Now that all this trade nonsense has passed, the Rays can take stock in what they have and put their best team on the field everyday.  It’s not like their cupboards are bare. 

The Durham Bulls are having an outstanding season. Dan Johnson is hitting an amazing .303 with 29 home runs and 94 RBI.  He has played a little in the big leagues.  Of course, nobody will ever forget the Papelbon blast of 2008.  And, he’s versatile.  He’s been getting time at first, third and left field for the Bulls.  Perhaps he’s the reason the Rays didn’t feel they needed Luke Scott.

And, after acquiring Chad Qualls, there was talk that the Rays were looking for more bullpen help.  Scott Downs and Brandon League were mentioned, but they would come at a high cost.  Will Ohman’s name was thrown around as a second lefty.  But, who’s to say they shouldn’t give a look to Durham’s RJ Swindle?  In 27 appearances, he has a 1.56 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and has struck out 42 in 40 1/3 innings. 

Over the next few days, there will be some who say that the Rays hurt their World Series chances by not making a deal.  For me, the only impact deal I heard rumored was a phone call that the Rays might have made to the Dodgers about Manny Ramirez.  If Rays ownership wanted to truly test the Tampa Bay area about their ability to follow a team, run Manny out as your DH every night and see if anyone shows up.  He’s worth the price of admission.

After that, I think the Rays are ok.  Grant Balfour being lost for 4-6 weeks is unfortunate.  Qualls might be the piece that makes that hurt less.  We’ll see.

 

The addition of Chad Qualls to the Rays bullpen obviously means another move is coming.  How many right-handed relievers do they need?

Andy Sonnanstine is the easiest to go.  He still has options, so he could be sent out to Durham.  Or, he could be traded, but I doubt there’s much interest.

Lance Cormier could be let go.  Would that really be a big loss?

Personally, I’m wondering if this is step 1 to a two-step process for Andrew Friedman today.  I have a hunch that a bigger deal looms with the Washington Nationals.  Get the guy they need for their lineup to help them through the final two months.  The Rays will go out and acquire Josh Willingham for Grant Balfour and a young stud pitcher not named Davis or Hellickson.  I’ll admit, if Matt Moore is that guy, I’d be a little disappointed as well.

Josh Willingham is really the guy that the Rays should be pursuing from the Nats.  It’s not Adam Dunn.  This season, Willingham has splits of .291/.429/986 against left-handed pitching.  And that’s where the Rays need help.

My inclusion of Balfour in this deal doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the rumors that he was escorted away from the clubhouse last night by security.  But, it could.  He may have gotten wind that his name was being tossed around in trade talks.  And, he may not be pleased by that.  With the Nats trading Matt Capps earlier this week, Balfour makes sense for a mostly young pitching staff and bullpen.  Heck, he could even be their closer the rest of the way. 

To me, adding Chad Qualls to the bullpen that already has the likes of Balfour, Wheeler, Benoit and Soriano doesn’t add up.  All have primarily been late-game, short appearance guys.  Doing something like this still allows the Rays to expose Hellickson to the majors later on, if they so choose. 

The deadline will roll around in a few hours.  We’ll have to wait and see if the Rays are done.

At the deadline – reports are that Orioles lefty reliever Will Ohman has been traded.  Speculation is that it could be the Rays, who were known to be interested.   Updated 4:15 p.m.  Ohman coming to Florida, as a Marlin.

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UPDATE- 2:15 PM: MLB Trade Rumors reports the Rays are interested in Scott Downs and Brandon League, so Rays are obviously wanting bullpen help.  

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UPDATE- 2:13 PM: For what it’s worth, Adam Dunn is in the Nationals lineup for today.

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UPDATE-2:06 PM: Ed Price tweets that the Rays and Orioles are in talks. Could this be Luke Scott? Ty Wigginton? We will have to see. Scott would be a great bat in the middle of the lineup. Price also mentions Will Ohman,who would be another lefty add to the bullpen.

