New Cubs skipper Joe Maddon is excited about the Rays’ list of candidates to take over in the dugout, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “They’ve created a wonderful list, they really have,” Maddon said. “They’ve given themselves an opportunity to interview some really qualified people and make a typically very good Rays decision at the end of the day. I really believe that. You know it’s going to be well thought out, and they’re going to select a solid candidate to lead.” More on the Rays and Marlins..
- Marlins president Michael Hill explained to David Laurita of Fangraphs that the club considers a player’s locker room personality and character to be a somewhat significant part of player evaluation. “I wouldn’t say it’s paramount, but it is part of our decision-making process,” Hill said. “We’re definitely mindful of it. It’s part of the checklist as we go through possibly acquiring a player. We want to try to make sure he fits who we are and who we’re trying to be.”
- Topkin also writes that the Rays figure to make several more 40-man moves and/or trades before the Rule 5 draft, even after dealing Jeremy Hellickson and Cesar Ramos. Sean Rodriguez and Jose Molina appear to be trade candidates though Tampa Bay could instead swallow the $2.75MM to Molina. Moving reliever Brandon Gomes, who is out-of-options, could also be a consideration along with dropping rostered minor leaguers like Mike Montgomery or infielder Tim Beckham.
- A third-party scout in Puerto Rico who saw shortstop Andrew Velazquez, who came to the Rays in the Hellickson deal, was impressed by his recent showing. “Best prospect there, by far. … Super impressive … He’ll move to 2B … Top of order … Fearless … Advanced,” the scout told Topkin via text.
- With the Rays looking to their upgrade offense, Topkin says it’s worth keeping an eye on Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and the Dodgers’ outfielder surplus. Both clubs appear willing to eat significant salary to move those players.
- Expecting the Rays to start spending big if they get a new stadium? Don’t bank on it, writes Joe Henderson of The Tampa Tribune.
Everyday that Hellickson move looks worse and worse. Dangerous game Stewart playing trying to ship prospects out to make a 98 loss team not as bad.
One scout’s opinion does not a bad move make. The dude in question is only in single A.
It was an interesting buy-low option. Hellickson was pretty darn good before and if he doesn’t return to form than he can at least be an innings eater for them. Not necessarily a great trade but Velazquez and Willaims are far from sure things.
Several years ago, but the metrics thought he was overperforming then, and the way he has pitched when healthy these past 2 years is more about what his true level is.
The prospects are far from a sure thing, but the D’Backs were not even close to contenders. They are not the type of team that should be moving prospects for players like this. This deal just screams Stewart trying to win a few more games without a real long term plan to become a contender.
Dropping Beckham? That 2008 draft #1 overall turning out to be prety bad. They could have had Smoak instead!
or POSEY!!!!!
WHOOAA, don’t get ahead of yourself.
You do realize Posey was in the 2008 draft and Rays were deciding between him and Beckham…. So what do you mean don’t get ahead of myself?
Was joking. Smoak was only slightly less of a flop than Beckham.
Rays have drafted very poorly lately, too. It’s interesting that the two marquee small-budget franchises — Rays and A’s — both created their current runs without drafting well at all. A’s have only one guy on their 25 man roster they originally drafted. I guess the Pirates are the anti-example.
Some of the A’s success though was trading established players they did draft for prospects.
The Rays have been able to find guys in the later rounds (Hellickson, Jennings, Moore, Shields, Kiermaier, Cobb if the 4th round counts as a later round). 1st round picks haven’t been particularly good, but they have been able to compensate later on.
And only one of those guys you listed has been drafted in the past 7 years. This isn’t 2009, their farm has thinned out a lot.
drop both Tim & mark as dont see any team claiming them at all..
Could the Rays reunite with Carl Crawford, perhaps?
Not sure if Rays will be buyers. Their first move of the winter suggests not.
True, but if they flip Matt Joyce, it would make sense to find a cheap veteran replacement who would be popular with the fan base (assuming the Dodgers would eat the majority of his contract).
If the Dodgers pay majority of his salary, meaning more than 80% in the Rays’ case, I’d say they’ll want something in return. Not sure what that something would be, but I’m not sure the Rays have that something to offer. Doubt they’ll want to trade their impact pieces, like McGee and others.
They might “want” something in return, but no one would offer much.
People would. He isn’t what he once was, but he still a solid 3 WAR player. He is far from useless, and if he came cheap a lot of teams would jump at the chance to get him.
Why would the DBacks think they can contend this year with one back end of the rotation pitcher? At least with KT we knew what we had. As a DBacks fan, Stewart is already beginning to worry me.
This tells me insecurity. A 98 loss team needs a lot of work, and would probably figure they aren’t in it next year. Getting stuck in that middle ground between contender and last place is not something you should be aiming for.
Might be missing something but I don’t get the notion of the Dodgers trading one of their surplus OF for… Ryan Howard. They aren’t actively wanting to increase payroll, they’d rather shed at least a bit (even if eating most of the traded OF’s contract), and they already have a good veteran 1B in Adrian Gonzalez (who is also himself not cheap). That suggestion makes next to no sense to me.
As Gilda Radner’s Emily Litella would say, “Never mind.” 😉 Totally misread that Topkin was suggesting those as two sep. things that TB might look at. Ignore me.
Yeah despite Friedman’s TB connection not sure I’d see a fit there with LA-TB for an OF unless the Rays’ want Ethier and the Dodgers do eat almost all of his salary.
They are STILL trying to sell the idea of Ryan Howard to the Rays? Didn’t the Phillies already do enough to hurt that franchise in the WS a few years ago? Give up the dreams people, it’s not going to happen anytime soon and probably never. The Rays don’t spend money and the Phillies don’t eat money. Even their own management jumped ship because they got sick of dealing with the owner, stadium and fan support. Ryan Howard is as likely to be in a Rays uniform next year as I am. Move along people, there is nothing to see here.