LOL R.J. I love it. I hope he hits the crap out of the Yanks this year. Some clutch hits vs his old (minor) league team would be sweet. He spent like 10 years in Yankees minor league system. Cannizaro is almost a shoo in for a roster spot now. Unless Longoria makes the squad and the Rays also keep Aybar and Guzman, I say Cannizaro still could make the team.

The Rays have a problem, and it is kind of ironic. On the one hand, Friedman has done a terrific job building the depth in the system and also on the major league roster. Management's attention to detail has been one of the hallmarks of the new organization.

Yet here we are, and in the 3 most crucial positions where backups are absolutely necessary, the team is not just thin, but without ballplayers in whom we can any confidence. At catcher, we are relying on a young, injury prone backup with virtually no major league experience or on retreads who have never been good even as backups.

At shortstop, we started with a problematic young player who has been awful in the majors and I think is suspect defensively. Now hurt, we are left with a 29 year old career journeyman with 8 total major league at bats and then a prospect (Guzman) who has disappointed more than he has produced.

And finally, with Baldelli becoming an increasingly unlikely choice, there is not one player on the roster who can play an adequate CF behind Upton. And even those being considered, such as Ruggiano, are suspects more than prospects right now.

It may be that Lofton is a good move for the Rays. I think acquiring Aybar, Hinske and Rodriguez were examples of good planning, but depending on Baldelli, Zobrist and the motley crew of catchers was not.

whats the difference between optioned to minor league camp and optioned out? perez and jaso are also going to camp arent they?