As reported by MLB.com, the Rays are one of six teams taking a look at Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz.  The 25-year-0ld left-handed hitter hopes to be signed sometime this week. 

One of his agent’s Jorge Luis Toca says that Ruiz hopes to sign with a team where the opportunity to play right away is the best.  Could that be the Rays?  We know that Carlos Pena has one year left on his contract.  Depending how the season goes, he could be traded at some point during the 2010 season.  And, if Ruiz is the real deal as a hitter, he might make a decent platoon at DH with Pat Burrell.

When last he played, Ruiz hit .305 with a .408 OBP and .468 slugging percentage for his Cuban team.  But, supporting the idea of a platoon, Ruiz hit just .214 against left-handed pitchers while batting .338 against righties.  If nothing else, his past ability to steal bases might appeal to the Rays.  In his last full season in Cuba, he stole 32 bases.  But, that was at a reported playing weight of 194 lbs.  Reports now has his weight in the 230-240 range.

More interesting was the speculation of where Carl could end up.  Quoting the NL exec: 

“I can see a team like Anaheim being very interested in Crawford. First off, Crawford would be the perfect replacement for Figgins, and secondly, Artie Moreno has more than enough resources to give Crawford what he wants financially.”

He went on to suggest a trip to the National League might make more sense, noting the Cubs and Dodgers as possible suitors.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo suggested that the Rays might trade Carlos Pena and/or Carl Crawford.  He lazily reasoned that the Rays can’t afford the players and, therefore, will be forced to trade them.  I contend that it’s not uncommon for teams of all economic means to at least consider dealing their players as they approach free agency.

Let the blogging begin.

The Mets should want Carlos Pena.  That’s the theme of a post on Mets Merized Online.  Names tossed out there include Daniel Murphy, John Maine and the Fernados, Nieve and Martinez.  John Maine???  Would the Rays really need a starter just a hair over mediocre?

Then there’s Carl Crawford.  Who wouldn’t want CC?  All 29 teams should be able to close their eyes and come up with a place to put him and a package to try to make it work. 

In New York, Mike Silva feels the Yankees are absolutely in love with Carl and is relatively certain they will bring him to the Bronx next off-season.  In my mind, isn’t that even more reason to trade him elsewhere before the end of the season?  Economics or not, the Rays will not be able to compete with the Yankees in attempting to re-sign CC.  Very few teams can.  So, unless you love the draft picks you get when he signs elsewhere, you might as well trade him.  Better yet, to a team that has the potential to extend him and keep him away from the grubby hands of the Yanks.

How about Seattle?  Hawk Talk thinks so. 

A realistic package could consist of LF Michael Saunders, SS Carlos Truinfel, and P Shawn Kelley, maybe an additional prospect based on the potential bidding war that would ensure over Crawford at the trade deadline.

Writer Andy Auger goes slightly astray suggesting that the acquisition of Saunders gives the Rays “a new left field prospect to replace Crawford”.  But, isn’t that where Desmond Jennings fits in?

These are just a few examples.  No doubt, there will be more.  As bloggers speculate at what it will take, they should recognize what the Rays need.  A top-shelf catcher is a good place to start.

The Rays may have a new bullpen option who just became available. The Pirates designated Steven Jackson for assignment yesterday, according to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch.

He is a very intriguing bullpen guy.  He is only 27.   Last year, in his rookie season, he posted a great 3.14 ERA in 43 innings.   Hitters hit .236 off of him.

Jackson would be a cheap option for the last spot in the Rays bullpen who had some success last year.  The biggest question would be whether the Rays would be willing to tie up a 40-man roster spot with him. 

There are still some good options available through free agency, like Kiko Calero, Santiago Casilla and Will Ohman.  But, those types of relievers will cost a little money.

The Rays could still go the route of filling the spot from within with guys like Winston Abreu or Dale Thayer.

It’s out there.  The Rays are interested in Jim Thome.  The left-handed platoon for Pat Burrell at DH.  For as good as Thome might be for the clubhouse, I’m not buying it.

