The locks and question marks for 2010

by joeybw on Oct 6, 2009 10:56 AM EDT

C Gregg Zaun ? Shawn Riggans ? Dioner Navarro ? FA? Choose 2
1B Carlos Pena
2B Ben Zobrist
SS Jason Bartlett ? Reid Brignac ?
3B Evan Longoria
LF Carl Crawford
CF B.J Upton
RF Matt Joyce ?
DH Pat Burrell

Bench: Catcher, Sean Rodriguez, Willy Aybar, Fernando Perez?

SP 1 James Shields
SP 2 Matt Garza
SP 3 David Price
SP 4 Jeff Niemann
SP 5 Wade Davis ? Hellickson pitches too well to deny him the spot?

Bullpen
J.P Howell
Dan Wheeler
Grant Balfour
Lance Cormier
Andy Sonnanstine

Who else? Possibilities are Talbot, Thayer and free agents

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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I imagine the team will look hard to unload Jeff Niemann this offseason.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Oct 6, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

You don't think he can replicate his success, or just that the others are better, or Hellickson is ready now and he is better?

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

None of the above.

I think Niemann is better then Hellickson and Davis ATM, but I don’t think the difference between Neimann next year and Hellickson next year justifies keeping Niemann around past this offseason if they can get a Edwin-Jackson-type-return.

Now if they can’t get a decent return for Niemann, I don’t think he gets traded. I’m not trying to say ‘if Niemann isn’t traded then the offseason is a failure." The team will be more then happy to keep Hellickson down all next year as insurance in case one of the other pitchers on the staff develops Sonnyitis.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Oct 6, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully this isn't seen as too dumb of a question, but here goes

Why not Shields? He is paid three times any of the other pitchers. I don’t think he was hugely better than any of the others. He is very good, and could attract a top player in return. He does bring some experience to a very young staff and has shown that he can pitch deep into a season, but is he untouchable, or just not a good option to trade?

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt he's untouchable, but considering that this season was probably an abberation in his skill level, and his team-friendly contract, I'd expect to see the Rays seek a much higher return.

And then that opens up a new problem; Shields should return 2 MLB-ready players in return at a minimum, so where do you put them? You could argue DH and Catcher, but there’s a pretty large drop-off from the top catchers in the league to the next level, enough that I wouldn’t want to seek anything but a top-level catcher in return; and I’m not prepared to give up on Burrell as the team’s DH.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Oct 6, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I would trade Shields if it brings back an upgrade.

Like if the D-backs wanted to trade Haren for some reason.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

A very solid catcher would have to be a consideration

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Like whom?

Great plan in theory, but good luck getting anyone to trade you one.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I know, I know

I like Wieters, but Baltimore fans, what’s left of them, would likely kill someone if they traded him.

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Niemann would require A LOT more in return than Jackson

a cheap, good pitcher whose under team control for many more cheap seasons has extreme value compared to one who is entering arbitration. If Niemann doesn’t net a big return, then no reason to trade him. I think i would agree with the sentiment that it may make more sense to trade Shields than Niemann.

by raysfaninminnesota on Oct 6, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Not happening

May as well fold the franchise.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Were you replying to raysfaninminnesota or me?

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

No

If they traded Wieters.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

kericr wants to trade everyone--a team of all A players is his dream

by sternfan1 on Oct 6, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Oct 6, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

An A ball reliever

low A preferably

the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009

by CubFanRaysaddict on Oct 6, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Joking aside, there are a few players I'd like to see moved along, assuming the return for that player is appropriate.

One of the shortstops, I don’t care which one. One of the outfielders (Crawford, Upton, Deezy, Joyce, Perez), I don’t care about which one here either. I’d like to see Pena moved if we can find another solid 1B somewhere because I’ve grown tired of his streakiness, and if we could get anything interesting for a Navarro trade, I’d be all for it. I don’t really care to trade any of the pitchers unless someone is willing to overpay because I still don’t like Mitch Talbot and he’s pretty much all that’s left down in AAA after Hellboy.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Oct 6, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree 100%

I don’t think we can get as much for Pena as we’d like though so I think we should keep him. Although I think 1B should be a top priority for any trade.

My guess is we trade MVB and Niemann. We pick up a top 1B that will be up late next year for PH/DH type duties. We also pick up a bunch of low level high ceiling arms.

Catchers are tough. Nobody wants to trade a good one so you pretty much have to grow them on your own.

Can we get robots for umpires and a computer to make in game strategy decisions? I'm sick of inconsistently bad umpiring and Joe's pitiful in game management. Oh and Navi (and BJ) need some PED's. BenZo, Bartlett, and Pena do not.

by matthan on Oct 6, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

This.

MVB and Niemann for Chris Carter?

Everbody's Nobody

by RWRays on Oct 11, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Way to much.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Oct 11, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

His contract is amazing.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 6, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The issue for me with Niemann has more to do with health than anything else.

I think LT he could be as good as anyone on the staff (save Price), but that’s only if he’s healthy. That is a pretty big if.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I would be shocked if Hellickson makes the team out of ST.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Oct 6, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Double agreed

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Triple agreed.

by Lithia Rays on Oct 6, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

You can't triple agree a double agree

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by FreeZorilla on Oct 7, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

THAT'S LIKE 6 AGREES IN ONE!!!

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Oct 7, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I would think Choate would be a keeper

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 6, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

I find it hard to believe that Joyce will be with this team next year. I think he's moved with MVB.

Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.

by PlayOnWords on Oct 6, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

I find it hard to believe he wouldn't be

Kapler’s a free agent, Gross will probably be nontendered, Crawford’s a free agent in a year and there aren’t really any other RF options, unless Upton is moved over and Jennings plays CF or Zobrist is moved over and Rodriguez plays 2B. Also, he’s dirt cheap.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Oct 6, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Crawford, BJ, StB, Zo, Perez, DJ, Joyce

There are 7 guys fighting for three OF spots and maybe 2 bench spots. I’m operating under the assumption that Kazmir was moved to resign Carl, here, so the next most valuable, yet dispensable player in that set is Joyce.

Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.

by PlayOnWords on Oct 6, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Perez isn't an everyday OF.

He might be on another team, but most of his value is his ability to play CF.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes...?

Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.

by PlayOnWords on Oct 6, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

What's that mean?

Zorilla is also a 2B in my eyes. jennings isn’t ready yet. I don’t see why Joyce would be gone.

by rglass44 on Oct 6, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Zo and StB are going to share time at both positions.

And DJ will get the call sooner rather than later. Perez will take one bench spot, and then StB/DJ the other.

Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.

by PlayOnWords on Oct 6, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions