2012-2013 Rays Off-season thread

[raysnbran]

We've been debating trading Shields and/or Hellickson; now this article says they would be wise to trade Price now while his value is the highest. He would get $25M a year from some team if he was on the market now.

http://www.raysindex.com/2012/12/rep...-contract.html

Out of control prices once again this off season. Once Sternberg gets tired of Mayor Foster's act in St Petersburg, MLB will step in and provide him with an ultimatum. Each year gets harder and harder as the salary structure goes higher and higher.

[raysnbran]

Rays trade a minor leaguer to get Yunel Escobar to play SS. And Keppinger signs with the White Sox 3 yrs $12M. Hopefully Escobar is just a 1 year plug in until Beckham or Ryu (sp?)is ready to play SS. Still need a bat or 2.

[Blue387]

Still need a bat or 2.

Good luck. There are no real good options on the free agent market, unless you really like Ronny Cedeno.

[RaysFan_98]

Rays need to go after Marlins Staten

[Ben Grimm]

Rays need to go after Marlins Staten

I assume you mean Stanton. Offer up Moore & Jennings and you could get their interest.

[RaysFan_98]

I assume you mean Stanton. Offer up Moore & Jennings and you could get their interest.

Would more apt to give em Sheilds and Helly why would i wanna give up moore who is on a team friendly contract.

[Yaz]

Good luck. There are no real good options on the free agent market, unless you really like Ronny Cedeno.

The Rays have the best pitching staff in the AL as trade bait and all 8 starters are up for grabs. Free agents are the last thing the Rays front office is concerned about. A big trade will be made for sure.

[RaysFan_98]

The Rays have the best pitching staff in the AL as trade bait and all 8 starters are up for grabs. Free agents are the last thing the Rays front office is concerned about. A big trade will be made for sure.

Actually..... Only helly and Sheilds are on the trade block at the moment.

[raysnbran]

Rays kicking the tires on a catcher from Cincinnati

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...k-catcher.html

[Yaz]

Actually..... Only helly and Sheilds are on the trade block at the moment.

No, all of them are capable of being traded. Shields and Hellickson are just the ones being shopped.

[raysnbran]

Add Price to the list of trade candidates.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseb...o-keep/1265339

[RaysFan_98]

No, all of them are capable of being traded. Shields and Hellickson are just the ones being shopped.

You are on crack if you think that and no they are not all on the trade block..... Please go back to your own Team forum.

[RaysFan_98]

Add Price to the list of trade candidates.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseb...o-keep/1265339

His trade value is at its highest its ever been at....... And he is going to get very very expensive next two years.

[RaysFan_98]

Uh errrrrr sent Sheilds and Wade for minors..... the **** is the Front office thinking we needed real bats not more prospects...

[Yaz]

You are on crack if you think that and no they are not all on the trade block..... Please go back to your own Team forum.

I've been a Rays season ticket holder since 2006. I'm in the right forum.

And I must be on crack because Wade Davis wasn't supposed to be on the trading block but somehow he is now a Royal.

Sad to see Davis go but I love this trade. Dumping Shields saves the Rays a bunch of cash too. My bet is that all of those innings have taken their toll on Shields and The Royals will be lucky to get 20 wins out of him over two years.

And a Price trade is inevitable before his contract runs out as well. He'll be in line to receive the biggest contract for a pitcher ever and everybody knows it. He'll be traded for a bunch of prospects too, as he should be.

[NJYankeeFan]

Uh errrrrr sent Sheilds and Wade for minors..... the **** is the Front office thinking we needed real bats not more prospects...

You should read up on who those prospects are. The Rays just robbed the Royals.

With the Rays ability to develop pitchers they may have gotten the 3 best players in the deal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

[RaysFan_98]

I've been a Rays season ticket holder since 2006. I'm in the right forum.

And I must be on crack because Wade Davis wasn't supposed to be on the trading block but somehow he is now a Royal.

Sad to see Davis go but I love this trade. Dumping Shields saves the Rays a bunch of cash too. My bet is that all of those innings have taken their toll on Shields and The Royals will be lucky to get 20 wins out of him over two years.

And a Price trade is inevitable before his contract runs out as well. He'll be in line to receive the biggest contract for a pitcher ever and everybody knows it. He'll be traded for a bunch of prospects too, as he should be.

I didn't care about Wade.... He and his 5+ ERA could take a hike for all i care but Sheilds i shall miss.....

And it was hard to tell your name didn't really tie into the Rays and no avi of a Rays so.......

[raysnbran]

I heard a lot of positive things about the players we are getting in the deal. Myers, of course, is the stud of the deal, 37 HR and 100 RBI last year. Went 3-5 in the Futures game last summer in KC. I've heard comparisons of him ranging from Ryan Braun to Josh Willingham. I would take either one of those type bats in the Rays lineup. If he can hit .260/25/75 in 2013, I will be a happy man. Also heard rumors the Rays would start him out in Durham for a few months to keep his arb clock from starting to tick, like they have with other young players.

Jake Odorizzi can be a #3 SP behind Price & Moore in this rotation. He was considered a top prospect that the Royals obtained in the Zack Grienke deal from MIL. Heard George Brett on MLB radio say he's consistently in the 91-92 MPH range,can hit 94 occasionally, but has great control. That's a feature the Rays covet in their SPs.

Montgomery was considered their #1 prospect at one time (per Brett), but he lost "it" and hasn't gotten it back yet. If Hickey can get him turned around, another steal for us.

Leonard is a 3B who slots into the top 30 prospects for the Rays. Maybe never makes it to the bigs, but provides added depth.

I agree with Yaz that Shields' best days are behind him. He had almost 1 ER worse record away from the Trop and KC can be a hitters friendly park. If Davis can sustain his fastball and stretch himself out to go 6 innings, he will be a good SP for KC. But a guy like Niemann coming back, or Archer making the club, can easily replace Davis and his production.

Hoprefully this is a win-win trade for both teams, rather than talking heads debating who won the trade in December.

[RaysFan_98]

Sheilds its not just the stats to me its the intangible he brought.... The leadership the fight and determination and the clubhouse leader.

[RaysFan_98]

Also hopefully Meyers pans out...... And the Rays batting coaches don't **** him up.

[raysnbran]

Royals originally wanted to trade Myers for Shields straight up

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/statu...14277623889921

They obviously did not know who they were dealing with in Andrew Friedman

[RaysFan_98]

Royals originally wanted to trade Myers for Shields straight up

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/statu...14277623889921

They obviously did not know who they were dealing with in Andrew Friedman

Lol Rays front office is no fools our FO Knows how to wheel and deal.

[raysnbran]

If Mark DeRosa can prove he's healthy, I would like Andrew to consider signing him to a vet minimum salary to play the role they envisioned for Keppinger last year...super utility man. I heard him on MLB radio tonight, and he says his wrist is as healthy now as it's been in 3 years and he's a FA looking for a team that's ready to win and not in rebuilding or .500 mode. Can't be worse than the guys like S-Rod, Sutton, Brignac etc that we ran out there in 2012. When you are digging from the bottom of the crate of blue light specials, you need to find some zirconia once in a while.

[raysnbran]

Rays reportedly ready to sign their 2nd Roberto Hernandez of all time

https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/sta...13653812625409

(formerly known as Fausto Carmona)

[raysnbran]

I wish I had some signing or something to talk about besides this

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...ake-drug-test/

Oh, I heard Carlos Pena is about to sign with the Astros...other than that, I got nuthin