Tampa Bay Rays News and Rumors for December 7th: Interest in Kevin Gregg, Update on Milton Bradley Swap, The Mets Interest in Pat Burrell, and More
New/General Rumors
Up first, a Tweet from Yahoo! Sports writer Tim Brown:
Early market for Kevin Gregg: Rays, Nats, Tigers, Rockies...
Gregg was eligible for Type-A compensation but the Cubs chose against offering him arbitration due to a poor season. His career FIP is 4.00 and last year it was 4.93. Wanna know the secret behind that horrible year? It has to do with the fact that 15% of his fly balls went over the fence, his previous career high was 11.6% and his career percentage even now is 8.5%. That's what we call a prime candidate for regression towards the mean. Ignore the home runs (i.e. use xFIP) and Gregg had one of the best seasons of his career when it came to strikeouts and walks. He misses bats and should be a bit undervalued, I suppose it really comes down to asking price.
More after the jump, including the latest on Pat Burrell and Matt Lindstrom.
Pat Burrell/Milton Bradley
Next, we have a Tweet from the New York Post's Joel Sherman
Could be posturing, could be serious. Who knows. Lots of disinformation and bluffing will occur during these next few days. Keep that in mind. Same with this Tweet, also from Sherman:
If Burrell goes to #Cubs for MBradley, #Mets consider Castillo-for-Burrell, but r hesitant because of defense/makeup issues with Burrell
And finally -- for now -- there is a report out there that Burrell has been dealt to the Cubs, who then dealt him to the Mets. I'm not linking to it because A) It doesn't pass the smell test, and B) I think Sherman, Rosenthal, Olney, whomever would have more information by now, like, say, the other players names. We'll see.
[Note by R.J. Anderson, 12/07/09 12:37 PM EST ]An update on this comes from the aforementioned Tim Brown:
Rays source on Burrell to Mets: "News to us."
So there's that.
And here's this, from David Lennon of NewsDay:
Oh, and forget Burrell to #Mets - period. Source just said team not interested in him. Not in 3-way, not in any way.
Matt Lindstrom
A Tweet from Buster Olney regarding Matt Lindstrom:
Rangers perhaps the most serious among teams in discussion for Matt Lindstrom. Two teams have fallen out of running, two other teams in.
And a Tweet from Frankie Piliere, formerly of the Rangers organization as a scout:
Rangers look like front runner for Lindstrom from what I've heard. Hard to find solid info on Lindstrom rumors but I think Tex is leading
This from the Miami Herald:
Lindstrom trade rumors are swirling, but I'm told that the Rangers' interest in the hard-throwing reliever is not as strong as some reports have led to believe. And the Rays' interest in Lindstrom is mild at best.
More coming throughout the day.
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Comments
Pat Burrell has been traded for 5% of the future zionist colony on the moon
If you haven’t already, you should buy your own plot on the moon, since that is where people will live in the future and it’s the best investment you can make for your grandchildren.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:05 PM EST reply actions
Am I the only one who really, REALLY doesn't want Bradley on this team, only from a personality standpoint?
We’ve managed to get through 12 years as a franchise without any huge, distracting scandals or loud-mouth, egotistical players, and I smell the first one if we invite MB in.
Elijah Dukes?
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Dec 7, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
You're not the only, but I don't share your opinion
I’m more concerned about his penchant to get hurt in unpredictable ways and miss large chunks of games. Staying off the grass (the kind in the outfield) should help him play more games. R.J. actually quelled my concern to see what 450ish PA’s at his level of play would look like compared to someone at Burrell’s level of play over 600ish PA’s HERE
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Also, to be fair, Pat Burrell is hardly the most modest player in baseball.
Amongst others.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
You know I was being sarcastic , but honestly, the difference between Burrell's attitude and Milton's is 100% perception.
Not alot of people making a big deal out of Pat and Carl fighting last year, but it’d be all over ESPN if Bradley was involved.
Did anyone find out what that fight was about?
I'm a Brett Favre honk so FUCK YOU!
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 7, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
the difference between Burrell's attitude and Milton's is 100% perception.
What? Bradley has been an asshat 90% of his MLB career. Burrell has been known to party and called aloof, but he is loved by his teammates. The two are nowhere near the same as far as mentality.
Burrell has had some conflicts with managers.
In the minors especially. I don’t think “aloof” covers “challenging your manager’s authority on team rules”, but maybe it does.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
OK
He never smashed a bottle at a fan, got injured trying to fight an umpire, tried to bang down the door of an announcer, etc. Aloof/cocky/etc. are vastly different than psycho with anger issues. I like MB and want him b/c he’s a better hitter at this point, but to lump the two together for their shenanigans is a bit over the top.