Give me Miguel Tejada anyday.  The second base situation for the Rays is unsettled.  Why not consider Tejada there?  Of course, he’s never played second base.  But, he’s never played third base either, and many think that’s where he might end up for his new team.  If that’s the case, why not consider him at the other middle infield position?

Sure, it’s a risk.  Jon Heyman of SI.com has him as the second best remaining free agent behind Johnny Damon.  But, there’s still no mention of second base.  

I acknowledge that there’s no reports that the Rays are interested.  But why not?

Coming into the 2010 season, Tejada will be only 36.  He’s coming off a season with the Houston Astros where he hit .313 with 46 doubles and 86 RBI.  Can you imagine a batting order where he’s hitting in the 6 or 7 spot?  If the price is right, that offensive lineup is every bit as good as to compete for the top spot in the American League East.

Today we have learned, from MLB Trade Rumors,  of a four team trade involving the Rays that was discussed at the Winter Meetings that fell through. Here is how the trade would’ve ended up:

Rays Recieve: Milton Bradley

Mets Recieve: Gary Matthews Jr.

Cubs Recieve: Pat Burrell and Luis Castillo

Burrell would have then been traded elsewhere.

Angels Recieve: NOTHING! except the salary dump of Sarge Jr.

I have also seen, from Bleacher Report, that this deal would’ve sent Burrell to the Angels and only Castillo to the Cubs.

This deal would’ve been terrible for the Rays. It would not make sense to trade the contract year of Burrell, who is bound to do well this year, for two years of a head case in Bradley. Bradley would’ve been bad for the Rays chemistry, even if he could hit. I would not understand this deal from the Cubs point of view either. Why would you give up Bradley for a second baseman who is on the downhill side of his career and is injury prone. I understand they really wanted to trade Bradley, as now we can see they traded him for Carlos Silva.

All I can say is it is a great thing this deal didn’t go through, as this deal would’ve been terrible for the Rays.

• Fox Sports.com’s Tracy Ringolsby reported that the Rays are shopping Dioner Navarro in the hopes to move him. Ringolsby says that if they cannot move him this week, the Rays will non-tender him. This means that the Rays are content with Shoppach, Riggans, and maybe Jaso and Matt Spring in the near future. The Rays could also see something in Jose Lobaton that they could bring him up and use him. I think the Rays should still pursue a free agent catcher or a guy like Ryan Doumit, at the right price. Shoppach isn’t going to do much offensively, so I guess we will have to wait and see what the Rays have in mind.
• The deal of the day yesterday is not good news for the Rays. The Yankees, Tigers, and D-Backs made a blockbuster deal that included Curtis Granderson going to the Yankees, Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy going to the D-Backs, and Yankees top prospect Austin Jackson, and D-Backs young pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers, along with others. This trade will depleat the Yankees farm system while only getting Granderson. This seems like a hefty package for the Yankees to give up for one player. This trade is not good for the Rays, because it just makes the Yankees stronger than they already are.
• According to Jerry Crasnick, the Rays are interested in veteran reliever Darren Oliver. He would be a good middle relief/set up guy for the Rays.
• According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Rays and White Sox discussed a Carlos Quentin for Carl Crawford deal yesterday, but Ozzie Guillen says the trade is dead. The teams also discussed Bobby Jenks, but the asking price was too high.
• The Rays are interested in Kelvim Escobar, according to Jerry Crasnick. He would be another bullpen guy, but it is hard to know what his role would be.

I’ll pass.

As far as I’m concerned, Roy Halladay is not the best starting pitcher on the market. To hear that the Rays may have inquired about Halladay by dangling Wade Davis and BJ Upton is, to me, a little concerning. This would be “rent-a-Roy” at its best.

Personally, if I’m going to offer BJ Upton and/or Wade Davis in a deal, I’m looking to get back a pitcher such as Josh Johnson from the Marlins.

I think this is a matter of the Rays making sure they’re in the news in some way.  I don’t really believe they’re seriously in the running for a pitcher like Roy Halladay.  But, it makes good press if their name is out there in some way. 