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UPDATE-10:00 AM:  Jayson Stark on Twitter – Now that #Rays have added bullpen arm (& payroll), looks unlikely they’ll add bat today. Not pursuing any bat out there aggressively #trades

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7:44 AM: The day has started early as the Rays have acquired Chad Qualls from the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later. MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert is reporting the trade. Qualls began the season as the D-Backs closer, but he has had a bad season. We will see if he can turn it around for the Rays. Qualls has pitched 38 innings this season, having an 8.29 ERA with a 8.1 K/9.

• The Rays picked up a very important win last night to snap the Friday curse. The Rays picked up the 3-2 win behind Matt Joyce’s 3 run homer. This was the first Rays home win on Friday since the first week of the season against the Yankees. Wade Davis limited the Yankees offense to two runs, which came on a 2 run homer from the second batter of the game. The Rays collected only 4 hits and they came from 4 different batters. Wade Davis pitched 7 strong innings, allowing 2 earned on 4 hits. Rafael Soriano pitched a 1-2-3 9th, picking up his 29th save on the season. He has improved his ERA to an impressive 1.77.
• The Rays hope to pull into a tie for the AL East lead with a win tonight. The Rays will face Javier Vazquez. Vazquez has not exactly been what the Yankees expected when the Yankees got him this offseason. Vazquez is 9-7 with a 4.54 ERA. The Rays offense needs to step up behind Matt Garza, as they have not necessarily been great of late.
• The Rays will send Matt Garza to the hill, who is looking up to follow up his no-hitter with another good start. The Rays need to see Matt Garza turn it around after a mediocre first half, so hopefully the no-hitter is a sign of things to come. Garza is 11-5 with a 4.06 ERA on the season. The Rays offense needs to support Garza and put some runs on the board.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (66-40, 1st place) - Beat Lehigh Valley 9-2

• Starter Richard De Los Santos won his tenth, going seven innings, allowing seven hits and two runs.
• Justin Ruggiano and Chris Richard had three hits each as well as three RBI a piece.
• Desmond Jennings was 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (17-17 / 53-46, 3rd place) - lost to Mobile 5-2

• Starter Alexander Torres falls to 9-4 on the season, allowing four runs on nine hits over six innings.
• Nevin Ashley and John Matulia had two hits each for the Biscuits.

Single-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (15-19 / 57-43) - beat Tampa 9-6

• Big day for top-pick Tim Beckham, going 4 for 4 with three RBI for the Stone Crabs.
• Kyeong Kang hit his first home run of the season.
• Starter Nick Barnese allowed six hits and three runs over five innings.
  

Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (16-17 / 46-53, 5th place) - beat Dayton 9-7

• Ty Morrison was 3 for 5 with three RBI to lead the Hot Rods.
• Cody Rogers added two RBI on a 2 for 6 day, including  a triple.
• Reliever Jake Sullivan improves to 3-1 on the season, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out three.

Short-season Hudson Valley Renegades (18-20, last place) - lost to Vermont 10-1

• Starter Miguel Sierra was pounded for seven hits and six runs over four innings.  His record falls to 2-2 on the season.

Rookie League Princeton Rays (16-17) - lost to Danville 6-3

• 3B Scott Lawson hit his third home run of the season for the P-Rays.
• 1B Jeff Malm was 3 for 4 with an RBI.
• Starter Andrew Bellatti was the loser, allowing four runs (two earned) over four innings. 

Rookie League GCL Rays (15-17) - shut out the GCL Orioles 3-0

• Ryan Fleckenstein saved his sixth GCL game, striking out the side in the ninth.
• Matt Fields hit his second home run at the GCl level.

 

Watching Matt Joyce’s 3-run bomb sail one section to my right was sweet.  Seeing Wade Davis shake off two runs in two at bats for a very solid win was perhaps even sweeter.  Experiencing Carlos Pena stealing a Jorge Posada single to end the game was amazing.  The Rays take game one of this sold out three-game series at the Trop. 

Considering there was a substantial amount of Yankees fans at the game, I’m still convinced that the location of the ballpark is not the issue here in Tampa Bay.  It’s the fan base.  Somehow, the local Yankee fans remember how to get to downtown St. Pete when the Yankees are playing games that matter.  If the Yankees aren’t winning, they don’t come.  Tonight, they went home humbled.