I don't think an umpire has ever addressed him as boy or cracker.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Never said I did.
I just said there’s a big difference between the two’s attitudes that isn’t attributable solely to perception.
I bet covering Ty Cobb was pretty fun.
“Cobb day-to-day after cutting hand while stabbing colored man.”
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
He's not really all that well liked among his teammates.
At least not his Rays teammates. His personality hasn’t really clicked with this team.
Tools Whore
I hope this goes down
I really wanted Bradley last year, and I’m willing to try it this year. I absolutely cannot stand Burrell, so here’s to this hopefully being true!
by MillaBucsMagicRays on Dec 7, 2009 12:17 PM EST reply actions
why can't you stand him?
because he had one sub-par season and now apparently he can’t play anymore
--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..
Gregg would be a nice move
Give him the Rays defense to work with and get him out of the homer-friendly confines of Wrigley and watch Gregg put up solid numbers. Would not be a flashy move, but looking at the numbers, it may be the right move.
by raysfaninminnesota on Dec 7, 2009 12:17 PM EST reply actions
Bradley would be nicer to have than PTB
I want some young, good relief arms, that should def be on the top of our list.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Talbot, McGee, Howell, Sonnanstine, aren't enough young, good arms?
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
when McGee is in the pen, I'll count him
I believe in Sonny but he has to prove a lot after last season
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
I'm not going to turn this into a "defend Sonny" thread
I do want to show this:

This:

And this:

A 1.72 HR/FB can mean 2 things, either you were incredibly unlucky or you don’t belong in the Majors. I’d love to see what he can do out of the pen where a regression of that rate would be logical.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
He's on the way is the point
Why trade for a young, good arm that would, presumably be around for awhile, but would cost something, when perhaps the stretch run this year or next year at the latest we would have a viable internal option. That sentence is poor.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Eh
Talbot is coming off injury and a mediocre year, and has no options left.
McGee is coming off injury and didn’t look too great at the end of last year.
Sonnanstine is also coming off a bad year and loses most of his value if he’s converted to relief.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
He could certainly use a guy that can teach him the strike zone and how to get on base a little better
I agree in these regards.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
I'll restrain from making the easy jokes.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
A google search for "Cliff" "Floyd" "Malcontent"
The same search for “Milton” “Bradley” yielded http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=zIN&q=milton+bradley+malcontent&aq=f&oq=&aqi=
I could see Papa Milton turning Beej’s plate discipline into a modern day Paradise Lost which would hopefully lead to his season resembling a Paradise Regained.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
GD formatting
The same search for "Milton" "Bradley" yielded 2,660
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
The usual
Although how about a Dukes, BJ, MB OF someday?
I'd settle for the Rays version of the Stallionaires.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
do the parole officers come free with them?
I’m joking. I really have no problem with any of those guys
--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..
I don't know everyones top target is
but I am thinking with the Mariners going bat shit (Signing Figgins, trying to lock up Felix, going after Bay, Lackey and Harden), I think we have a chance to buy low on Brandon Morrow
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Clearly you watch baseball, but don't understand it.
The Figgins signing is a real coup. Locking up Felix is a no-brainer. With F-Gut in CF they can cover some of Bay’s defensive deficiencies. Lackey is a stud that would be the best #2 in MLB and Harden is a great low-risk/high-reward signing. None of these things are “bat shit.” They have consistently had a $100M+ payroll, they are a small-market team from a philosophical standpoint, not from a financial one.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
sorta mis understood me
I am saying they are going batshit spending money. I know all of the players are studs.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
I think he's just saying they aren't going to sign Lackey/Bay.
At least not for the money people would think.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
The term "bat shit" is usually reserved for cases of insanity
These are sane, rational moves and it should be understood that they won’t go to the wire with all of them. They are most likely looking at getting one of Bay and Lackey/Harden.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
If that guy could be counted on for 600 PA he could really be something
He’s going to have a bonkers year for someone at some point in the future, but it’s impossible to predict when that will be.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
Give us your high HR/FB regression ready relievers seems to be the Rays MO these days
Makes sense to buy low on HR/FB guys. Capps, Lindstrom, Gregg all very similar to me. Give me one + calero.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 7, 2009 12:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions
SHHHHH
Market inefficiencies have a small enough window as it is.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Law wants nothing to do with your Lindstrom Shenanigans.
Keith Law on Lindstrom’s positives: he throw really fast…and that’s about it:
“Lindstrom throws really hard, and he — throws … really hard. He doesn’t miss many bats and suffered strains to both his right elbow and rotator cuff in 2009. And he’s eligible for arbitration. Sign me up!”
by raysfaninminnesota on Dec 7, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
He has sub-80% contact rates.
