger is a right-handed hitter who mashes lefties. He has a fantastic career line against lefties (.368 wOBA), while his line against righties is much less thrilling (.298 wOBA). Considering the Rays have recently signed a number of hitters with issues against left-handed pitching, doesn't it make sense to have a bench player that's good against them? (DRaysBay)

It's rare that the Rays sign a bench player that's not good at defense, but in this case, it seems like Keppinger's bat outweighs his negatives. He's not a perfect player, but he will come cheap and give the Rays a more well-rounded bench.

Rays Sign David Price, B.J. Upton, And Blake Badenhop; Go To Arbitration With Jeff Niemann

The Tampa Bay Rays were able to avoid arbitration with some of their bigger stars, including B.J. Upton and David Price, according to a press release released by the team. They were also able to come to deals with Burke Badenhop and J.P. Howell. Details of the contracts were made available in a press release made by the team.

David Price will earn $4.35 million this coming season, which feels low considering he was the opening day starter for the Rays and made the All-Star team.But his record might not have reflected his ability, and it's possible that cost him.

Price's price tag feels even lower considering center fielder B.J. Upton will make $7 million, which might be a little bit too high for the Rays and could give them a good reason to trade him.

Badenhop and Howell will earn $1.075 and $1.35 million respectively.

They will have to go to arbitration with the eligible players they were not able to agree with, including Jeff Niemann.

To join in the conversation about this news, drop on by SB Nation's Rays blog, DRaysBay.

Rays Looking Beyond First Basemen For Offensive Help

The Tampa Bay Rays filled one of the holes in the lineup the other day, signing Luke Scott to become their DH, but they still have a gaping hole at first base. With Casey Kotchman a free agent, the Rays have been combing free agency and the trade market for another player to bring in -- hopefully one that can upgrade their offense.

But with the free agent market looking thin, it sounds as though the Rays are starting to expand their search:

"We're just looking for a bat," Friedman said. "We like to have 'optionality.' We like to be as flexible as we can be. We don't want to pigeonhole ourselves into any one area if we can avoid it just because it expands the applicant pool.

"We're just going through a long list of names right now trying to figure out how we can line up on the best player that we can, when factoring in offense, fit with our offensive unit, defense, and the net result." (Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times)

Our own Dan Russell took a look at the remaining first basemen available on the market, and the full list isn't too encouraging. There are some interesting hitters that the Rays could add through free agency or a trade -- Carlos Pena, Billy Butler, Lucas Duda, etc. -- but most of the players would be expensive to acquire. Pena is the best hitter remaining on the free agent market (outside Prince Fielder, of course), and young players like Lucas Duda or Mark Trumbo will come at a high cost via a trade.

So what will the Rays do? Only time will tell, but they're certainly keeping their options open. As we've seen in the past, Andrew Friedman is among the best in the majors at finding talent when the pickings are scarce, so he's sure to turn up someone....even if it's not a first baseman.

Tampa Bay Rays Sign Luke Scott For $5 Million In 2012; Hold $6 Million Option For 2013

News broke on Wednesday that the Rays had reached a deal with free agent slugger Luke Scott, and it hasn’t taken long for both sides to finalize the agreement. The Tampa Bay Rays have now officially announced that they have signed Scott to a one-year deal for $5 million, with a $6 million option for 2013 ($1 million buyout).

At first blush, that seems like a large chunk of money for the Rays to guarantee for a 33-year-old designated hitter that’s coming off shoulder surgery. But when you put it in perspective, the Rays are essentially paying Scott the same amount that they paid Johnny Damon last season…only Scott is younger and has more offensive upside than Damon. The Rays are going to be in the running for a playoff spot (and they hope to go deep into the playoffs, unlike the past two years), so every bit of talent they add is extra valuable.

So can the Rays expect Scott to hit for Damon’s line from last season (.261/.326/.418, .743 OPS)? Considering that Scott has averaged an .811 OPS over the past three seasons (and yes, that’s including his injury-plagued 2011), I think it’s a safe assumption that Scott should be an improvement over Damon if he’s healthy.

To join in the conversation about this news, drop by SB Nation’s blog on the Rays: DRaysBay.