But, with the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline approaching, the Yankees have done their magic and acquired a couple of bats, Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns, to bolster an already studly lineup.  I’ll guess they’re probably not done.  I’ll say they acquire a pitcher before the bell sounds.  Just my guess.

So, do the Rays need to follow suit?    I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I don’t like a trade for Adam Dunn.  First off, the left-handed batting Dunn does nothing to improve a team weakness, winning against left-handed pitching.  After that, it’s a mystery whether Dunn can be happy being a DH down the stretch.  He’s said he doesn’t like the idea.  Today, he apparently softened his stance.  Providing it’s short-term.

Do the Rays really need to make a move?  Matt Joyce is looking pretty good in the lineup.  He’s getting consistent at bats and he’s hitting the ball.  The only questions I have are Lance Cormier’s spot in the bullpen and the long-term results at second base and DH. 

The Cormier situation could be resolved easily with the addition of Jeremy Hellickson.  Sure, Hellickson hasn’t pitched in the majors.  But, I’m willing to give him a shot.  At worst, he could at least do as well as Cormier, couldn’t he?

Then there’s the revolving door that is second base, right field and DH.  Down the stretch in meaningful games, I’d like nothing more than to see a consistent lineup.  If the Rays were to acquire anyone, it would be someone that Joe Maddon could feel comfortable starting on an everyday basis, at any of those positions.  Ben Zobrist can adjust.  He’ll take the other. 

Adam Dunn (ugh)?  DH.  Zobrist at second, Joyce in right.  Done. 

With the Yankees’ activity today, I’m wondering whether the Rays will feel compelled to make a move.  “Headline” move.  That would be Adam Dunn.  While I don’t like it, it wouldn’t surprise me.

• The Rays completed the 4 game sweep over the Tigers yesterday in a 4-2 win. Sean Rodriguez was 1 for 3 with 2 runs. Carlos Pena knocked in all the Rays runs, going 3 for 4 with a solo homer and 4 RBIs. David Price collected his franchise record tying 14th win, going 6 1/3 innings while allowing 2 earned on 7 hits while striking out nine. Dan Wheeler picked up a 2 inning save to give Rafael Soriano the day off.
• The Rays have now won 6 in a row heading into this very important Yankee series. This series is a must win for the Rays, as the Rays are two back of the Yankees going into the series. The Rays need at least 2 wins this series, hopefully a sweep.
• The Rays open up the series against Phil Hughes. Hughes has had a decent season, going 12-3 with a 4.04 ERA. Hughes has struggled since the All Star Break, so hopefully he will continue to struggle tonight to break the Rays Friday curse.
• The Rays will send Wade Davis to the hill. Davis is 8-9 with a 4.32 ERA. Davis has been going the other way, improving from his start of the season. He has been good for the Rays of late. In his last 3 starts, he has allowed 5 earned combined for the three starts.
• Something to watch: Alex Rodriguez remains with 599 homers after a homerless four game series with the Indians. Hopefully he does not hit one at the Trop this weekend.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (65-40, 1st place) - Beat Lehigh Valley 2-1 in 11 innings

• Jeremy Hellickson started but pitched only three innings.  He allowed no runs on two hits.  We’ll have to wait and see if this is a sign that something’s going to happen before the trade deadline.
• Aneury Rodriguez followed with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out six.
• JJ Furmaniak doubled in Desmond Jennings, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, in the 11th with the winning run.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (17-16 / 53-45, 3rd place) - lost to Mobile 1-0

• Jake McGee’s record falls to 2-7 on the season despite allowing just one run on three  hits over six innings.
• The Biscuits had only six hits, two of which by Henry Wrigley.

Single-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (14-19 / 56-43) - beaten by Tampa, 10-1

• Starter Shane Dyer was rocked for five runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.  His record falls to 4-7 on the season.
• Rocco Baldelli was 0-3 with an RBI.
• The Stone Crabs committed four errors in the game.

Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (15-17 / 45-53, 5th place) - beat Dayton 6-3

• Cody Rogers smacked home run #7 and drove in three runs to lead the Hot Rods.
• Bennett Davis added his third home run of the season, going 2 for 3 with three runs scored in the game.
• Tyree Hayes was the winner in relief, throwing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.  He’s 2-0.
• Alex Koronis struck out four over the final two innings to pick up his fourth save.