He misses bats. Not as many as you would think with that velo though.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
There's a joke in here somewhere
Source just said team not interested in him. Not in 3-way, not in any way.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 12:47 PM EST reply actions
BJ and MB
I can not wait for these two and the crazy shannanagins they could get into. “Hey BJ bet you can’t get thrown out at first on a sure thing double”. I actually think MB will be good for the rays maybe not good for BJ but JO MA and Milton could work out.
by Zander_Under the Trop on Dec 7, 2009 12:51 PM EST via mobile reply actions
What?
We’re talking about the same B.J. Upton who is generally soft-spoken, but when Delmon threw the bat got into his face and told him how dumb what he just did was? That B.J. Upton?
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
Rays don't even have the entire gang in town yet. Fashionably late.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 7, 2009 12:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I like it, but when you do updates can you include the time?
Would make it easier to skim.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
I can. There's a note button that inserts the time.
I didn’t realize it until accidentally hitting it. Nifty.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
Buster Olney says the M's aren't likely to get involved with Jason Bay.
…Really? Because here I thought a player who didn’t fit their park, would be likely overpaid, and could only DH would be exactly what the M’s wanted.
Somewhere, a lonely, sad New York baseball ops employee cries into his palms.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
You like Bruney?
His 1st year with the Yanks was pretty dominant at times
I liked him better when he was fat
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
pretty good move for the Nats
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Julian Taveres needs to be lit on fire
I’m still bitter about him punching Joey Gathright for no good reason. The guy takes all the childhood abuse about his hideous face out on walls and opponents. He is the definition of a scumbag.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
When he pitched for the Indians, he gave a HS
girl a ring, she wore around her neck. Parents were quite pleased
Him and Edwar Ramirez need to start a calendar for most gruesome appearance


I think him and Jorge Cantu got drunk one night and played darts using each others faces.
This is literally the most cowardly thing I’ve ever seen

I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
The dude in the middle pic isn't
Leo “Crater Face” Balmudo from Grease fame is it? LOL (Don’t worry gang, had to look that one up.)
How about the Royals wanting Bradley?
Bradley and Guillen in the OF, they will just fight each other
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
btw the Marlins arent expected to arrive at the meetings until tonight
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Most of the Rays weren't getting there until ~now.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Good timing
Dayton Moore is already hammered and ready to talk trade.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
what would be fair value for him?
Vikings 4 the superbowl
on his birthday too
he is 32 today
Vikings 4 the superbowl
edwin jackson expected to be traded soon
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/edwin-jackson-rumors-monday.html
Vikings 4 the superbowl
i have a feeling some team is going to overpay for him
Vikings 4 the superbowl
I was hearing the Sherril for EJax rumors again today
If thats all they get then we did much better
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
dodgers want him back? wow didnt expect that
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Nats released Saul Rivera to make room for Bruney
Last 3 FIP 07-09 3.42, 3.37, 5.71
HR/FB% exploded in 2009 to 19.4%. Crazy for a guy who gets over 50% ground balls. Cheap, regression likely, NRI deal would work.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 7, 2009 2:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I like him far too much for someone the Nats just tossed aside.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
Bruney is better than him, when he is healthy
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Bruney is also more expensive and cost them a PTBNL
Rivera would cost an invite to ST.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 7, 2009 2:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
true
Bruney made 1.25M last year and MLBtraderumors expects him to get a small raise, so lets say he makes 2M next year, thats a pretty decent deal for a set up man
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Remember when they dumped Hanrahan for that one Pirates reliever who was all ERA, no quality?
I forget his name, but man that pissed me off.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 7, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
Sean Burnett i believe
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Seems silly for anyone to cut a catcher right now
You know you’re going to need upwards of 10 once Pitchers and Catchers report
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 2:19 PM EST up reply actions
rule five name im going to throw out there
Bobby Cassevah
Angels pitcher Bobby Cassevah. A star high school quarterback who had committed to LSU, he signed with the Angels in 2004 for $175,000 after having Tommy John surgery. Cassevah is a groundball machine; he has a groundball rate of 70.3% per minorleaguesplits.com, with average fastball velocity, occasionally flashing a 94.
Vikings 4 the superbowl
i wonder what they will get in return if this is true
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Isn't F-Mart the only viable thing left
No way they are that dumb.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
Ike Davis also
especially with Cabrera available but that would be retarded by the Mets so Omar probably did it.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
ed price heard it in the lobby
Vikings 4 the superbowl
im not too sure that this deal went down
if he heard it in the lobby then why is no one else reporting it?
