The Rays are nearing an agreement with St. Peterburg mayor Rick Kriseman that will grant the team permission to explore new stadium sites in Hillsborough County, report Stephen Nohlgren and Charlie Frago of the Tampa Bay Times. Kriseman would like to finalize an agreement within the next month and “definitely before Christmas” so he can present the plan to City Council. If the Rays do leave for a new Hillsborough stadium, the city of St. Petersburg would be entitled to monetary compensation, as the Rays’ current lease at Tropicana Field runs through 2027.
Here’s more from the AL East…
- Orioles GM Dan Duquette was named Major League Baseball Executive of the Year by The Sporting News, and he spoke with MLB.com’s Paul Hagen about the honor. Duquette, who narrowly edged out Dayton Moore of the Royals, said his focus from day one has been improving the club’s pitching staff. He also addressed the success he’s had in finding value from unheralded minor league signings, and how that success makes them an attractive destination: “…when players sign with us, whether it’s Triple-A or the big leagues, they know they’re going to get an opportunity.”
- Duquette tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that he has enough financial flexibility to sign both Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz (Twitter links). He plans to meet with Cruz’s new agent, Diego Bentz of Relativity Sports, at the GM Meetings, and the book is not closed on Markakis returning even though he’s meeting with other clubs.
- The Red Sox are receiving a lot of interest in minor league shortstop Deven Marrero, reports Jason Mastrodonato of MassLive.com (Twitter link). The 24-year-old was the club’s first-round pick back in 2012 and has an excellent defensive reputation, though he batted just .258/.327/.372 between Double-A and Triple-A in 2014. The Mets, of course, are one team known to be looking high and low for a shortstop.
- Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal spoke with Sox GM Ben Cherington about interest in Marrero, and while he noted that there has indeed been interest, Cherington said it hasn’t been any greater than the interest he’s received in the past. Marrero has drawn steady interest over the years, according to Cherington. As MacPherson notes, however, Marrero is posting particularly strong numbers in the Arizona Fall League this year.
- Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discussed the possibility of the Red Sox acquiring Cole Hamels with Hamels’ agent, John Boggs, and came away with the belief that the team has a shot, even though the Sox are on Hamels’ no-trade list. Hamels doesn’t have any issue with Boston, writes Cafardo, though he’d likely use the no-trade clause as leverage to get his 2019 option picked up in advance, as Ken Rosenthal noted yesterday. The Phillies have scouted Boston’s system extensively and like many of their players.
- Cafardo also notes that the Sox are receiving quite a bit of interest in Yoenis Cespedes. Boston is “desperately” trying to keep an outfield spot open for Mookie Betts, making a trade of Cespedes possible.
- The Boston Herald’s John Tomase spoke with Cherington, who stopped short of labeling any of his prospects untouchable, but he made it clear that those who contributed in 2014 (e.g. Betts) are extremely unlikely to be moved, Tomase adds (Twitter link).
I love Kakes but if he is looking for a stupid amount of money (when he O’s have already overpaid him once) I would say thanks for the years and let him walk.
Yes, he apparently already has a 4/40 deal on the table which is already a serious overpay. I really hope some team jumps in and saves the Orioles from themselves on that front.
The rays need a new stadium, the Trop is not in a good place, I don’t think they should move to Tampa but there is a area in the Carillon area near the Clearwater/ St. Petersburg Airport that would work well. The biggest problem is money for the stadium. If everyone was smart, everyone would team up on this.
I think downtown Tampa is the ideal location, but that’s just me…
The Lightning do extremely well there, especially when you consider that they are a hockey franchise in a southern market ; in fact, the Lightning (at 18.5k) outdraw the Rays (17.8k) in attendance per game.
Just goes to show you how silly it was to put the Rays in St.Petersburg instead of Tampa.
I think relocating is unfortunately another option on the table. The turnout for the Rays has consistently been bad, even when the team was pretty good.
Portland has asked about a team 3 times.
2002 Twins 2004 Expos and 2006 Marlins
They should move the Rays to Portland.
then shift them to the AL West.
Move the Astros back to the NL Central where they belong.
Move Milwaukee Brewers back to the AL Central
Move the Detroit Tigers back to the AL East
Moving the Tigers to the East would be awesome, especially following the Red Wings’ move. I feel like there are some good Bruins/Red Sox vs. Red Wings/Tigers rivalries to be had.
I see your point, now didn’t Vinik says he doesn’t want the Rays in Channelside ?
I agree 100%. St. Pete has shown there dedication to the rays (or lack there of) I think channel side is a ideal location.
