Rays off-season 2010

[love_that_reefer]

According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays appear to be "very interested" in free agent reliever Brian Fuentes.
SI.com's Jon Heyman reported earlier this week that 11 teams were interested in the free agent left-hander, so he won't come cheap. However, the Rays may have an advantage because Fuentes would likely get a chance to close. The 35-year-old southpaw posted a 2.81 ERA and 47/20 K/BB ratio over 48 innings between the Angels and Twins last season.

Fuentes would be a good fit on a one or two year deal. He won't cost a draft pick either so the Rays should definitely go hard for Fuentes. They still have a chance to compete in '11, a closer like Fuentes only helps that.

[Tobywan]

I keep reading Nick Johnson's name coming up for the Rays in chats with Olney, Dierkes and Law. He could be a good, low cost option at 1B and DH. Even the Rays could afford him.

Have a feeling we already have a Johnson that will be at 1st and a possible DH, Dan the Man.

[Tobywan]

If your team finishes in 3rd place in the AL East it doesn't necessarily mean they suck.

Ok, so they will suck compared to what they have managed in the past 3 seasons. They could lose 162 & I will still go.

[Tobywan]

Fuentes would be a good fit on a one or two year deal. He won't cost a draft pick either so the Rays should definitely go hard for Fuentes. They still have a chance to compete in '11, a closer like Fuentes only helps that.

I read it this morning, finally some good news.

[Tobywan]

Another Johnson that may get a bigger role is Elliot, he could be another platoon/utility guy like Zobrist.

[love_that_reefer]

The Rays have agreed to sign Kyle Farnsworth to a one-year deal, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter links). The deal will pay the Barry Meister client $3.25MM in 2011 and could be worth $6MM over two years, since there's an option for 2012.

Farnsworth had a good 3.34 ERA last year and his strikeout rate was good but didn't have a good second half. Farnsworth is a very average reliever and shouldn't be trusted in high leverage situations. Buster Olney is reporting that the Rays might bring back Balfour for a year with the assurance that the Rays won't offer him arbitration next season. Balfour is having trouble finding offers because of his Type A status. If they bring back Balfour, I will feel a lot better about the Farnsworth signing.

[realmofotalk]

Farnsworth did get the save in the Braves' only win against the Giants. Then Brooks Conrad ruined everything.

[Tobywan]

Yea, I liked Farnsworth a million years ago when he was a Cub.

Now, Balfour is gone..blech time to try to look forward to the youngins' finding their way.

[Trendy Bastard]

Yea, I liked Farnsworth a million years ago when he was a Cub.way.

when he was still kicking ass and taking names!

[Tobywan]

Looks like we are back to the team where old farts go to die.

[love_that_reefer]

Got to love the draft picks the Rays are collecting though.

[love_that_reefer]

Rays and OF B.J. Upton avoided arbitration Monday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.825 million contract.
Upton gets a nice raise from the $3 million salary that he pulled in as a first-year arbitration last season. The 26-year-old outfielder battled consistency issues in 2010, but he finished with 18 homers and 42 stolen bases. He might top $6 million next winter if things go right in 2011.

Amazing Upton is only 26 but lets hope he turns in a the breakout year we have all been waiting for.

[Tobywan]

Got to love the draft picks the Rays are collecting though.

Sigh..........yes...a glimmer to look forward to I suppose.

Amazing Upton is only 26 but lets hope he turns in a the breakout year we have all been waiting for.

Let's not hold our breath shall we?

[love_that_reefer]

The Rays claimed minor league right-hander Rob Delaney off of waivers from the Twins, according to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (on Twitter). The Twins had designated Delaney for assignment when they claimed Dusty Hughes from the Royals earlier in the week.

Delaney has appeared in just one big league game so far, but the 26-year-old right-hander has plenty of minor league experience. He has a 2.96 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 242 minor league relief appearances. Last year he posted a 3.44 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 83 2/3 innings for the Twins' top affiliates.

The Rays lost most of their best relievers this offseason, but they have added or re-signed Dirk Hayhurst, Kyle Farnsworth, Christopher Archer, Adam Russell, Cesar Ramos, Joel Peralta, Jonah Bayliss, J.P. Howell, Cory Wade and R.J. Swindle, as MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows.

Looks like a pretty solid pickup. Why don't Giants claim these type of guys?

[Tobywan]

Wasn't originally planning to, but I just might have to take a weekend road trip down to Port Charlotte in March and check the team out. They aren't scheduled to come up to the bay area on days I can attend and my snowbird friends coming down for ST want to see a couple parks they haven't been to which don't include the Rays.