.. as:
- Friedman and Maddon left Ryu on the 40-man when they could have given Morlan a place on it. So … they may think he is good enough to make the pen as he is out of options!
- Orvella was really, really good in the minors (133 hits allowed in 202 innings, 6:1 K/BB ratio!!!)! I don’t know how much he degressed in ’08 because of health issues / injuries … do u know?

think that all 15 of these guys can be in a major league bullpen.

I’d personally go (with the options we have now)

Troy Percival (lets face it)

Dan Wheeler (I hope he gets dealt for relief, but I doubt it)

Chad Bradford (I think I would rather have chadford than wheeler, but they could both get dealt and I wouldn’t cry over it)

J.P. Howell (little to no chance hes not in)

Grant Balfour (nothing to suggest a regression, but it has to happen, its just ridiculous to think he could put up the same season again, right?)

Joe Nelson (we signed him to be on the major league team, I think hes in as well)

Jeff Niemann (long man, out of options, could we get value for him? I’d personally like to see him at #5 in the rotation and Price in AAA until June, working on his change-up more, but I doubt it happens with the all the hype around Price)

Randy Choate (lots of ground balls, I think he is guaranteed a spot if Chadford is dealth because of the extreme groundball tendencies. I could see Rodriguez or Hammel in this role because of the need for lefty specialist and the options issue respectively)

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I’d like to see

Balfour
(Bradford)
Howell
Nelson
(Wheeler)
Niemann
(Percival)
Choate
Hammel
Salas
Thayer
Rodriguez
Orvella
DePaula
Ryu
Childers
Talbot (I’d rather see him starting in AAA)

as my “depth chart” with the guys in parenthesis as guys who could (I know percival wont be dealt but still) be dealt for salary

Howell, Balfour, and Nelson seem like sure things. Based on what I’ve seen and know, I think Choate has been pegged as this team’s LOOGY so I’d say he’s in too. I think Niemann makes the most sense as a long reliever/spot starter. Obviously, that leaves Percival, Wheeler, and Bradford as the three expensive guys. If Perci starts on the DL, maybe Jason Hammel stays until he gets back; otherwise I don’t know how the Rays could hold onto him. I see no way that he fits into someone’s long-term plans, and I don’t see how a Rays team that wants to win dumps Bradford exclusively for salary reasons being on the last year of his contract; if they trade him, I’d think they’d want to get major-league ready players in return, not prospects (If they can find a taker for Wheeler on the other hand, I think they’d take whatever they can get). But honestly, I don’t see either being moved. So:

Percival
Wheeler
Bradford
Nelson
Choate
Balfour
Howell
Niemann

Hammel is released or traded for a tank of oxygen, Rodriguez doesn’t make the squad, and the rest of the guys either go back to, or start in, AAA.

Just for S&G, if we go with 7 relievers, Choate probably starts down in AAA until the team can find a spot for him.

He pitched decent in 07 even after being suspended. I think he has outgrown the minors and hasn’t got a chance to return to Rays for an extended period. I don’t think he has much trade value by himself.

would be type A/B next year? Maybe some incentive to hold onto the contracts for now.