Biggest problem is that Carillon is still on the wrong side of the Howard Frankland Bridge. One of the sites that has been proposed as been near Channelside; basically across from the Forum (or whatever they are calling it now!); you can almost see a stadium sitting there with beautiful CF backdrop of Downtown. If they remain here (you’re going to start hearing the word “Montreal” a lot as this subject heats up) it’s going to wind up being in Hillsborough.
Hasn’t Vinik say he doesn’t want the Rays at Channelside ?
They should be in Tampa. Generally half the metro area is in Hillsborough county. Downtown Tampa way more central to more people in the metro area.
Boston is really going to have to sell low of Cespedes to facilitate at trade. In the last week alone there have already been reports that the Red Sox are “desperately” trying to keep an outfield spot open for Betts and the Red Sox don’t “hate” Cespedes; reports like that really weaken a team’s bargaining position.
RF is wide open for the Sox, so Cespedes could stay. Additionally, trading Cespedes isn’t a bad move if he won’t resign. His value would sink more if everyone 100% knows he’s walking. Whether they sell low remains to be seen – Cherrington has made some pretty good moves. I’d like to see what they get in return (if he’s traded) before I state if they sold low.
Possibly but I think the Cespedes not wanting to work on his defense comments had to do with learning to play RF, a position Cespedes has never played.
Gold Glove runner-up…….somehow…HAHA
That arm, especially with the long LF in Oakland, is amazing! The rest of his defense embodies everything they taught you not to do in little league.
Watching Cespedes learn the monster was amusing
The issue that comes with his arm though is you hope the ball goes to the base he’s trying to throw at. He hit the first baseman a couple times for the Sox already on throws “to” second.
Building on what some people have said – Cespedes in right field might actually be good for both him and the Sox. His cannon would play well there and he wouldn’t have to keep messing around with the Monster. Then again, having Betts and Castillo in CF and RF would be great because of their speed/range.
Cespedes has stated he doesn’t want to play RF though.
Tigers would trade for him for Porcello (who is only 25, but is one year away from FA… and would be eligible for a Qualifying Offer), if they are able to extend Price (or sign Scherzer to the deal he initially rejected last offseason).
Cespedes is a perfect fit for LF at Comerica is which is 50% larger than LF in Fenway. No need to move him to RF. His laser double play throws would work very well with ball caught at 375 feet (balls hit to the warning track in Left Center)… v. only 275 ft bouncing off high off the Green Monster in Fenway and back to almost the infield.
JD Martinez would then move to RF which is smaller than LF in Comerica.
If the Tigers want to trade Porcello for Cespedes than the Red Sox should do it TOMORROW.
It will not happen TOMORROW. Here is why…
They will do it ONLY if they can sign Scherzer or Price long term. They will not have enough money to sign Porcello long term as well. Their rotation would then already be $75MM+.
Not sure trading Porcello, who is only 25, is a good idea for an expensive and aging rotation. If I were the Tigres, I would lock Porcello up regardless of what happens with Price. Scherzer ain’t coming back. I see Price walking too, another good year and he is getting a huge contract next offseason.
Porcello is a free agent after the 2015 season. There is no way they can pay Verlander, Scherzer/Price, Sanchez and then find a way to pay Porcello $15MM/year. They would be close to $100MM just on their rotation!
Of course, if the Tigers sign Porcello instead of Price, then the Red Sox would have to give up a lot more to than just Cespedes to get Price. More likely, the Tigers just keep them both for 2015 and give it their best World Series shot in 2015.
Do you really want to pay Cespedes long terM???
Not sure I follow – I was suggesting they sign Porcello because there is no way they keep Scherzer or Price. Verlander, Porcello and Sanchez as their 2015 top 3 seems cheaper and still quite good. And why would the Tigers signing Porcello mean the Red Sox would try to get Price?
I’d much rather have Porcello than Cespedes,
Question is how much do these reports effect the bargaining power of professional baseball general managers. I mean are these guys really reading what the sports writers write and changing their offers to Boston? I’m not so sure.
If I’m Cherington I say yeah we have a lot of OF but we can make it work unless you give us a fair offer and I don’t care what you read in your newspaper.
Rays should relocate to North Carolina!
Makes sense.
Or Tampa, as this post describes. Did you read it?
I am just stating that NC is a good fit for the next team that will be relocating.
Okay.
But not sure why a team has to relocate for NC to get a team. They could just get an expansion team, no?
