The Rays traded Winston Abreu today to the Cleveland Indians for minor league relief pitcher John Meloan.  Abreu is expected to join the Indians’ bullpen in the next few days after a corresponding move can be made with the big league club.

The Indians are desperately trying to improve a bullpen that has a 12-17 record and a 5.07 ERA which is second highest in the American League.  Over the weekend, the Indians traded Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later and claimed Jose Veras off waivers from the New York Yankees.

According to a Sports Illustrated poll of current major league players, Lou Piniella is the manager players would least want to play for.  Piniella told the Chicago Tribune

“I take that as a compliment,” Piniella said. “We demand things and we want to win. There are some pretty good names on that list.”

Piniella received 26% of the vote, followed by fellow Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen with 21% and Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa with 10%. 

Interestingly, Rays manager Joe Maddon was listed as the fourth most popular manager as one players would want to play for. 

photo:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/harsh1/2726701679/

The Washington Nationals optioned Elijah Dukes to Triple-A Syracuse today.  According to the Washington Post, the Nationals don’t consider Dukes a “finished product” and want him in a lineup everyday, as long as it’s not the Nationals’ lineup. 

“I didn’t see the consistent at-bats I wanted Elijah to have,” (Acting General Manager Mike) Rizzo said. “I think he understands this is a developmental process… He can use this time to right himself down there.”

Reportedly, the Nationals are at least listening to anyone who might be interested in trading for Dukes.  You have to wonder how many teams are out there that would take on that kind of baggage.  The Rays were so willing to get rid of him that they traded him to the Nats for Glenn Gibson who is pitching for the Hudson Valley Renegades.  So far, in two starts, Gibson has given up nine earned runs and has walked nine batters in just 5 1/3 innings.

Last season, Eric Hinske played a key role in the success of the Tampa Bay Rays.  Now, he’s on the way to the dreaded Yankees to help them keep the Rays at bay. 

The New York Yankees traded a couple of minor league players, 23-year old pitcher Casey Erickson and OF Eric Fryer to get Hinske, who was batting .255 with one home run and 11 RBI with the Pirates.  The Pirates also give the Yankees $400,000 to help cover the remainder of his salary.

Last season, Hinske hit .247 with 20 home runs and 60 RBI with the Rays.  And, as a result of this decent season, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him to a 1-year $1.5 million dollar contract in the off season.

With the trade deadline about a month away, it’s looking like the Rays will sit this one out.  They can’t add salary and they can’t subtract key pieces of their team. 

But, the list of players that appear to be available around baseball includes several ex-Rays.  The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jim Salisbury chronicles the buyers and sellers  for this year’s trade market.  The Mets are in definite need for a first baseman and Aubrey Huff has been rumored as a target. 

The Marlins are said to be offering Jorge Cantu.  The Nationals have made Joe Beimel available. 

The Orioles appear to be trying to be purging themselves of all things Rays.  In addition to Aubrey Huff, they are said to be offering up Ty Wiggington and Danys Baez.

According to the Boston Globe, the return of Jed Lowrie may spell the end of his days with the Red Sox.  And, ironically, it may also be the play of another ex-Devil Rays player, Nick Green, that helps put him away. 

Lugo has not started for the Red Sox since June 14.  His high-priced contract and sporadic play clearly makes it unlikely that the Red Sox could find anyone willing to trade for him. 

In 2006, the Devil Rays traded Lugo to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league prospects Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza.  While Guzman did make it to the big leagues for a handful of games, both are no longer in the Rays organization.

Brandon Backe, the 18th round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays back in 1998 has been DFA’d by the Houston Astros.  He had only appeared in five games this season after missing all of spring training and April with a rib cage injury.

He has been with the Astros since 2003, when the Devil Rays traded him for utililty infielder Geoff Blum.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Backe wasn’t expecting the move:

“It’s kind of a shock to me,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I got to talk to my agent. To be honest with you, hopefully another team picks me up and I get to the big leagues. I don’t know. We’ll just have to take it one step at a time. I’ve never been in this situation before. It’s something new to me. I’ll just see what comes about.”

Photo:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/fauxtobug/2837827031/sizes/m/

Devon and I have kicked off our new site, www.raysallday.com.  The new site will continue to give our observations, comments and other stuff regarding the Tampa Bay Rays.  They are poised to make another run at the playoffs and we’ll continue to follow them along the way.  Please check out the new site. 

But, if you are like me, your interest in the Rays dates back to the old Devil Rays days with fond memories of Rays gone by.  Jonny Gomes?  Well, he’s with the Reds now.  Aubrey Huff?  Orioles today, but he should be in the news a lot over the next month as Baltimore looks to deal him.  Rise of the Rays will continue to follow the Rays back to the day when they did rise, and all things in between.  That means if Rolando Arrojo makes news, you’ll probably see me write something here.

AAA - The Durham Bulls were crushed by Buffalo 8-1. Starter Wade Davis allowed five runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out four. He was tagged with the loss, dropping his record to 6-4 on the season. Offensively, LF Jon Weber and 2B Henry Mateo each had two hits for the Bulls.

For results from Montgomery, Charlotte and Bowling Green, check out http://raysallday.com.

AAA - The Durham Bulls used a five-run 9th inning to get passed Buffalo 7-2. Buffalo made five errors in the game, including three in the decisive final inning. 2B Henry Mateo led the Bulls, going 3 for 5 with a triple. Jon Weber, Rashad Eldridge and Ray Olmedo added two hits a piece. Starter Matt DeSalvo went 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks. Joe Bateman replaced him, going 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and was credited with the win, his third without a defeat. Dale Thayer pitched a scoreless ninth.

Catch up on the rest of the action, including how Jason Bartlett did in Charlotte at http://raysallday.com.