Fuentes to the Rays Might be a Near Reality

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:19 AM EDT Comment 58 comments

Both teams have a need and interest in acquiring the reliever. But Tampa Bay is preparing to make the most aggressive play for the Rockies' closer, according to a major-league source. The Rays had a scout at Coors Field again Saturday. Opposing executives who have spoken with Tampa Bay say the Rays are determined to bolster their bullpen in an attempt to create separation between them and the Red Sox.

The Rockies are eyeing one quality player in return for Fuentes, and have liked Tampa Bay Double-A starters Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson in the past.

I really can't see it costing Davis or Hellickson in return, but I suppose we could see within the week. Fuentes ERA is unlucky, per BERA and PECOTA doesn't have him falling off until age 38 or so, even if he becomes a LOOGY only at that point.

Coming soon?

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Maybe

we can steal him away for Niemann and something. Fuentes would be awesome for us but in the end I don’t think the genius Andrew Friedman will give up Hellickson or Davis.

by joeybw on Jul 6, 2008 11:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can still see Fernie landing there.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

only problem is

I am sure we will still go for Bay/Nady/Fuentes which is also will require a top spect

With McGee hurt and another 2 or 3 traded….ouch.

Then again by September we should have Kazmir, Shields, Garza and Price. Just need Sonny/Jackson or anyone to just be a #5. I think we have enough depth.

by joeybw on Jul 6, 2008 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i meant Bay/Nady/Holliday

by joeybw on Jul 6, 2008 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Vinny Castilla keeps me worried about a Colorado Hitter.

Let’s not revisit that debacle

The line it is drawn/The curse it is cast/The slow one now/Will later be fast/ As the present now/Will later be past/The order is/Rapidly fadin'./And the first one now/Will later be last/For the times they are a-changin'..- Bob Dylan

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vinny Cashsteala

by floridaroar on Jul 6, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This guy?

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is Fuentes' contract situation?

Is he a rental?

by stpetelawyer on Jul 6, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

FA at the end of the season

I can’t see us acquiring him and not re-signing him though.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And if we didn't resign him

wouldn’t we get two draft picks?

by floridaroar on Jul 6, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was a type A last year, so two first rounders.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK

So then it’s not so bad giving up Hellickson or Davis in order to lock down our bullpen and prepare for a playoff run. We’d easily have the best pen in the majors… talk about shortening games.

by floridaroar on Jul 6, 2008 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, Fuentes is due for some progressing.

His strand rate is below his career average by quite a bit. Our pen would be pretty dynamic:

Wheeler, Percival, Reyes, Fuentes, Howell, Miller, Balfour, yikes.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like strand rate

It’s a symptom, not a cause. But yes, his .340 BABIP should fall big time, meaning fewer hits and more runners stranded.

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 6, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget about Glover 2.0! Or is he "yikes"?

B Rad the Ray Fan
9 = 8

by B Ray on Jul 6, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i like the word crikey

by Rays Rule on Jul 6, 2008 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its hard to argue with Friedman's track record

but that sounds a bit ridiculous. Davis or Hellickson…..no way!

by Sveet on Jul 6, 2008 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"They liked them in the past"

The Rockies are crazy if they like top 10 prospects in the best system. Just insane.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Fuentes is going to require Davis or Hellickson

What the hell are the Indians going to want for Sabathia? The Montgomery Biscuits?

by Sveet on Jul 6, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They may want them, but they aren't going to get them.

This seems like pure speculation.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope your right

by Sveet on Jul 6, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Tribe execs are going to stand outside Durham, Montgomery, Vero, Columbus

Like an old woman at a Ponderosa Buffet line.

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Won't matter.

Sabathia won’t be a Ray.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am fully aware of that. Still kind of interesting.

Let’s say we trade 4-5 top prospects for Sabathia and in return get CC for a half of year, and two top round prospects in return. Still pretty interesting.

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why dont we just give Niemann and Ruggiano

We are just gonna let them both rot in AAA anyway

by joeybw on Jul 6, 2008 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ruggiano :(

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have a damn good point.

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Ruggi

If upton or CC gets injured, the1st one to come up it Ruggi, I like that piece of security there…

Hello Kitty, #1 in your fantasy league. =p

by Boricua on Jul 6, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Niemann in the pen?

How would Niemann fare right now in the bullpen? Or another one of the prospects? Is there a guy with one or two really good pitches that isn’t ready to make it as a starter, but could be a 3.00 ERA guy in relief? If so, you can’t beat the cost of that.

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 6, 2008 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

McGee and Kline are two that I totally see as relievers.

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally see Kline

not getting out of AA

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Jul 6, 2008 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Talbot has control of five with only one being considered "plus"

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 6, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fastball & Changeup

I thought both of those were considered “plus”. I could be wrong though

by Sveet on Jul 6, 2008 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The FO has to be worried about Percy

He hasn’t cost us a game yet, but at the rate he was going it is only going to be a matter of time. Hopefully this latest stint on the DL gets him back to his early season form

by Sveet on Jul 6, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless we give up a B level at the maximum Fuentes max no sense...

