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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rasmus, Tazawa, Manny

By Cork Gaines [September 12, 2008 at 12:10pm CST]

Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere...

Cardinals Diaspora reads between the lines and feels the Cards will shop their top prospect, Colby Rasmus, this winter.
The Detroit Tigers Weblog would like to see the Tigers go after Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa.
East Windup Chronicle looks at the Japanese free agent crop.
River Ave. Blues thinks the Yankees and Manny Ramirez would be a "perfect fit" despite those that say it won't happen.
Drunk Jays Fans thinks the Mets should inquire with the Jays about the availability of B.J. Ryan.
Rays Index takes a look at the Rays' '09 roster and sees too many starting pitchers and not enough chairs, which could lead to one or two being traded this off-season.
McCovey Chronicles projects the Giants' '09 roster and sees all positions spoken for except possibly third base, but still wonders if Brian Sabean will feel the need to sign an impact free agent.
Lone Star Ball takes a look at the Rangers' '09 40-man roster.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

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Comments

Dear Tampa,

You cannot have too much starting pitching.

Love,
Playoffs

Posted by: Meoveryouok | September 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM

Love the subtle promotion of your blog Cork... If the Rays trade Sonnastine or Jackson, who do you see as holding down the 5th spot until Price is determined to be ready? Also do you see the Rays keeping a strict pitch count and innings limit on Price?

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM

Don't think B.J. Ryan to the Mets makes a whole lot of sense, just sounds like Jays fans who want the Mets to take on their contract.

If the Mets have the money in the budget to cover Ryan @ 10 million, then they would be better served just signing Fuentes or K-Rod as opposed to trading anything worthwhile for B.J. Ryan.

If the Mets don't have enough money in their budget to cover Fuentes or K-Rod, then they wouldn't be able to pursue Ryan either, and would be better served looking at a cheaper option like perhaps Huston Street, or just bring back Ayala (Along with improving the rest of the bullpen) and hope he can continue his newfound success next season.

Posted by: AdropOFvenom | September 12, 2008 at 01:07 PM

Something people should remember is that Ayala was a really, really good reliever for 4 years before sturggling to start 08. He is not just some scrub who is finally having success after always being bad. ERA+ of 154, 168, 153, and 132 from 03-07.

Posted by: nrmax88 | September 12, 2008 at 01:16 PM

Agreed nrmax, I want Ayala back regardless of what the Mets do at closer. But I'm hoping for a situation where Ayala is in the 8th Inning role instead of being the closer.

Posted by: AdropOFvenom | September 12, 2008 at 01:25 PM

Meoveryouok,

true. but if the Rays do want Price in the rotation next season, somebody has to be traded. Hammel, Jackson and Niemann are all out of minor league options. Sonnanstine apparently has options remaining but can you see the Rays putting a 15-game winner in the minors next season?

And there is no room in the bullpen as most of the spots are already spoken for with veterans under contract.

Posted by: Sean Gibson | September 12, 2008 at 01:34 PM

the 5th spot will be Sonny or Jackson. I put my money on Jackson as his numbers are clearly better than Sonnanstine's despite the win totals. There is also Jeff Niemann who is indeed out of minor league options. And of course Jason Hammel who has been better of late.

If you think one spot goes to Price, that leaves 2 spots (1 in the rotation, 1 in bullpen) for Jackson, Sonny, Niemann and Hammel. only Sonny has options.

Posted by: Cork Gaines | September 12, 2008 at 01:37 PM

Too much pitching is a good thing, and as meoveryouok pointed out you can't have too much. Those things have a way of working themselves out too, either by performance or injury. It'd be a gamble for the Rays to trade more than one of those guys before they at least get into st next year and see how things are shaking out. That said, their rotation is obviously their strength right now so if they can use that to improve their offense they should do it, very carefully.

Posted by: pageian | September 12, 2008 at 04:10 PM

the thing is. even if the Rays trade one or even two, they will STILL have too much pitching.

one of those guys is going to be in the bullpen, so there is depth right there. plus they will still have Mitch Talbot and Wade Davis at AAA, both of whom would be in the rotations of 10-12 big league teams (maybe more in the case of Davis). So there is still depth. This is one case when trading one won't hurt, even in the long run.

Posted by: Sean Gibson | September 12, 2008 at 04:49 PM

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rasmus, Tazawa, Manny

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