Willy Aybar Rumors

Rays To Stay In-House At Second Base

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays will replace Akinori Iwamura's production from within the organization. Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said the club will rely on Ben Zobrist, Willy Aybar and Reid Brignac to fill the void created by Iwamura's injury. Even with Jason Bartlett injured, the Rays aren't expected to add anyone, in part because they cannot add payroll. It would have been a surprise to see the Rays give something up for a middle infielder when they're getting production from the players they already have. Plus, as ESPN.com's Buster Olney points out, the...   Continue Reading

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Rays, Willy Aybar Agree To Multiyear Deal

3:01pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has the financial details of Aybar's deal. 9:23am: According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the Rays and infielder Willy Aybar avoided arbitration and agreed to a multiyear deal worth $2.6MM plus incentives. Aybar's likely deal has been known for a while now; it should be two years plus an option. I believe Aybar is a Super Two player, in which case the deal would not buy up all four of his arb years.   Continue Reading

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Rays Close To Two-Year Deal With Willy Aybar

MONDAY, 10:39am: MLB.com's Bill Chastain says Aybar is pleased about his new deal with the Rays and it will be announced soon. TUESDAY, 5:44pm: The Tampa Tribune's Marc Lancaster confirms Topkin's report and has gathered a quote from VP of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman: “It’s premature to comment on it, but I think it’s safe to say that we’re very close.” 3:10pm: According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays are closing in on a two-year deal with an option for infielder Willy Aybar. Aybar is a Super Two player (he has four arbitration years). He'll be...   Continue Reading

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Arb Hearings Postponed For Aybar, Santana

According to the AP, arbitration hearings for Willy Aybar and Ervin Santana were postponed until next week. 11 other players also have pending hearings.   Continue Reading

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Rays Reach Impasse With Dioner Navarro

2:22pm: A quote from Navarro's agent Kendall Almerico, via Topkin: "It appears that we have reached an impasse and that we will be going to arbitration on Monday. After that, I hope to resume negotiations on a long-term deal so Navi can play in Tampa for the rest of his career. But that may depend on how the Rays present their case and whether the Rays treat Navi respectfully at the hearing as Navi has instructed us to treat the Rays throughout this entire process." 11:04am: According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays are still in...   Continue Reading

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Rays Rumors: Navarro, Aybar

According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays are looking at multiyear deals for Dioner Navarro and Willy Aybar. DRaysBay echoes Tampa Bay's desire to lock up the two, which would allow the team to avoid arbitration hearings. Navarro will have three arbitration years: '09, '10 and '11; and Aybar will have four years: '09, '10, '11 and '12. The Rays, who don't typically negotiate once arbitration figures have been submitted, appear to be willing to negotiate with these two.   Continue Reading

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Rays Avoid Arb With Jason Bartlett

12:11pm: The noon filing deadline passed without an agreement for Navarro or Aybar, so Marc Topkin anticipates hearings for both. 10:50am: According to Marc Topkin, the Rays avoided arbitration with shortstop Jason Bartlett by signing him at $1.98125MM for '09. Bartlett is under team control through 2011. The Rays' other two arb-eligibles are Dioner Navarro and Willy Aybar; they're making progress with Navarro. The Rays have a policy of not negotiating once figures are exchanged.   Continue Reading

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Arb Hearings For Aybar, Bartlett, Navarro?

According to Marc Topkin, three Rays players appear headed for February arbitration hearings: Willy Aybar, Jason Bartlett, and Dioner Navarro. The Rays have a policy of ending talks when figures are exchanged, and that happens Tuesday.   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Pokey, Lowe, Boss

Before you fire up the grill, check out these links. Dayn Perry has an enjoyable series at Baseball Prospectus called Mock Blockbuster. He proposes trades that would benefit both teams. His latest: Greg Maddux and Brian Giles for Jordan Schafer. Rays Index wonders whether Eric Hinske or Gabe Gross could be expendable once Willy Aybar returns. Joe Capozzi remembers Mike Piazza's five game stint as a Marlin. Pokey Reese sighting! Ned Colletti told struggling free-agent-to-be Derek Lowe the Dodgers aren't slamming the door on him coming back. The Red Sox signed an Australian teen named Boss Moanaroa. Athletics Nation chats...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bruce, Longoria

Yesterday Rob Neyer of ESPN.com wrote about the fates of Baseball America's top two prospects, Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria. While Bruce start the season in the minors, Neyer notes that the Reds could be a playoff contender if Bruce and Joey Votto receive 1,000 plate appearances. On the other hand, a decision has yet be made on where Longoria will start the season. Neyer feels that the Rays may wish that Longoria was not playing so well in Spring Training. He thinks the Rays should forgo the potential savings of keeping him in the minors and buy some goodwill...   Continue Reading

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