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Rays Re-Sign J.P. Howell

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At least one of the Rays' free agent relievers is returning to Tampa Bay. The team re-signed left-hander J.P. Howell, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (Twitter links) who reports that the deal is for $1.1MM plus incentives. The Rays non-tendered the 27-year-old earlier this month, but continued working toward a deal with him. Legacy Sports represents Howell.

The 2004 first rounder missed all of 2010 after undergoing left labrum surgery in May. Back in 2009, Howell was effective for 66 2/3 innings, posting a 2.84 ERA with 10.7 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 and picking up 17 saves. He was equally effective in 2008, when he posted a 2.22 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 89 1/3 innings.

The Rays will be able to retain Howell in 2012, since he won't have six years of service time after next season.

Joaquin Benoit already signed elsewhere and Rafael Soriano, Lance Cormier, Grant Balfour, Dan Wheeler, Chad Qualls and Randy Choate are all free agents, so Tampa Bay's bullpen will likely look completely different in 2011.

Odds & Ends: Bartlett, Bengie Molina, Bill Hall

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A year ago today, John Buck signed with the Blue Jays, Bruce Chen with the Royals, and Scott Olsen with the Nationals.  Currently only Chen remains on the market.  Today's links:

Odds & Ends: Rivera, Mets, Bruce, Orioles, Dodgers

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Links for Sunday….

Marlins, Three Other Teams Pursuing Randy Choate

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8:30pm: Choate confirmed to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times that he is in fact in talks with the Marlins, as well as three other teams that he declined to name.

11:17am: Looking to bolster their bullpen, the Marlins are "working to sign" Randy Choate, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Choate, 35, spent his last two seasons in Tampa Bay, and appeared in over half of the Rays' games in 2010. The left-hander pitched just 44 2/3 innings in his 85 appearances, recording a 4.23 ERA and striking out 8.1 batters per nine innings. He's best used as a one- or two-out pitcher against left-handed batters, as exhibited by his 2010 splits – lefties posted a .529 OPS against him, while righties hit at a 1.162 clip.

Choate declined an arbitration offer from the Rays, so as a Type B free agent, he'd net Tampa Bay a supplemental round draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

Longoria Open To Contract Extension

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The Rays lost the greatest player in franchise history a few days ago when Carl Crawford bolted for the rival Red Sox, but Evan Longoria is open to signing a contract extension that would keep him in Tampa for the rest of his career according to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times.

"Tampa Bay is the place I want to be for the rest of my career if I can," said Longoria. "If there's an opportunity to do something like that, I would think long and hard about it."

Longoria, still just 25, famously agreed to what is considered the team-friendliest contract in baseball just six days into his major league career. He is signed through 2013 for just $13MM total, and team holds clubs options for 2014 ($7.5MM), 2015 ($11MM), and 2016 ($11.5MM). The obvious comparable here is Troy Tulowitzki, who was already signed through 2013 but landed a six-year extension that will keep him in Colorado through 2020. 

A career .283/.361/.521 hitter, Longoria supplements his offense with top-of-the-line defense, leading all third baseman with +44.0 UZR since breaking in. It's unlikely that he'll take such a deep discount again, and team with Tampa's financial restraints might not be willing to assume so much risk. 

International Links: Reyes, Molina, Anderson

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Links in three very different-sounding accents of Spanish…

  • Jose Reyes has heard the rumors, and he met with Mets GM Sandy Alderson last week to discuss them, the shortstop told Juan Mercado at the Dominican paper El Dia. "[Alderson] assured me that [a trade] wouldn't happen, however, I recognize that this is a business," Reyes said. He added that the Mets picking up his $11MM option for 2011 was a "good sign," but reiterated his hopes for the future, saying, "I've repeated many times that I don't want to leave the Mets, since I feel very comfortable here."
  • Yadier Molina says the Cardinals have approached his elder brother Bengie about backing him up at catcher next season. "They want to get him, but they're waiting for his decision," Yadier told Lester Jimenez at the Puerto Rican daily Primera Hora. The younger Molina said he was confident Bengie could still handle a starting job at 36, and still might seek a contract as such, "but if he's thinking of retirement and wants to take it easy as a backup catcher, then I want him here with me."
  • The Rays' options to replace Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford could extend beyond in-house options Dan Johnson and Desmond Jennings, or free agents such as Edwin Encarnacion. The agent for Leslie Anderson told El Nuevo Herald's Jorge Ebro that the versatile Cuban prospect will be in the mix for both the Ray's outfield and first base openings this spring. After signing a four-year, $3.75MM deal last March, Anderson put up a combined .302/.359/.442 line in 422 PAs across the Rays system, including a .328/.359/.418 showing at Triple-A Durham.

Odds & Ends: Greinke, Ryan, Jeter, Atkins, Garza

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On this date two years ago, the Tigers sent Matt Joyce to the Rays for Edwin Jackson. It's been a busy couple of years for Jackson, who has bounced from Detroit to Arizona to Chicago, twirling a no-hitter along the way. Here are today's links…

Cubs Remain Focused On Webb

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Free agent righty Brandon Webb remains the Cubs' No. 1 target, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.  The Cubs met with Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer multiple times during the Winter Meetings.  Sullivan says Rays officials were amused by the Matt Garza speculation, and the Cubs aren't getting Zack Greinke either.

After adding Carlos Pena to a creative one-year, $10MM deal, the Cubs appear to have limited funds remaining to bring in a starter and bullpen arm.

Cubs Interested In Matt Garza

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9:54pm: The Cubs and Rays met again to talk about a potential trade that would send Garza to Chicago for prospects, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. The Brewers and Rangers have also met with the Rays about Garza, but the Cubs have the strongest current bid, according to Levine. However, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hears that talks between the Rays and Brewers did not progress (Twitter link).

5:17pm: The Rays have been uninspired by the offers for Garza and may hold on to the right-hander until next summer, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter).

10:40am: The Cubs are one of four teams in the mix for Rays righty Matt Garza, reports ESPN's Bruce Levine.  The Rays are interested in receiving prospects in return.

Garza, 27, would be the best available pitcher aside from Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke.  He posted a 3.91 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 1.2 HR/9, and 35.8% groundball rate in 204 2/3 innings this year.  Garza could earn $6MM+ in arbitration for 2011 and is under team control through '13.  As a Super Two, he'll go to arbitration four times.  Garza probably has a touch more trade value than Shaun Marcum did despite the higher salary, given the extra year of control.  We learned yesterday that Garza may also interest the Rangers and Brewers.

Levine also feels that the Cubs could still be a match for Chris Davis after the Carlos Pena signing, with the Rangers eyeing minor league catcher Robinson Chirinos.

Padres Pushing For Jason Bartlett

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The Rays will definitely trade Jason Bartlett, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who suggests a deal could go down tonight (Twitter links). The Orioles aren't involved, so it's down to the Padres and Pirates. We'll keep track of all the rumors right here:

  • Bartlett is likely going to San Diego, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (on Twitter).
  • The Padres and Rays are discussing a deal that would send pitchers Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos to Tampa Bay for Bartlett, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune.
  • The Rays are asking the Pirates for Joel Hanrahan, according to Rob Biertempfel (on Twitter).
  • It appears that Bartlett wants to sign an extension if traded, according to Sherman. 
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