Report: Tampa Bay Rays Were Interested in Dealing for Padres' Kevin Correia

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 13, 2009 3:31 PM EST

Axelrod said Hoyer gave him no guarantees the deal isn't a sign-and-trade, but he believes that isn't the case. Sources said the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays both showed interest in trading for Correia, had the Padres not signed him.

Correia signed a one-year deal last night, worth $3.6M. He's a 29-year-old righty who had a career best season in 2009 in large part due to the Padres park. He posted a 4.2 xFIP, which eclipses his previous career best by about 0.2 runs per nine. It's unknown what role Correia would've been used in -- although throughout his career he has appeared in 203 games, with 79 coming as a starter and he's pitched better as a starter lately, albeit in a much larger sample size than his work from the pen - or the interest level that remains.

An acquisition of Correia would solidify the Rays monopsony on arbitration eligible swingmen whose names involve the ‘COR' sound, as Correia's phonetic pronunciation is COR-ay-ah. He throws in the low-90s and has a reverse split despite throwing a slider as his secondary pitch, although neither hand has an OPS above .750 against him over the last three years.

More on the idea tomorrow, but don't be shocked if the Rays acquire another reliever - either via trade or free agency - especially in light of the non-tenders.

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Solidifies your suggestion they'll add another reliever

by sternfan1 on Dec 13, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions

I like him

and its the dirt cheap Padres, we can still get him.

Fire and Ice: Rafael Soriano and J.P Howell.......with their side kick Grant the aussie Balfour!

by joeybw on Dec 13, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions

I'd like to see us nab Capps if the price is right

he’d make another solid upside addition

by raysfaninminnesota on Dec 13, 2009 3:41 PM EST reply actions

Adam Miller re-signed by Indians in a minor league deal--would have liked that here

by sternfan1 on Dec 13, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions

RJ--has Topkin been reading DRB?

The confluence of circumstances that made Soriano available on a one-year deal, with no loss of draft pick, minimal trade cost and for less salary than they paid Troy Percival and Chad Bradford, allowed the Rays to add the one piece they expected to lack.

by sternfan1 on Dec 13, 2009 4:02 PM EST reply actions

Navarro for Correia

Throw in Fernie if needed

by raysrule44 on Dec 13, 2009 4:03 PM EST reply actions

Agent sounds like he's staying in SD

by sternfan1 on Dec 13, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

But where would Correia fit in?

by PhillyRays on Dec 13, 2009 6:07 PM EST reply actions

Few possible scenarios.

1. Fifth starter, sending Davis down until his Super-Two status evaporates.
2. Long-man, allowing Cormier to slide up into a middle relief position.
3. Middle relief.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 13, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

I'd like to see Cormier rewarded with moving into higher leveridge

situations. I think he could really be useful as more than just a long man.

Hooray for CubsStats.blogspot.com !

by BWoodrum on Dec 13, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions

is a chance at Capps a possability?

by realerays on Dec 13, 2009 6:12 PM EST reply actions

Would love Capps

but he’ll probably get overpaid by someone.

by PhillyRays on Dec 13, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

With the Rays payroll over 70 million now

I don’t think they are worried about Wade Davis’s super two status anymore. Comparing what Garza will get this year with his super two status is about 1.5 to 1.8 million more than if he hadn’t been a super two. This season is too important to worry about Davis’s arbitration 3 years from now.

I have no clue why the Rays would bother with Correia.

by rickrays on Dec 13, 2009 7:36 PM EST reply actions

Ramon A. Ramirez

Obviously this has been a busy week and most of it is “all good”. What I can’t understand though is why they gave up on this guy when they were going to non-tender Riggans. Maybe they wouldn’t have non-tendered him if Navarro would have been traded. That’s all I can think of. This is nothing but a footnote to a footnote in an otherwise exciting week, yet if Ramirez turns out to be an impact reliever for the BoSox I won’t be particularly pleased.

by crawdelli on Dec 13, 2009 7:52 PM EST reply actions