Vikings 4 the superbowl
2:09pm: Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets that a Mets official denied a Jackson trade.
Vikings 4 the superbowl
i knew it was
it was a lobby rumor
Vikings 4 the superbowl
I wonder if this is actual true
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10475170 Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi still reporting a Jackson trade is close but not to the Brewers, Dodgers or Mets.
We’ll see
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
if we trade Joyce, I would rather get Granderson
but he hits lefties worse than Joyce will so meh
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
e jack and granderson to yanks
Just saw this on corks twitter. Possibly close is what it says
by Zander_Under the Trop on Dec 7, 2009 4:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I hope they give up the Austins
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
http://blog.mlive.com/cutoffman/2009/12/report_tigers_close_to_dealing.html
Not done – just heavily rumored
by Jason Collette on Dec 7, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
The stadium is irrelevant
it’s his elusive control that he needs to worry about
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
unfortunaley, on the flip side
Granderson will destroy that stadium
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Winter Meetings.....
Rumor has changed again now the Tigers are sorting through offers from TWELVE teams for Jackson
I would still guess we aren’t one of them
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Chapman is now expecting to get around 10 mil
Bring it down a lil more and maybe he can be a Ray
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
FTFY
Bring it down a lil more and maybe he can be a Ray Closer
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
At 10M dollars
Yes, you’re down.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
still the guy has the upside
at ~7mil
--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..
Me likey some Aroldis
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Yep
Rosenthal and Morosi say talks for Jackson have been more serious with the D’Backs than the Mariners, and the Angels are in on both Jackson and Granderson.
O/U 5 mins til another new rumor
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Matt Holliday v. Jasoon Bay defense.
Even cited three year splits.
Tools Whore
Just becoose he's Canadian doesn't mean you can call 'im Jasoon, eh?
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Dec 7, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
They were comparing Matt Holliday and Jason Bay
and were using defense as a reason Holliday was better and cited a huge gap in UZR as evidence.
Tools Whore
OH MY GOD
RT @jonmorosi: New suitor for Halladay: The #Rays. Could offer Wade Davis and B.J. Upton, then flip Upton to a third team.
Officially now the head of the Lobstein bandwagon.
Yeah trading, at a minimum, 15-20 WAR over the next 6 and 3 years for one 5 WAR season is a good move.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
I agree.
Calling shenanigans.
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Dec 7, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
That doesn't pass the sniff test
All that for the final year of Halladay with 0 hope of re-signing him? Not buying it
by Jason Collette on Dec 7, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
It would be stupid to sign Doc longterm
Take that $18m a year for 4 years and sign Prince Fielder.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
I agree about Feilder he's a better option for the rays
--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..
Doc is 32
He’s pitched really well (understatement alert), but spending fat loot on 30-something pitchers is not the M.O. of this F.O.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
I think just about any front office would gladly spend what they could afford on Doc.
I think he’s one of those few exceptions to the rule, where age isn’t going to be a factor until he’s too old to pitch.
I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.
When will that be?
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Don't think they can, but they made a run at Holliday last year and didn't consider him a rental.
Tools Whore
Rays aren't stupid
They wouldn’t trade for him if they only thought they could get one year from him
Why not?
Get rid of a logjam, improve the team and get multiple draft picks in one fell swoop.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
wow, the BS just turned up a notch
these meetings are just like reading the tabloids when you are in the checkout line at the grocery store. Entertaining but complete drival. No way the Rays give up 6 years of Davis for 1 year of Halladay. But it is fun to see the Rays as one of the more favorite teams to put into rumors.
by raysfaninminnesota on Dec 7, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
I saw at the airport yesterday that Oprah is dying
I shed a tear.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
http://horrorsnotdead.com/images/BatBoyFBI.jpg
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Dec 7, 2009 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
Some friends of mine that used to be carnies brought him around one time
You’d have to see this kid to believe him.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
They spent a summer carnying
When they were back in town up here they brought bat boy around he had extra skin behind his ears and webbed fingers, it was whacky.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 7, 2009 5:31 PM EST up reply actions
Not rays, but lol
lenno212
Minaya on Castillo: “Last year he probably was our MVP, as far as playing for the whole year.” Hopefully #Mets set bar higher for 2010.
Officially now the head of the Lobstein bandwagon.
That drop last year wasn't because Castillo was Castillo, it was because the Mets are the Mets.
I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.
ok it would be nice to have Doc, very nice
but if were gonna spend so much, extend CC, get a C, a back end RP, Longoria’s phone book.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!

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