Like Tracy a lot, like Kapler some, and Blake some.

Could Swisher be had a lower demand because of his bad year? Would be an interesting acquisition. Disciplined plate approach and can play multiple spots.

Obviously E-Jax is No. 1 on the list.

Maybe Brignac and Niemann as well. Could Niemann answer the bell as a bullpen stud?? Does he have the makeup to be like what Masterson was for Boston down the stretch?

Never ends….Some people live for this!

Yes, I am not either, but consider this catharsis.

It would be nice to see him out in RF everyday.

There will be regression to the mean with both DEF and with bullpen productivity. For that matter, the Phillies can expect the same type of bullpen regression.

Our biggest need is a stud RF, a guy who can make a big difference in our lineup. Unfortunately I don’t see anyone out there close to our budget that can fill such a need. And there seems to be little hope in our minors system for such a player.

After that I’d put my sights on a shutdown closer, with Fuentes probably being the guy I covet most.

And then I’d want someone at 2B. Ellis would have been a perfect fit, but that idea is out the window now unless we can work out a trade with OAK. I just don’t think Aki contributes enough in terms of OBP to make up for his lack of SLG. He was a great player to have for 2 years, but I don’t think he is good enough for a playoff ready contender unless he is surrounded by a lot of big bats and really isn’t needed offensively.

Longoria will be better offensively. So will CC. Upton may be much, much better. A healthy Pena probably means more HR/SLG too. So there will be some upticks for us next season to depend on.

Jason Giambi?
Frank Thomas
No thanks. We have tried that already. The Rays need to keep doing what they have been, bringing in young talent with big upsides. Cliff Floyd was pretty good for us, but no way should we pay money to Giambi or Thomas. If we bring in a DH, I want Mike Aubrey from the Indians. They are about to give up on him due to injuries and he has a huge upside. If we could get him for Talbot or maybe Niemann or Houser it would be a great trade.

He’s played exactly 5 games there in his career. His feet are made of lead.

I have some doubt. Giambi on the other hand I would be very interested in. For $5-$8 mil per year, at a 1-2 year contract, I would be all over that. Put him at DH, use him to spell Pena at 1B once every 15-20 games, and just let him produce like he always does.

The guy puts up some eye pooping numbers at AAA, and did well in Arlington this season. Probably would cost a ton in terms of prospects. The Rangers need pitching.

they are going to have alot of money coming off their books so i could see it happen

what would you give up for him? brignac?

Not that you had none this season, but this factor can make a huge difference.

By the way, congrats all on a great season. I know it doesn’t feel so great right now, but it was a special one – don’t forget that.

Now it’s on to 2009!

Milton Bradley – price too high? A righty to platoon with Gross or play more if fully healthy, could also DH. Not a good enough citizen?

im also a marlins fan, so what do you guys think about this deal if it gets done?

As a Phillies fan I just want to say that you DO NOT want Tom Gordon next year. He’s still injured and probably won’t pitch most of the season anyway. Also he would be a step in the wrong direction for you guys, stick with the young arms.

Ibanez’s bat is decent throughout the season but picks up pretty nicely near the end, willingham is solid all year and I would rather a full time than a platoon. Aybar proved himself to be a worthy corner, and I think Niemann has better potential than the others, but we could use an everyday closer

I’m always a little amused at the various boards I go to that seem to always be loathe to trade prospects for veterans. I’d advocate seeing what level of players the Rays could get from other teams for some of the prospects they have.

I’ve always felt that the minors exist for one reason; to improve the major league club. This can be done two ways: by developing the talent and using it yourself, or by trading potential talent for established talent. The first is best when a team is not competitive, the second is better when the team is a player or two from the top. Tampa definately falls into the second category (which is still a pleasant surprise to many).

At Baseballthinkfactory, I tease that the prevailing attitude is “every minor leaguer is more valuable than every major leaguer” because mentioning that it might be a wise idea to trade your top minor leaguer for a well-established major leaguer is always met with derision. Of course, it doesn’t always work (Kazmir/Zambrano is the perfect example), but I remember the howlings when the Red Sox briefly had Andy Marte and traded him away for Coco Crisp. Like him or not, Crisp thus far has been a much more valuable major league player. And using the Sox as a further example, while Hanley Ramirez is a wonderful player, Boston doesn’t win the WS in 2007 without Beckett and Lowell.

The Rays are poised to be a real contender for 2009 and a few years beyond with the core they have; to a point no other team can claim. The core is locked in for the next few years, and are all young enough to show improvement (some will, some won’t).

If I were in charge, I’d be on the phone to the Padres and see what it would take to get Jake Peavy to move from one warm weather city to another. I’d start with Edwin Jackson and Sonnanstine and see what else the Padres might want in addition, and if they ask for a top minor leaguer in addition, I’d certainly have to consider pulling the trigger. If you think that’s crazy, I’d counter that a rotation of Peavy, Shields, Kazmir, Garza and Price would be unbeatable. 100 win unbeatable. And Peavy is locked up until 2012 with a club option for 2013. I understand it would take some creativity to handle the increase in salary, but I think the attendence boost the Rays should have in 2009 should cover the increase.

If a top pitcher isn’t attainable, perhaps a power hitting RF/DH would be.

It’ll be interesting to see which way the Rays go. I’m not sure standing pat is the right one.

7 of the 8 positions are filled for next years team with RF being “up in the air.” Whoever wants Casey Blake better keep drinking shroomjuice, he’s pathetic. At 36 he’s in the decline of his career. I look at it this way when looking for these FA ball players. How much better would this team be with them on it compared to what we have? Blake, Crisp, Marte, Giambi, Thomas? I wouldn’t give a squirt of piss for any of them. Talk Manny Ramirez, you’re looking at an upgrade.

RP? Who will be back, who won’t? Identify the problem, look for the solution. Ejax IMO would be a great 1 inning closer as hard as the S.O.B. throws. Percival needs to be shipped to the glue factory as does Miller and Wheeler. Place Edwin in the pen along with some of the minor league talent including Salas, Mcgee, Davis, Neimann, etc.

IMO, there are 4 positions open on the best team in the A.L. 3 in the BP, and one in RF. Speculate all you want about any move, this team will get better from within just through the maturation process. If Friedman did nothing this off season it would neither upset or shock me. Why break it if it aint broken?

Friedmans protocol is to get great young talent. If there is a move to be made in RF I fully expect Andie to trade the likes of Neimann for maybe someone like Franklin Guttierrez in Cleveland. Players that have all the tools who are ready to step in now and in the future. Players who can field, throw, hit, run, just like the rest of the players not named Navi.

While it’s good conversation to whom the Rays will add, I’ll regergitate once again, if Friedman does nothing this off season the Rays will get better.

Could someone post the website that has the list of current contracts by team?

Looking at the list of arb-eligible players for the Rays, who do you think we will try to lock up long term? I’d love to get BJ and Navi to sign a 3+ year contract to keep the core intact for years to come. Also, has Gomes seen his last game as a Ray?

Grant Balfour
Jason Bartlett
Gabe Gross
Jonny Gomes
Edwin Jackson
Dioner Navarro
B.J. Upton

Classic DH’s (see all bat no defense) are available in pretty good number. As MLB shys away from older players in the post-steroids era, we might be pleasantly surprised over the price of someone like Jason Giambi—the guy is still putting up solid numbers—but because of his pleasant pricetag, it will attract a number of suitors—cf. Angels, Cleveland are the top two off my head…but signing w/ us gives him a chance to play in the best division, a chance to get back at the Yanks, and enters into a younger, more enjoyable clubhouse—remember how much fun they had in the Oakland team way back when.

I think Jason Werth would be an excellent addition to the team, especially after watching him play against us in the WS. I very much doubt, however, that he’d be available.

Even more so, I’m on the Hunter Pence bandwagon. a trade of E-Jax and brignac could do it. He’s everything the Rays are looking for. He’s a good defensive OF, he’s young, 25, he’s cheap and under control for next 5 seasons (only has two full-seasons under his belt), loads of potential (had 63 XB hits last year), and adds right-handed power.

It wasn’t quite the sophomore season that was expected from him, but the Astros are in desperate need of pitching. Some combo of E-Jax, Niemann, and Brignac (Tejada’s eventual replacement?) Pence for Rays RF!

Friedman now has his regrets for not coughing up what was needed in trading for Jason Bay who just may have been the player to put the Rays over the hump offensively and won the series? RF produced 2 hits in 5 games.

Anybody else think Crawford & Kazmir will do nothing but regress now? It seems like they won’t get any better, & their value is as high as it’ll be from here on out.
These two for J. Upton? I don’t know, I’m asking the more knowledgeable group…

A guy doesn’t go from being the AL strikeout leader to fearing to throw his best pitch without something being wrong. His elbow injury at beginning of the year perhaps was more of a problem than was let on (like Upton’s shoulder)