Tampa Bay Rays Close To Signing Fernando Rodney

The Tampa Bay Rays are close to signing reliever Fernando Rodney to a one-year deal. The terms have not been released, but the total value is thought to be around $2 million.

Rumor: Tampa Bay Rays Unlikely To Trade B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton has been a subject of trade speculation for the past two seasons, but the Tampa Bay Rays have yet to part with him. Many people thought that this past season would be Upton’s last in a Rays uniform — not going to lie, I was one of them — but it’s appearing more and more likely that the Rays will hold onto Upton for one more season.

The Rays have weighed trade conversations about B.J. Upton, but the bottom line is that whatever Tampa Bay received in return for Upton probably wouldn’t approach the value of what he provides — in defense, in offense. (Buster Olney, ESPN)

I rarely say this about Olney, but his logic makes sense here. Upton is entering his final year of team control, meaning he’ll be a free agent after this season, so teams won’t be willing to give the Rays much in return for him. Meanwhile, Upton is a valuable offensive and defensive player, and his presence makes the 2012 Rays better.

If the Rays hold onto Upton through the full 2012 season, they will likely receive some draft pick compensation for him when he departs in free agency. Under the new CBA, the Rays merely need to offer Upton a one year, $12 million salary for 2013; if Upton declines it (which he likely will, considering the amount he could get on the open market), then the Rays would receive compensation draft picks in the 2013 draft.

So for once, B.J. Upton may be able to get through an entire season in Tampa Bay without trade rumors popping up every other game. Then again, considering the persistent (and sometimes mindless) nature of rumors, I’m not holding my breath.

Tampa Bay Rays Interested In Anthony Rizzo?

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the market for a young first baseman with upside. Their minor league system is one of the best in the majors, but they have a dearth of first base talent in the high minors, meaning that they have no immediate help at the position on the way. First base is a position difficult to fill through free agency, as most of the good first baseman are power hitters and command huge salaries (see: Pujols, Albert), so the Rays would ideally like to trade for a young prospect.

The Rays have been rumored to have interest in a number of young players this offseason (Logan Morrison, Yonder Alonso), and in the wake of the San Diego-Cincinnati deal on Saturday, we can add one more more name to that list:

Clubs have already started calling the Padres about Anthony Rizzo, and the Rays and Cubs are among those interested according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Rizzo could be on the market after Yonder Alonso joined San Diego in the Latos trade. (MLB Trade Rumors)

Anthony Rizzo was the young first base prospect that the Padres acquired in the Adrian Gonzalez deal with Boston, and after watching him struggle in a brief stint in the majors this season, the Padres have acquired Yonder Alonso to be their first baseman of the future. Rizzo will apparently be sent back to Triple-A, despite the fact that he destroyed Triple-A pitchers last season (1.056 OPS).

The Cubs and Rays appear to be trying to buy low on Rizzo and nab him from the Padres at a reduced price, and he would be a fantastic acquisition by the Rays. The trick is, which team will be willing to offer the better deal for Rizzo? The Cubs are supposedly trying to build a package around Matt Garza, while the Rays would likely offer one of Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, or Alex Cobb.

For more on this rumor, check out Tommy Rancel's take over at ESPN Florida.

Tampa Bay Rumors: Rays Interested In Carlos Beltran?

The Tampa Bay Rays have been uncharacteristically "busy" so far this offseason, signing catcher Jose Molina in November and making two early trades for relievers. Now that it's past the Winter Meetings and the hot stove has cooled down to a simmer, this is the time of the year when the Rays normally do their most damage. And sure enough, the Rays have already started popping up on the rumor mill:

Beltran, 34, hit .300/.385/.525 with 22 homers last season, the first time he's played in more than 100 games since 2008. He's mulling over a variety of two and three-year offers according to Rosenthal, with the [Cardinals], Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Rays having interest in the outfielder. (MLB Trade Rumors)

At 35 years old, Beltran certainly comes with his share of risk. He's faced injury issues over the last couple of seasons, and his knees prevent him from playing defense at a high level anymore. He's still serviceable in a corner outfield spot, but the Rays would likely be interested in him primarily as a DH.

