what is the Rays’ reaction to Griffey’s interest?

ask him if he wants to play for the minimum. if nothing else he can mentor BOSSMAN and prepare him for upcoming superstardom like nobody else can. you know, tell him how to cash in on endorsements, etc.

Like I felt before ALCS Game 7, Bradley will sign with us…… I feel it.

Bunch of good stuff this morning

He sounds like a cheap date

Milton Bradley had pizza and French onion soup for lunch Monday at the Bellagio.

Maddon describes Bradley

“Honest, open and intense,” manager Joe Maddon said. “And I liked all three.” “People grow up, people change,” Maddon said. “A lot of it, from what I gather just talking to him today, is that this guy is really all about winning.”

In more excellent news

The Rays’ efforts to improve their offense moved to the next stage when they met with the first of several free agents under consideration, with Jason Giambi believed to be next.

Maddon said closer Troy Percival was recovering well from back surgery but may not be ready at the start of the regular season

And if the Rays do sign someone to be primarily the DH, Maddon at this point would look to a platoon of Gabe Gross and Fernando Perez in rightfield.

Friedman said Bradley could be used primarily as rightfielder or as a DH.

Could be used as either full time

2. Milton Bradley is in intense discussions with the Cubs.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/12/a_few_things_he.html

Sherman

The Cardinals have been surprised at the level of interest in center fielder Rick Ankiel. The New York Yankees have been among at least five teams looking into obtaining Ankiel. The Braves, Rays and Giants are among the others.

Won’t be a deal including Bartlett. Jackson + ?

But the basic situation will probably remain the same — there are more sluggers available than teams who are looking for said sluggers. This is part of the reason why the American League champion Rays are in an excellent position to add a good hitter to the middle of their batting order. They’ll probably add someone who gets on base a lot and hits for power, and Joe Maddon can drop him right in the midst of Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena — and make their solid attack even better.

The Rays are not going to get their pick of the litter, because their offer will be limited by the limits of their payroll. If the Cubs decide they want Abreu and they’re willing to give him a good-sized multi-year deal, there’s nothing that the Rays can really do about it.

But already some agents are considering the Rays as a great place to drop in a client for a one-year deal, because the chances of thriving and build up some major value for another run at free agency after next season is excellent. Imagine if you are Burrell and you find very little in the way of multi-year offers, in what is generally a cool economic climate. You settle on the reality that you’ll probably have to take a one-year deal, with the idea of re-establishing your market value.

Imagine how good the Rays would look to Burrell. He could serve as a designated hitter and very occasional outfielder, and bat fifth or sixth with a bunch of fast guys who are always filling the bases and running around them in front of you. Burrell or Giambi or Dunn or Anderson — or any of the available sluggers — could envision going to the Rays and driving in 110 runs. At some point, somebody figures to grab that opportunity, and the Rays, who already have a good lineup in place for 2009, will be even better.

Stuff can change fast at the winter meetings. Contrary to what I reported Monday morning on this very blog, there were indications Monday night that Tampa Bay was still talking to the Twins about a deal that would bring outfielder Delmon Young back to the Rays.

Tampa Bay likely would deal away either Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson. But the trade could also involve a third team, because the Twins aren’t looking to add starting pitching.

With the Twins on the verge of losing out on their pursuit of Casey Blake, Colorado could provide an interesting alternative. The Twins have had interest all winter in acquiring Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins, but haven’t been able to find a package that would motivate the Rockies to move him. But Colorado is looking to add pitching, so the presence of Sonnanstine or Jackson could change the equation.

Jayson Stark, ESPN.com

Just sign Bradley damnit

Outfielder Jeremy Hermida, drawing interest from the Cubs, Braves, Reds and Rays, remains the Marlin most likely to be traded. However, even on that front, the team is not close to a deal.

anychance we get in a deal with Houston, who is shopping Tejada. He isn’t what he used to be but would still be a really good RH bat in the middle of the order. Jackson, Barty, and Wheeler possibly.

I haven’t heard our names involved but Houston is said to be willing to take on some of his contract

Cubs have a good shot at Bradley and why? Because in their Peavy trade, either the O’s or Phillies are bailing them out on that Marquis contract.

Blows hard

not only that he won’t be back, as he was a fine platoon player (though it does give me hope we won’t be platooning), but also b/c he went to Boston. come on man, after all that Tampa has done for him, he could have gone somewhere else…

now Mets and Cubs lead for Ibanez

I don’t think any of these guys know anything.

Bradley LOVES free pizza

that would be it

but Hermida is better than his 07 numbers suggest. that is why everyone wants him. and I believe he is exactly our kind of player. he plays good D, with a great RF arm, he takes a lot of pitches (his problem right now is not swinging enough), and I think a change of scenery for him would be magical.

With the O’s, Red Sox and Yankees all chasing them, we could very wind up with Sabathia and Texiera in our division. As you can guess, this would suck.

12:41pm: Marc Topkin heard chatter that the Rays and Cardinals are talking. Perhaps Ankiel or Ludwick could interest Tampa Bay.

They will want Atkins more now……were gonna wind up with Young aren’t we?

Perrotto

Jason Giambi appears headed back to the Athletics as a free agent, and an announcement could come at the meetings as the first baseman/designated hitter lives in Las Vegas.

and

The Rays have at least some interest in signing free agent Garret Anderson to be their designated hitter.

that wont tease us and piss us off…. K-Rod has signed with the Mets. Wood is close to signing with the Indians. I wonder where Fuentes, and Hoffman wind up and where Putz gets traded to now.

FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal confirmed that Francisco Rodriguez would get a three-year, $37 million deal from the Mets.
The contract includes a vesting option for a fourth year. All indications are that the deal is now done.

We need a new rule, only the Rays are allowed to have spects

The Orioles are just waiting for clearance from the commisioner’s office before announcing the Ramon Hernandez-to-Cincinnati deal, according to the Baltimore Sun.
It sounds like the Orioles kicked in some money and are now getting two prospects along with Ryan Freel in the trade.

Hopefully the prices drop soon

Lancaster

Just spoke briefly with a Rays official who was mystified about ESPN’s report of a potential three-way deal among the Rays, Rockies and Twins that would bring Delmon Young back to Tampa Bay and send Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson to Colorado. The Rays haven’t had talks with either team along those lines, apparently.

Also, on the subject of meetings with free agents, the Rays don’t have any in-person sitdowns scheduled for today.

Andrew Baggarly

It sure must’ve have been a productive discussion, because word is that Sabathia has declined the Yankees’ six-year, $140 million offer. (I must stress that’s unconfirmed, but talk is spreading fast. If true, look for the Yanks to get hyper-aggressive on A.J. Burnett.)

Fox Sports

While the Red Sox have interest in Rocco Baldelli, they are wary that he will not be able to play enough to fit their needs for a fourth outfielder since they are expecting to have to rest J.D. Drew frequently.

With the Boston Red Sox expected to trade Mike Lowell if they sign first baseman Mark Teixeira (Kevin Youkilis would move from first to third), the San Francisco Giants have emerged as an option, since they need a third baseman.

is that at any moment there could be some sort of…IDK some solution to his illness. So little is known about it (by me) but if they find something that can keep him healthy throughout a whole season, and playing every day, then he’s gonna be a phenomenal player again and someone will have gotten him for a steal.

NL can start crying again.