I do think the Rays will make a deal or two this week.  There’s some decent bullpen arms being tossed around.  It’s hard to imagine the Rays won’t make a move for one of them.  To me, if the Pirates are serioiusly interested in Reid Brignac, a deal is there to be made to include Ryan Doumit coming to the Rays. 

Catching and relief pitching are the two things the Rays stated they needed going into the 2010 season.  It’s fairly obvious to the fans on the outside.  I’m not sure an exchange of Davis/Upton for Halladay improves their chances that much in the AL East.  Andrew Friedman can do better.

Photo:  Wikimedia commons

Let’s start out with a sigh of relief, courtesy of SI.com’s Jon Heyman:

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe previews the Rays intentions at this week’s winter meetings this way:

Their attention must be on relief pitching, preferably a closer. Of course, we’re hearing the “no money’’ mantra, so they will likely think outside the box. Ben Zobrist is playing either second base or right field, so they need to fill whichever position Zobrist doesn’t. They would obviously love to move DH Pat Burrell and are reportedly still contemplating a Milton Bradley-Burrell swap. Dioner Navarro is available in trade, and there’s a possibility that Dan Wheeler and his $3.5 million price tag could be available. There’s intrigue about what might happen with left fielder Carl Crawford ($10 million option) or even first baseman Carlos Pena. They will likely stay, but would the Rays listen to offers? Probably.

Overall, I’d say that’s fairly accurate, although I don’t think the Rays see the Zobrist situation the way Cafardo describes it.  It would seem the Rays are content using some combination of Ben Zobrist, Sean Rodriguez, Matt Joyce and others to fill their 2B/RF platoon.

***

 FoxSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi figures there are two questions to be answered at the meetings:

Two big questions: Will Friedman finally consummate a deal for Milton Bradley? And will anyone give him a compelling offer for B.J. Upton?

 ***

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times discussed the possibility of the White Sox trading closer Bobby Jenks and concluded this:

Teams will inquire about the availability of closer Bobby Jenks, but unless that team is the Tampa Bay Rays and they are talking about a mega-package with Carl Crawford or B.J. Upton somehow involved, forget it.

Yep, forget it.  Unless the “mega-package” is a whole-lot more appealing than Bobby Jenks, the White Sox need to keep their mitts off CC and BJ.

***

NESN.com writer Evans Clinchy muses about whether Carl Crawford is “too good” for the Rays to bring back after 2010.  Considering this is coming from something anywhere near Boston, I’m going to write this off as sarcasm.  In this case, the writer seems like an outsider trying to write about something that he doesn’t know enough about. 

I know it’s in the details.  But, first, there’s this.

After going all the way to the World Series with Crawford leading the way in 2008, the Rays were more than happy to bring him back for option year number one.

I think most who follow the Rays know that Carl didn’t lead the way.  Carl had a bad season in 2008.  He was injured and he struggled more than in any other season.  He returned for the playoffs, but he endured his lowest batting average and stolen base total since his rookie season.

Then, there’s these two gems.

The Rays are no longer looking like World Series contenders.

and

With the Rays out of the playoff hunt for the time being, it makes sense to cut payroll…But on Nov. 9, the Rays threw Crawford a curveball, agreeing to pick up his option and denying the outfielder the chance to join Jason Bay and Matt Holliday on the free-agent market this winter.again.

Threw Crawford a curveball?  Huh?  Like I said, this guy seems like he’s trying to write about something he knows very little about.  He then reiterates his belief that the Rays are nowhere near contention by saying “they have no use for a $10 million outfielder when they have little hope of making a playoff run with him.”

Great!  Let’s hope everyone near to the Red Sox Nation is considering the Rays as a non-contender heading into 2010.  It’s not until the very end of the colum that this guy finally makes sense. 

“If the Rays can’t find a trade that nets them equal value, they should suck it up and fork over the big bucks to keep Crawford long-term. They have a franchise player in Crawford — and he’s way too good to let him walk next season, leaving them with nothing. One way or another, they’ve got to sit down and make a deal.”