Over the last handful of seasons, Beltran's worst has still been considerably better than anything the Rays have gotten form the DH hole these past few seasons. Johnny Damon hit .261/.326/.418 last year, while Beltran still managed to his .255/.341/.427 in an injury-plagued 2010 season. When healthy, Beltran is around 40-50 percent better than a league-average hitter, so he'd be a huge improvement for the Rays.

With the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Red Sox also interested in Beltran, though, it seems unlikely that he ends up in Tampa Bay. Beltran is looking for a multi-year offer, and the Rays will likely be hesitant to give an aging player a three-year deal or to offer as much money as the Red Sox. Only time will tell, but the odds of Beltran ending up with the Rays appear slim.

Tampa Bay Rays News: Kelly Shoppach To Leave For Boston

As first reported by Jerry Crasnick at ESPN, former Rays catcher Kelly Shoppach has signed a 1 year, $1.35 million deal to return to his very first team, the Boston Red Sox.

There's no real way around it: the Kelly Shoppach gamble was a flop. While the Rays didn't give up a valuable player when they traded for him from the Indians -- Mitch Talbot is now pitching on a whole other continent, as a matter of fact -- Shoppach didn't provide the Rays with the offensive upgrade at catcher that they were hoping for. As analyst R.J. Anderson noted on Twitter, Shoppach's production with the Rays (4% below average offensively) nearly mirrors what Dioner Navarro contibuted to the Rays before him (6% below average). He was a valuable hitter against left-handed pitchers, but his overall offensive contributions ended up being underwhelming.

This move likely means that the Rays are set to open the season with Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton as the two catchers on their roster. Both Molina and Lobaton have reputations as excellent defensive catchers, an area where they'll surely be an upgrade over Kelly Shoppach and John Jaso, but their offense will likely be meager at best.

To join in the conversation about this news, drop on by SB Nation's Rays blog, DRaysBay.

Marlins Send Burke Badenhop To Rays For Almost Free

Rays Rumors 2011: Rangers Interested In Wade Davis?

Over this past weekend, George King from the New York Post dropped this rumor update concerning the Tampa Bay Rays:

One NL executive said he heard the Rangers were looking to sign free- agent first baseman Prince Fielder and deal first baseman Mitch Moreland to the Rays for pitcher Wade Davis in the wake of Pujols going to an AL West rival.

While the Texas Rangers might want to pull off a trade like this, the Rays would probably only pursue this route if no better options were available. Moreland was once thought of as the Rangers' first baseman of the future, but he has failed to impress over his season and a third with the team. Despite playing in one of the most homer-friendly parks in the American League, his power has never materialized, making him a below-average first baseman. He still has potential, but he will need to produce in 2012 (his age 26 season) in order to prove his potential is for real.

Despite his subpar 2011 season (4.45 ERA, 4.67 FIP), Wade Davis has more trade value than it appears at first glance. He was once one of the best pitching prospects in the Rays' system; he will only be 26 years old in 2012; and he signed a long-term contract last offseason. However, he also has performed poorly enough these past two seasons to drive his trade value down, and his declining strikeout rate likely raises concerns on if he'll be able to develop into anything more than a #5 starter.

Could a deal like this happen? Certainly, it's possible. But don't count on the Rays pulling the trigger on it until all their other options are off the table.

Tampa Bay Rumors: Rays Have Interest In A's Closer Andrew Bailey, According To Report

The Tampa Bay Rays have been relatively quiet so far this offseason, searching for a DH and first baseman and looking to perhaps unload one of their young starting pitchers in exchange for offense. Now it seems the Rays might also be in the mix for Oakland A's closer Andrew Bailey. Via Tommy Rancel of ESPNFlorida.com: 

Ken Rosenthal reports the Rays and Boston Red Sox are two of the teams interested in Oakland A's closer Andrew Bailey. The A's are shopping some of their young talent in an effort to get even younger and more cost-controlled.

Bailey, 27, won the American League rookie of the year award in 2009 on the strength of a 1.84 ERA and 26 saves. In the two seasons since, he has saved 49 additional games with a 2.28 ERA in 90.2 innings. Last year, he posted a career-worst 3.24 ERA, but was largely the same pitcher he was in previous years according to advanced metrics. For his career he has a struck out a batter per inning with above-average marks in walks and home runs allowed. He is a relatively neutral pitcher in terms of batted balls and goes to work with a mid 90s fastball, a cutter, and a breaking ball in the mid-to-upper 70s.

The A's will not simply give up Bailey for ten cents on the dollar; they will expect a haul of young players in return. Are the Rays willing to move a young starter and perhaps a high-level position prospect for a 27-year-old closer who has a 2.07 career ERA and has averaged over a strikeout per inning in his three year career? They just might.

To join in the conversation about the Rays' offseason and potential moves, head over the SB Nation's blog on the Rays, DRaysBay.

Tampa Bay Rays Quiet On The Rumor Mill, Talking With Other Teams

While the Miami Marlins have been ruffling feathers across the state, the Tampa Bay Rays have continued to be quiet at the Winter Meetings. Andrew Friedman isn't worried, though, and actually appears quite content with how things have progressed to this point:

"We've in the last 24 hours had a number of productive conversations, some that have kind of been off-shoots of talks that we had had in the preceding days,'' Friedman said. "Trades are so difficult to characterize, but I do feel there is decent momentum on a couple of fronts that have a chance to materialize. Whether that's in a day or in a month, that's tough to say. But there are certain spots where ideally we'd be more aggressive and take care of so we could take care of other areas. It doesn't always work out that way.'' (Marc Topkin, St. Petersburg Times)

The Rays are looking to add a first baseman and DH, and it's possible they could fill those holes on the trade market. There are many teams out there searching for a starting pitcher, and considering that C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle are now off the market, it seems likely that the trade market will only pick up.

Also, the Rays have been linked the outfielder Josh Willingham in recent days, but it appears that they may have fallen out of the running. According to Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle, the final three teams in on Willingham are the Twins, Indians, and Rockies. Sigh...it was a good dream while it lasted.

To join in the conversation about the Rays' offseason and potential moves, head over the SB Nation's blog on the Rays, DRaysBay.

Rays Rumors: B.J. Upton Not Garnering Much Interest From Nats, Others

The Tampa Bay Rays have been relatively quiet in the Winter Meetings -- at least, when compared with their cohort across the state. The Rays have signed a couple players to minor league deals, and according to Andrew Friedman, they've had ongoing discussions with other clubs about trades.

One of the players theoretically on the trade block for the Rays is centerfielder B.J. Upton. As he's entering the last season of team control, the Rays could look to trade him for prospects before he leaves at the end of next season. However, if recent rumors are true, then Upton hasn't been generating much interest:

On talks with Rays about Upton, [Nationals GM] Rizzo said, "I don't think anything has changed on that front." (Adam Kilgore, Washington Post)  

Trade interest in B.J. Upton has been mild so far. Just not a lot of teams with need for (and willingness to spend on) CF. (Jon Morosi, FOX Sports)

If this is the case -- and it seems likely, as there aren't many teams out there that need centerfield help -- then the Rays will probably hold on to Upton through the 2012 season. They are in a good position to field a competitive team in 2012, and they will be making a run for the playoffs yet again; Upton makes their team better in the short run, and he's still a good value.

We'll have to see if anything develops here, but it may be that Upton will be around for another season in Tampa Bay.

Winter Meetings 2011: Tampa Bay Rays Make Minor Moves Through Tuesday

Two days into the Winter Meetings, and trade rumors swirling, here's a look at what the normally quiet Rays have done so far this off season.

Tampa Bay Rays Rumors: Rays Reportedly Pursuing Josh Willingham

The Winter Meetings are currently underway in Dallas and the Tampa Bay Rays figure to make some moves just like every other team that is in attendance. Which moves they will make remains anybody's guess. According to our Tampa Bay Rays blog D Rays Bay, via Ken Rosenthal, the Rays are interested in former Athletic, National and Marlin outfielder Josh Willingham. Here is a little more on why the Rays might have interest in Willingham.

Some of us here have lusted after Willingham for the past couple of seasons, as he is underrated and well above average offensively. He has never posted below a .350 wOBA over a full season, and he walks around 10% of the time with a large amount of power (29 HRs last season, .232 ISO). According to both UZR and DRS, he's slightly below average defensively in the outfield, but the Rays would be signing him to either play first base or DH.

