I’d like the Rays to acquire another capable starter and moving either Sonny or Jackson to the pen. Not so much to boot one of them out of the rotation, but more to have insurance in case of injury. A small upgrade isn’t worth much, but the added insurance is.

I don’t think they need a stud. If they get a good deal than I won’t complain. I’m also not against bringing price up but I don’t know if he’s ready to start in the big leagues.

I think it’s time to pull the plug on Edwin Jackson as a starter, but I wouldn’t trade the farm to pull in a Sabathia or someone like that.

If given a choice between giving up good prospect(s) or standing pat, I’d stand pat.

at least so says the side bar.. I guess Barty jacked his knee up pretty good stealing 3rd base last night. Weird tho, cuz he singled in 2 runs later inthe inning…

Either way, will be sweet to see Reid for a little while….

I’m not sure what problem we’d be trying to solve by bringing in Fuentes, assuming (as I do) that Balfour and Wheeler can be sufficient in the 8th/9th. As for a RF, I’d only do a move if it’s a major impact trade. No role player additions.

Here is an article by Jayson Stark on the impact of deadline deals historically.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings

While I think it is somewhat superficial, I have read studies before that pooh-pooh the notion that deadline deals often put teams over the top. I particularly like the point about the possibility of getting players who are about to slump. It is one of the arguments I often use when there is talk about replacing one player who is slumping with another; if you do not look at large samples, you may simply be replacing one player about to go on a hot streak with one who is about to go cold.

Also, note that Stark quotes Hunsicker quite a bit.

i really agree with your comments. Most anaylists seem to think the Rays should make a move for Sabathia or somebody else, but I think the starting pitching is fine. As you say in the post, adding Davis or Price is probably just as good as anybody we could afford. They are not proven, but lots of rookie pitchers come up the second half and seem to have success. Fuentes could be a good arm to add to the bullpen, and it wouldn’t cost too much. I think you are right, if anything we need a bat. Bay would be a great player to add, Nady would be ok, but beyond the fact that he is right-handed, I don’t think he gives us too much that we don’t already have. The Cardinals and Brewers have a lot of outfielders and need pitching. I would love to get somebody like Corey Hart, and with Matt LaPorta coming up, maybe they would be willing to part ways with him for some good pitching. But he might cost too much.

The only glaring weakness in our offense at this time is the absence of a reliable right-handed hitter lower in the order. With Maddon running Hinske and Brignac out there eight and nine, we end up with four lefties in a row now. This leaves us particularly vulnerable to opponents’ lefty specialists late in close games. I know we can pinch-hit Aybar and Gomes, but they aren’t huge upgrades if the game is on the line. The addition of a Jason Bay or Ryan Spillborghs would be huge as it would add balance to the lineup.