Short-season Hudson Valley Renegades (18-19, last place) - beat Vermont 2-1

• Starter Jacob Thompson allowed just one run on five hits over five innings, but wasn’t around for the decision.
• The winner was reliever Robert Dickmann, who struck out five in two innings work.  He is 1-1 on the season.
• Diogenes Luis and Mayo Acosta each had two hits and an RBI in the game.

Rookie League Princeton Rays (16-16) - beat Danville 7-1

• Kevin Kiermaier hit his first professional home run and was 2 for 5 in the game.
• Jeff Malm had a double and two RBI for the P-Rays.
• Starter Enny Romero got the win, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings.

Rookie League GCL Rays (15-17) - lost to the GCL Twins 7-2

• The Rays picked up their 5th victory in a row last night after beating the Tigers for the third time in this four game series, 7-4. Carl Crawford was 1 for 5 with 2 runs and a RBI. Evan Longoria had a big night, going 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. He hit a 2 run shot in the 8th to put the Rays up three. Carlos Pena was 2 for 3 with a RBI and a walk. Reid Brignac was 2 for 4 with a run. Jeff Niemann had a mediocre start, but he picked up the win to improve to 9-3. Niemann pitched 6 innings, allowing 4 earned on 8 hits. Grant Balfour and Joaquin Benoit each pitched scoreless innings to get to Rafael Soriano. Soriano pitched perfect ninth to pick up his 28th save. His ERA is now 1.82. My guess is he won’t pitch today to make sure he is ready for the Yankees series this weekend.
• The Rays go for the sweep today at 12:10. The Rays offense will face Rick Porcello, who has struggled all season, going 4-8 with a 5.55 ERA.The Rays offense stepped up last night, so hopefully they will keep it going against Porcello to get a sweep and win their 6th straight.
• The Rays will send David Price to the mound. Price is 0ne win shy of tying the franchise record for wins, so he may be able to tie the franchise record for a single season on July 29th. Price is 13-5 with a 2.90 ERA. The Rays need a good start out of him if they want to sweep. Price has been the Rays ace this season, so we will see if he can opick up his 14th win on the season.
• Standings Update: The Rays and Yankees both won last night, so the Rays remain 2 back of New York. Both teams have games tonight, so this could change before the Yanks come to town tomorrow. The Red Sox also won, but they are off today.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (64-40, 1st place) - Beat Lehigh Valley 3-2 

• Dan Johnson and Joe Dillon had two hits each for the Bulls.
• Brian Baker started, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings.
• Mike Ekstrom pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn his fifth win of the season.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (17-15 / 53-44, 3rd place) - lost to Mobile 4-1

• Jeremy Hall allowed two run on five hits over 4 2/3 innings to see his record fall to 4-7 on the season.
• John Matulia had a triple and the only RBI for the Biscuits.

Single-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (14-18 / 56-42) - shut out by Tampa 3-0

• Matt Moore celebrated his pitcher-of-the-week honors with a dazzling seven inning performance, allowing no runs and one hit while striking out ten.
• Zach Quate allowed three runs on three hits in the eighth to get the loss.

Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (14-17 / 44-53, 5th place) - beat Dayton 5-3

• Julio Cedeno went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
• The Hot Rods got two hits each from Tyler Bortnick, Brett Nommensen and Ty Morrison.
• Kyle Lobstein improves to 7-5 on the season, allowing three runs on six hits over seven innings.

Short-season Hudson Valley Renegades (17-18, last place) - pounded Vermont 14-2

• Burt Reynolds was 4 for 5 with a double and three RBI to lead the Renegades.
• Elias Otero was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
• Starter Wilmer Almonte pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out nine.  He won for the first time this season.

Rookie League Princeton Rays (15-16) - beat Kingsport 11-2

• Ruben Contreras was 3 for 5 with a double and three RBI to lead the P-Rays.
• SS Felix Gonzalez was 3 for 4 with an RBI.
• Starter Jacob Partridge pitched five shutout innings, allowing just four hits, to earn his fourth win of the season.

Rookie League GCL Rays (15-16) - lost to the GCL Twins 6-4