Willingham would make a nice corner outfielder for the Rays, as he is very productive behind the plate. As with all of the deals that will go down this week, it comes down to the matters of coast and opportunity.

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Tampa Bay Rumors: Hiroyuki Nakajima To Sign With Major League Team

Japan's second best hitter, a shortstop no less (!), is officially coming state side. Were the Rays the highest bidder?

Tampa Bay Rumors: Rays Prepare For Winter Meetings; Hunting For DH, 1B

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a relatively busy November for them, signing free agent catcher Jose Molina and trading John Jaso to Seattle, but the offseason has only just begun. The Winter Meetings are happening next week, and Andrew Friedman spoke to the press on Thursday afternoon about his priorities.

You can find a full video of Friedman's comments over at the St. Petersburg Times. Here are the highlights:

• The Rays' main priorities are to acquire a first baseman and DH. They have holes at both positions since Casey Kotchman and Johnny Damon are both free agents, and while Friedman hasn't rules out bringing either of those players back, he is looking to improve at both positions and is keeping all his options open for now.
• Friedman states the club will fill the shortstop position internally -- think a Sean Rodriguez / Reid Brignac platoon -- and that he doesn't intend to acquire another catcher this offseason. That means the Rays will likely enter the 2012 season with Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton as the two catchers on their roster.
• The Rays are not looking to trade B.J. Upton, as they want to improve their offense from last season and replacing Upton's production would be difficult. Friedman also claims he does not intend to trade one of his starting pitchers, but I still believe this is more a negotiating tactic than anything. The Rays could improve their offense by trading one of their young starters like Wade Davis, and their rotation wouldn't suffer any as prospect Matt Moore is ready to play in the majors.

To join in the conversation about the Rays' offseason and potential moves, head over the SB Nation's blog on the Rays, DRaysBay.

Could Hiroyuki Nakajima Be A Good Fit With The Tampa Bay Rays?

The Rays have already solved some inefficiencies in the catching and relief pitching positions. Could their next big addition come from Japan?

Scratch One Name Off That Off-Season Wish List

Tampa Bay Rays Rumors: Jonathan Broxton Interested In Florida?

The Tampa Bay Rays have been quite busy in recent days, trading catcher John Jaso for reliever Josh Lueke and signing catcher Jose Molina to a deal, but they may not be done yet. They Rays are still in the hunt to add one more arm to their bullpen, and today’s rumor about Jonathan Broxton was potentially promising:

Broxton friend told me all things being equal wants to be close to Ga home. #Braves unlikely, maybe #Marlins or #Rays make sense (Joel Sherman, NY Post)

Broxton has broken off talks with the Dodgers, and it appears that he’s serious about wanting to return to the southeast. There have been rumors of a number of teams interested in him (up to 10, supposedly), but if he’s only looking at teams near his home, then that would certainly give the Rays an edge.

While there have been no official rumors that the Rays are interested in Broxton, their front office is notoriously quiet. It’s likely that they are interested in Broxton due to his tremendous upside – 2.61 ERA, 1.97 FIP in 2009 – and the fact that his recent health problems would make him an ideal buy low candidate. If the Rays offer him an incentive laden contract and Broxton wants to move to the area, it could make for the perfect match.

Of course, this rumor could simply be a negotiating tactic by Broxton’s agent as he tries to get more money from the Dodgers, and it may be that Broxton’s medical situation is too risky even for the Rays. There’s no telling what may happen at this point, but taken at face value, this is an encouraging sign for Rays fans.

For more on the Tampa Bay Rays, join the conversation at SB Nation’s blog on the Rays, DRaysBay.

Rays Trade Rumors: Good News, Reds Want Pitching For Yonder Alonso

The Rays are the logical trade suitor for one of the hottest hitting prospects in baseball.

Unusual Solutions To The Tampa Bay Rays' Power Needs

The Rays are once again looking for their next DH and first baseman, here are some unusual and inexpensive worthy gambles.

Wait ... Why Do The Rays Want Francisco Cordero?

MLB Hot Stove: Rockies Interested In Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann?

