Bleh, yanks didn’t give up that much. Tabata is overrated and no one else there is a great prospect. The fact that they didn’t get Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy is a joke.

WTF is Tampa waiting on? The time is now! Not next year or the year after. I say now that Nady is gone, go get Milton Bradley &/or Casey Blake. I’m personally not sold at all on Matt Murton. I don’t think he’s that good of a player, much less a hitter. I think Bradley or Blake would be much better. We could use another decent RP as well.

But the Pirates could look at an OF of McLouth, McCutchen, and Pearce if they moved Bay. So they still easily could. But Bay don’t really fit the Rays well. He’s not really a RF. Seems chasing Bradley if you’re going to go big makes a bit more sense – though you could see him as an older Dukes. But are you looking for good citizens or good players when going for the playoffs? Don’t know that Bradley’s knee could hold up in RF everyday, but you don’t really need it to. And since he’s a rental, he shouldn’t cost more than Bay.

I know all here are concerned about the long term implications of any deal, but the simple fact is this is the Rays best – only – playoff shot to date. These guys will exact pain in what has to be given up – I’m thinking Davis would have to be included in either deal. But the Rays are (hopefully for you) now transitioning to a period of regular contention. Money will be spent. Contending until deep into September, or better still making the playoffs, changes the whole picture. Money will flow in – it’s already begun. Have to ask yourselves if this a moment to capitalize on. Nothing is guaranteed in the future, but the base is there.

Think of the ride the Indians have been on in the past few seasons. Came close in ‘05, looked like a prospect based team that was about to break through. Then they collapsed in ‘06. Then reached the promised land in ‘07, now struggling again and trying to find the next path. The Rays may be somewhat better situated then the Indians were, but that’s not for sure. And both the Sox and Yanks are mixing in prospects now, though the Yanks are a bit short on the position player side of things. But both have significant financial resources to fill gaps, with large payroll reductions in their immediate futures. It’s a real transitional moment for the Rays. Gotta decide whether to go for it now or not. And nothing you do guarantees success – but it sure seems like the offense needs help, and perhaps the pen as well. Perhaps time to part with some SP pitching depth.