NC (Durham) has the Ray’s Triple-A affiliate, so they already have a bit of the market there. Why put a new team there when you could move one that has a growing market? (I don’t have numbers on the market’s growth, to be fair). NC’s economy isn’t great though, especially for lower and lower-middle class folks – not sure you can fill a stadium with college kids from UNC every night.
There’s not a natural second market to enter with them (and not really a clear sense that RDU wants one anyway). Beyond that, any new franchise fee would have to be steeper than the hit owners are going to take on national TV contracts after 2021. I don’t think there’s much of a pathway for expansion in the foreseeable future.
Why would owners take a hit after 2021?
Charlotte and Raleigh are the best cities in the area!
What do the Rays draw, they are near the bottom in attendance every year!
How much is that due to their ugly stadium on a peninsula where it is a pain for half the metro?
The Rays are the laughing stock of baseball right now as a fan base. They are out drawn by Yankee, O’s , and Sox fans in their own park!
Are you somehow under the impression that a team relocating is a bigger hassle than making an expansion team?
Charlotte would be good, they already have major sports teams in other sports and there are a ton of minor league teams all around that area. Plus they could draw from Tenn.
You gonna pull them away from their Nascar?
Orioles and Nationals would block such a move as it would cannibalize their TV market.
You don’t have to go to NC though. Charlotte is smaller population wise, you just need to be centrally located in the Tampa metro.
This one’s for North Carolinaaaaa! Come on and RAYS up!
I hope the O’s keep their core from last year, we should be contenders again.
Deven Marrero would be a good option for the Mets over whats out there!
I doubt the Mets want Marerro. He hasnt proved anything yet and they already had a chance to draft him in 2012 when they chose a high school SS over Marrero. Flores is the best option for the Mets offensively but this will be a poor defensive team next season with everyone outside of Lagares and maybe Wright having a negative impact on this team defensively.
Im assuming teams are offering whatever SS they have in their organization since there seems to be such a high demand for them.Too bad the Mets are on the buying end of this need
Yeah, and that high school SS hasn’t panned out has he. Marrero could have evolved since the draft and has much more value than Cecchini at the moment.
He is still relatively young and flashes a decent glove. He is 3 years younger than Marerro and will begin next season at AA. Lets give him atleast one more year to improve offensively. He has the range and glove to stick at SS so if he can learn to hit he will be a starting major league SS.
He’s not a lost cause but there is no reason why he should be in AA. Guy hasn’t hit a lick in professional ball. Still has time but he needs to show something and quick.
Marrero is a better all around player than Flores!!
Hey, Rays, leave Florida while you still can.
I’m sure they are going to take that to heart. Good looking out my man.
Why not build Rays stadium next to Raymond James Stadium? Plenty of space, infrastructure and room for a parking garage for them to share if needed.
So the Yankee and Sox retirees can watch their teams?
I don’t think anyone has made that joke before. Hilaaaaaarious!
I’m from Pittsburgh so I don’t know all the local politics but my folks relocated to Tampa and I’ve been to a few games at the Trop and can totally see why nobody goes there. They live up north in Pasco and there’s literally one road in and out – a road that is just constantly bottle-necked by traffic and lights. By contrast, I saw the Steelers at the Dolphins new stadium and getting there was a breeze, it was not only right off the highway, it had it’s own exit! I had an easier time getting to Fenway (by public transport, fyi) and that’s nestled right in the city. Aside from the fact it’s an ugly stadium that reminds me of Three Rivers & other 70s parks without any charm to them, it’s probably the most poorly situated ballpark I’ve ever been to.
Florida, man, what goes on in that state…
As much as I’d like Hamels to be traded to the Cubs or Red Sox, I don’t get why either of those teams would make that deal. If Hamels’ option vests in 2019, he’ll basically come with a 5 year/$110 million contract. Why wouldn’t these rich and financially flexible teams just pay money for Lester/Scherzer/Shields instead of paying both money and prospects for Hamels? Lester and Scherzer will cost more than Hamels, but is the difference really worth it for teams that aren’t maxed out financially?
It saves you from two possibly mediocre seasons at 25 million per. I guess it depends on how much you value your prospects, and how far down you can talk the Phillies.
The only way Hamels gets dealt is if the teams who are eyeing for Lester/Scherzer/Shields do not get any of them. So I am with you no doubt. No need to trade prospects if you can just spend.
The Red Sox should have never trade for Cespedes. Everyone wants him but not at asking price knowing that he does not fit the Red Sox hitting philosophy. Red Sox would keep him but he doesn’t fit their scheme. It only works out if Lester signs with them.
A’s or Rays seriously need to move to Charlotte. The only major city in America without an MLB team but has an NBA and NFL team.