3/20/12 Update: I originally posted this piece back in January, and updated in February. We want to know if your opinions have changed since the start of spring training. The poll is still open, and by all means share your opinion. We’ll post the results within the next week. Going in to the 2011/12 [...]
Archive for the ‘Hot-Stove’ Category
The Short-Stop Conundrum; have your opinions changed since the start of spring training (poll included)?
Posted: March 20, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay Rays0
Poll: Who Should Get the Starting SS Spot On the Roster?
Posted: February 23, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay Rays, UncategorizedWith the recent acquisition of former Tigers infielder, Will Rhymes, the Rays find themselves in an interesting position. Going into Spring Training, the Rays will effectively have four infielders, or outright short stops, battling it out for a spot on the roster. We’re diligently writing about the battle for shortstop at the moment. However, we’d [...]
Hot-Stove: Joe Maddon and the Rays Sign a Three Year Contract Extension, Updated with the 2/15/12 Press Conference
Posted: February 15, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysAs per a tweet from Marc Topkin, a 3-year contract extension with Rays and skipper, Joe Maddon, is in the books. The official announcement of the deal, presumably with all of the pertinent information (terms, etc) will be made at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, at 11:00 AM. The Rays and Joe Ma began [...]
Hot-Stove: Rays, Keppinger Closing In On Deal (Re-post from MLBTraderumors)
Posted: January 25, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysHere’s the deal, I’m tired and it’s easier for me to just re-post a screen-shot of a MLBTraderumors post on the imminent signing of utility infielder, Jeff Keppinger. I’ll post more on this later. In the meantime, it looks like that lil ol battle for short-stop/middle infielder just got a bit more interesting!
The Rays are reportedly interested in INF Jeff Keppinger, who split his time with the Astros and Giants in 2011. Keppinger hit .277 BA/.300 OBP/.377 SLG/.677 OPS with 39 runs (35 RBI) and 105 at-bats in 99 games last year. With the potential to add Keppinger to the Rodriguez-Brignac-Rhymes-Johnson infield fray, as they say, it [...]
Pena on DH, the Yankees, and Free Agency; Update Pena Is Again A Ray
Posted: January 20, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysCheck it out here. January 20th Update: This just in, Carlos Pena is again a Ray. Pena has signed a one year deal, reportedlyworth $7.25 MM. According to MLBTraderumors, the Cubs offered Pena arbitration after the season, so they’ll earn a compensatory draft pick for losing the Type B free agent. However, the Rays don’t have to [...]
Hot-Stove: Newest Rays Acquisitions and Re-Signings Rhymes, Feliciano, Sanchez, and Torra
Posted: January 19, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysThe Rays signed three players to minor league contracts on Thursday: 28 year-old utility infielder Will Rhymes, 32 year-old outfielder Jesus Feliciano, and 27 year old RHP Romulo Sanchez. In addition, they also re-signed RHP Matt Torra, who spent the second half of the 2011 season in AAA Durham, to a minor league contract. All [...]
Hot-Stove: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Badenhop, Howell, Price and Upton, and Stadium Stuff
Posted: January 17, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysThe Rays avoided arbitration, and agreed to one year contracts, with pitchers Burke Badenhop, JP Howell, David Price, and centerfielder BJ Upton. Badenhop, who went 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 63.2-IP with 29-ER in 50 relief appearances with the Marlins, will earn $1.075 MM in the upcoming season. Howell went 2-3 with a 6.16 [...]
Hot-Stove: Great Scott, Did You Hear What Damon Said? AKA A Poorly Used Pun For the Title of A Piece on the Two
Posted: January 12, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysWith yesterday’s news of the Luke Scott acquisition by Friedman and Co., it’s time to formally bid Johnny Damon adieu. Admittedly, I’m still in a bit of shock over this whole thing. When it became apparent that we were staring at a “you can only choose A or B” type of situation, with regards to [...]
Hot-Stove: The Ballad of Damon, Pena, Kotchman, Scott, and Trumbo.
Posted: January 11, 2012 by Schmitty in Hot-Stove, Tampa Bay RaysSuper agent extraordinaire, Scott Boras, noted Tuesday that both Johnny Damon and Carlos Pena remain as first-base and DH hole filling possibilities for the Rays. However, you can scratch both Damon and DH off of the list of needs with the news of the signing of Luke Scott, who’ll fill the DH role. But lingering [...]
