TB Rays 2014/2015 off season

[Tobywan]

According to my local newscast the Rays are going to investigate possible tampering by the Chicago Cubs.

[Tobywan]

Now there are rumors that Sternberg has been in talks with his wall street buddies about moving the team to Montreal.

[Tobywan]

Supposedly, the moving threat was just spin from New York.


Rays committed to Tampa Bay

[Tobywan]

With all the subtraction in the last couple of weeks the Rays have stated that they plan on retaining the rest of the coaching staff. Dave Martinez is expected to be at or near the top of the list of managerial candidates, it is also expected that if he were not promoted he will likely ask to let out of the his contract for 2015.

The Rays also exercised the $7.5 M option on Ben Zobrist, Ben was awarded the 2014 Don Zimmer MVP award by the local BBWAA chapter. If Ben dons a Rays uniform in 2015 it will be his 10th season longest in franchise history for a player. He is the Rays leader in doubles (229) and walks (542), and second to Carl Crawford in games (1,064), hits (1,016), runs (565) and triples (32).

[Tobywan]

They picked up the $2.5 million team option on Joel Peralta. He finished the season 3-4 with a 4.41 ERA, 74 strikeouts and 15 walks in 69 appearances and 63.1 IP. He has pitched in 296 games, most in the majors and has 115 holds second behind Nationals’ Tyler Clippard. He will turn 39 in March.


LHP Matt Moore has been activated from the 60-day disabled list in counter move Vince Belnome was designated to make room on the 40-man roster. OF Jerry Sands was also activated from the 60-day and was designated.

[Tobywan]

Congratulations to Kevin Kiermaier for being a runner up for a Gold Glove.

[Tobywan]

The TB Rays have released a preliminary list of managerial candidates:

Dave Martinez
Charlie Montoyo
Manny Acta
Ron Wotus
Don Wakamatsu
Raul Ibanez
Craig Counsell
Kevin Cash

They are hoping to have someone in place by the December 8th Winter Meetings.

[Tobywan]

The Rays traded Cesar Ramos to the Angels for prospect Mark Sappington.

[Tobywan]

Barry Larkin and Doug Glanville have been added to the interview list for manager.

Reportedly, MLB has launched an investigation of possible tampering by the Cubs in regard to Joe Maddon. I doubt anything will really come of that though.

[Tobywan]

Jeff Beliveau is joining Longo and Zobrist as Rays representatives at the Japan Series. Games start tomorrow night.

[Tobywan]

Longo had a grand slam in the exhibition against Hanshin-Yomiuri, but the MLB AS almost blew a 6-0 lead, eked by 8-7.

[Tobywan]

IF Vince Belnome was outrighted to Durham and IF Jerry Sands elected free agency.

The Rays have interviewed 7 of the 10 potential managers on their list.

[Tobywan]

The Rays trade Jeremy "Hellboy" Hellickson to the the Arizona Diamondbacks for prospects OF Justin Williams and SS Andrew Velazquez.

[Tobywan]

The MLB All-Stars barely took the exhibition game, now they have dropped the first two games of the Japan Series losing Game 1 2-0 and Game 2 by the score of 8-4. Ben Zobrist tripled and scored in the third. Justin Morneau hit a 2 run homer and Longo is 3-for-6 in the series.

[Tobywan]

MLB All-Stars were no hit in Game 3 by four Japanese pitchers in a 4-0 loss. Jeff Beliveau had to leave the game after 1.1 IP appearing to have a mild strain to his left lat, he will be evaluated further.