A Brief Rundown on Rays Rumors; Reid Brignac, Yorvit Torrealba, Carl Crawford, and Milton Bradley

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 29, 2009 12:29 PM EST

Lazy morning, let's recap some rumors (rumors!) that were ignored because of the holiday weekend.

The Jays called about Reid Brignac

As have other teams, I'm sure. No use in speculating too much about what the Rays asked from the Jays in exchange, but realistically? Probably a package headed by Brandon League or Jason Frasor. These talks are reminiscent of the Julio Lugo talks way back which involved names like League and Ricky Romero amongst others. The differences are A) Brignac is younger with more service time and B) the Rays are the team dealing for immediate results. Of course the Jays turned around and signed Alex Gonzalez which would signal they're not interested - at the moment, at least - in continuing talks for the lefty.

The Rays have called Yorvit Torrealba

And most other catchers on the market, I'm sure. Torrealba has carved out a niche for himself over the last four seasons as a reserve catcher for the Rockies. He was paid nearly four million bucks last season and an inflated BABIP lead to his best offensive season in years. He generally throws out more than the 14% he did last season, so maybe the two extremes wash each other out. He doesn't have a platoon split and he actually hit for less power last season than any other season in his career. Nevertheless, odds are he's going to cost more than the Rays should pay for a back-up catcher.

Latest on Carl Crawford

My source says Crawford is interested in playing baseball in 2010 and beyond.

Latest on Milton Bradley

The Rays want the Cubs to pay for a lot of the contract, the Cubs would rather not yet want to move the pariah.

That about does it for now.

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Comments

Lazy....morning? You know what today is, right?

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

by kericr on Nov 29, 2009 12:49 PM EST reply actions

Most of this has already been covered

HERE

I'm a writer.

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 29, 2009 1:16 PM EST reply actions

I wish Rays and CC would start talking

Instead of just hearing that they WANT him to stay. If the Twins are closing in on locking up Mauer, the Rays should start working on CC

Give me a CC long term deal, please!

by joeybw on Nov 29, 2009 1:24 PM EST reply actions

I'd say it's more likely that Craw resigns than Mauer.

What’s the rush? I’m still not fully convinced that re-signing him is the way to go. 3/40 with an option I do, Craw doesn’t. Without knowing what spects are on the table from other teams it’s hard to opitimize.

I'm a writer.

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 29, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

If they were talking, you wouldn't hear about it.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 29, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

This

Both sides came out and said they wanted to talk. That’s about all we’re going to hear until (if) a deal is signed.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Nov 29, 2009 2:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

rj

what was that hoops site with advanced stats stuff? the nba-fangraphs-site that you linked to in one of the ottotd’s

by daveh33 on Nov 29, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions

Here

http://hoopdata.com/regstats.aspx

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 29, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

thx

by daveh33 on Nov 29, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

Lazy Sunday

Wake up in the late afternoon.

by SRQman on Nov 29, 2009 6:26 PM EST reply actions

Or everyday for you.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Nov 29, 2009 6:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Except Tuesday and Thursday...

Damn you Art class!

by SRQman on Nov 29, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

I've heard the Rays and Cubs are 'close'.

But the Cubs are still floating rumors hoping to get more salary relief from another team. If they can’t find it, they’ll probably cave.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Nov 29, 2009 6:39 PM EST reply actions

Given the Rangers poorness, I think it's a matter of days, not weeks.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 29, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions

Cubs fan here.

I have heard Jim Hendry would like to move Bradley before the winter meetings, which start next Monday. So I would not be surprised to see this happen sometime this week.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 30, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

That would be splendid.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 30, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

Would Torrealba be viewed as a pure back up for the Rays?

Perhaps that would color the payroll cost consideration a bit, no?

by nyyfaninlaaland on Nov 29, 2009 6:42 PM EST reply actions

I hope.

He’d be a considerably worse starter than Zaun.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 29, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

I like Barajas more

Has some serious pop which he showed off all too often against the Rays last year

Give me a CC long term deal, please!

by joeybw on Nov 29, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

I'd prefer Molina

but he would cost more, and isn’t he a Type A? If so, that’s to much for a 35 or 36 year old catcher. I think the better option would be to bring in Pudge Rodriguez on the same kind of deal Houston gave him last season.

by Blue or CONKZILLA on Nov 29, 2009 10:06 PM EST reply actions

Pudge

Yes for defensive reasons too- to teach our future C- Navi, Riggans, Jaso, Lobaton, WHOEVER? to actually catch a good game

Why do you kill threads????

by 4QB on Nov 29, 2009 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

And call a good game. He would be like having another pitcher out there.

FREE SPEACH is a myth. There is no such thing as 100% free speech. You cannot go into a movie theater and say "FIRE"!…"What? I have freedom of speach!" Bull. Doesnt work that way. Any real lawyer will tell you that.

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Nov 29, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions

If the Rays sign Torrealba

Navarro would be non-tendered in December. I see Zaun coming back for about milllion and catching 90 plus games in 2010. Sounds crazy to pay 3 or 4 million to Torrealba to catch maybe 70 or less games but that’s the business of baseball. Navi’s agent is a problem and with the Rays having only two more years of control of Navarro the RFO might just move on.

by rickrays on Nov 29, 2009 10:41 PM EST reply actions