It's common knowledge that the Tampa Bay Rays have a wealth of pitching depth, and that they are looking to fill some very specific holes in their roster this offseason (first base, catcher, DH). As such, I'm somewhat surprised that there haven't been more of these rumors on the hot stove yet:

Colorado has met with multiple teams, surveying the pitching landscape. Some don't make sense given the acquisition price (see John Danks and Rodriguez), and those teams with some common ground are letting the market breathe before determining if they will move a starter.

The latter applies specifically to Miami and Tampa Bay. The Rockies, eyeing a No. 3-type starter who can gulp quality innings, have interest in the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez and the Rays' Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis. (Troy Renck, Denver Post)

The Marlins seem likely an unlikely trade partner, as they appear intent on adding starting pitching this offseason and are unlikely to deal Sanchez. The Rays could be a good match for the Rockies, though, as both Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis are on the trade block and would be cheaper to acquire.

But who could the Rockies offer in return for Davis or Niemann? The Rockies don't have much position depth at first base and lack many young, impact hitters on their team outside of CarGo and Tulo. However, they do have an attractive trade chip at catcher: Chris Iannetta.

Iannetta fits the Rays in many ways, as he's undervalued due to his low batting average (.235 career). He hits for power, though, and walks around 14% of the time, and he's signed for a total of only $9 million over the next two seasons. The problem is that Iannetta could void his 2013 option if traded, so the Rays would likely want to talk with him before completing a deal and see if they could negotiate an affordable multi-year contract.

Even if the Rockies and Rays seem like a good fit, they aren't likely to complete a trade for another month. The Rays prefer to let the market settle before making any moves, and they will try and drive up the price on their starters as much as possible. So for now, all we can do is wait.

Tampa Bay Rays Rumored To Have Interest In Joey Votto

The Tampa Bay Rays haven’t been nearly as exciting over the past few week as their counterparts down in Miami, but that doesn’t mean they are standing still either. The Rays have a set list of needs, and judging from recent reports, they are keeping their options open on how to fill them:

#Rays concentrating on 1b, DH, 2 rlvrs. Want to hold SP depth, but would change if Votto became available #Reds (Joel Sherman, NY Post)

Joey Votto would be a huge improvement for the Rays’ offense, as he’s one of the top hitters in the majors (.947 OPS in 2011), and he would plug the organization hole at first base. The only problem is that Votto is under contract for $26 million over the next two seasons – $9 million in 2012, $17 million in 2013 – and the Rays don’t have much budget space to take on a contract of that size. They certainly have the pitching depth to interest the Cincinnati Reds, but the money makes it doubtful that a deal will actually be reached.

Then again, if the Reds were to lower their asking price enough, Votto would be a great addition for the Rays and they could always look to flip him again next offseason. They would be taking on a degree of risk – what happens if Votto gets injured or doesn’t produce in the AL East? – but it’s a possibility worth considering.

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MLB Trade Rumor: Rays Willing To Deal Wade Davis?

Tampa Bay is expected to listen to offers for the 26-year-old right-hander, according to a report.

James Shields Rumor Update: Pitcher Hopes To Be Back With Tampa Next Season

James Shields was arguably the best pitcher in a very strong rotation for the Tampa Bay Rays this year, and with that, he has made himself a pretty hot commodity in Baseball's hot stove season. But according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, Shields is hoping that the Rays pick up his option and he remains with the team next year.

"I believe I'm going to be back next year, and I think (executive VP Andrew) Friedman feels the same way," Shields said. "Obviously there's a lot of offseason to go. As far as my opinion, I believe I'm going to be back. But it's a business and you never know what's going to happen. As far as I'm concerned, I want to be back, I definitely want to be part of the team."

The Rays can buy Shields out of his contract for $2 Million, at which point he would become probably the biggest name available on the free agent market. But I can't imagine that they won't pick up his option because it only pays him $7.5 Million this year. Which means the difference between having Shields on the roster and not having Shields on the roster is only $5.5 Million dollars. I think that's a pretty fair deal for one of the best pitcher in the A.L. last year, particularly if he really wants to play there.

MLB Rumors: Marlins Interested In James Shields, Willing To Trade Logan Morrison

According to Buster Olney from ESPN, the Marlins are interested in acquiring SP James Shields and are dangling OF Logan Morrison.