Because of a man named David Price. Right now it doesn’t look like we need Price in the rotation this year. Sonny and Jackson are being serviceable. So put Price in the freaking pen. Same damn thing as Fuentes. Except better. And it doesn’t cost anything.

by matthan on Jul 6, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You don't really want a starter, and your future #2, 3, or 4 guy, in the pen

Right now, let the guy get stretched out in Montgomery. Let him get used to throwing 100 pitches and going every fifth day. We will see him September 2nd. If not I will eat crow for a year. I really do see Price starting against the Yanks on Sept. 2nd.

No need to let him go every other game in the pen. You want someone in the Pen? Chris Mason, Gino Gonzales, Dale Thayer, or that Cummings guy in Durham would be good names. But, we have that issue with Hammel, who I think is thrown into a trade as icing on the cake.

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jul 6, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why Sept. 2?

If the upgrade from Jackson to Price is that big of a deal, it’s worth not waiting for rosters to expand. And letting a pitching prospect adjust to the big leagues in the bullpen is a decent enough plan. But if the Rays think he’ll contribute as a starter this year, leave him there, I agree.

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 6, 2008 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no we need price as a starter!! maybe to replace edwin? we all hope!

by RaysOfHope on Jul 6, 2008 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That doesn't help us win in the playoffs...

At this point a trade isn’t to get us to the playoffs as much as for us to WIN once we get to the playoffs. We do not need a 5 man rotation come playoff time. The top end needs to be top notch and the bullpen needs to be top notch. The only way Price to the rotation makes sense this year is he comes in as our #4 guy. If we aren’t giving him the ball in the playoffs then don’t make him a starter.

by matthan on Jul 6, 2008 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ya but price help us more than ejax will help us get to the playoffs

edwin is so inconsistent and youre never sure which edwin will show up, but price would be an upgrade over edwin and the rays wont need a 4 man rotation unless they make the alcs because the alds you really only need 3 starters (kaz,shields,garza) and if price dominants in his time in tampa then you start him over sonny in the alcs if we reach that series

by RaysOfHope on Jul 6, 2008 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ejax has been good

Not to get into this debate again, but why is Edwin widely considered a weak link on this team. He has been very good (4.08 ERA) for a back of the rotation starter. Sonny has pitched better lately, but I don’t think the difference between the two is as large as some like to make it seem.

by Sveet on Jul 7, 2008 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I would love a left handed pitcher in the bullpen that can bring the heat…
Imagine having dual closers….

Dual closer…. it sounds like somethign baseball could adopt.
Percy and Price… thats a pretty cool thought

Hello Kitty, #1 in your fantasy league. =p

by Boricua on Jul 6, 2008 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think a couple months in the pen during a pennant race will stunt Price’s growth. I’m also all for him starting this year, but if he isn’t going to start in the majors this year then just put him in the pen. I’d much rather have him pitching in the pen this year than not make the majors.

I just think he can give us the exact same thing as Fuentes.

by matthan on Jul 6, 2008 1:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes is a must add for this team

Our current lefty specialist has a .612 OPS against lefties and cannot face righties. Fuentes has a .439 OPS against lefties and can also face righties who he has held to a .220 average this year in that joke of a park.

We can’t use Howell everyday but adding Fuentes gives us another Howell – or possibly better.

by Jason Collette on Jul 6, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes would fit this team perfectly. A trade and extension would be Wheeler-tastic.

Longlorious.

by RATW on Jul 6, 2008 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But not for Hellickson or Davis..

by matthan on Jul 6, 2008 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would do it in a heartbeat for niemann though!

by RaysOfHope on Jul 6, 2008 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i would trade for blake for james houser and thats about it

by RaysOfHope on Jul 6, 2008 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how it is even possible

We have a hardon for Gomes and Blake is small upgrade if a upgrade AT ALL over anyone else we have.

by joeybw on Jul 6, 2008 7:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brian Fuentes for Jeremy Hellickson or Wade Davis?

We got a better chance of RJ leaving us to be a Red Sox Fan. Seriously though, I would trade one of them and maybe another prospect for Jason Bay. I do like the fact that Fuentes is a Type A FA, so I’ll take 2 first rounders if we don’t sign him long term.

What about Ejax? Could we trade him for Bay straight up? Just a thought

by Rays Rule on Jul 6, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

but RJ does not even like the Rays...

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Jul 6, 2008 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All it says is they like Hellickson and Davis

What GM wouldn’t? I think Jeff Niemann and another decent prospect can get this done. We can keep the big guys for Jason Bay. I would say Holliday but I don’t think he is wanted here.

by joeybw on Jul 6, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Fuentes is percieved as a key....

And the FO thinks they can lock him up for a couple more years, why not trade Hellickson or Davis? Fuentes has been well above average and could remain so for the next couple years. You’d hate to get rid of youth but that is what competitive teams are forced to do at times.

by tallyray on Jul 6, 2008 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs