Random Trade Speculation Begins Early for Rays

by Tommy Rancel on May 27, 2009 9:45 AM EDT

We haven't even reached June and there is already talks of potential trades, albeit pure speculation. Gordon Edes from our official partner, Yahoo! Sports gets us started with two trades that may sound like a good idea to him, but not to me or probably any of you.

The Tampa Bay Rays, who just placed closer Troy Percival on the disabled list and are anticipating his retirement after one too many injuries, need a closer.
A logical trading partner for Tampa Bay would be the Astros because Jose Valverde is a year away from free agency, but that’s assuming Astros owner Drayton McLane would commence on a long-overdue rebuilding plan. Houston would probably ask for Wade Davis, Tampa Bay’s best pitching prospect after David Price.

Valverde is 30, hurt, and owed the rest of his $8 million dollar salary in 2009. Even before the injury he was ineffecive (6.41 FIP) and allowed three home runs in just eight innings. For Wade Davis? Yea, pass.

The other name he mentions is Mark DeRosa, you know the guy who crushed one off Matt Garza last night. Edes suggest DeRosa could fill the second base void left by Akinori Iwamura, but is there really a void when you have Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist? Not to mention Reid Brignac when Jason Bartlett returns. DeRosa is a nice role player, but he's making $5.5 million this year and he has a career UZR of -12 at second base...again, pass.

With the Rays hovering around .500 the rumors are only going to be more numerous and more ridiculous than years past.

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Comments

Yes, dealing Wade Davis for Jose Valverde makes a ton of sense.

Except none at all.

by R.J. Anderson on May 27, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

How bold is it to say that Wade Davis could be a good of a reliever as Jose Valverde RIGHT NOW?

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on May 27, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Valverde is atrocious right now.

But if you mean ~3.6 FIP, I don’t think it’s that bold.

by R.J. Anderson on May 27, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

was this the fun you were talking about?

if so, not so much…

by davidsmarch on May 27, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

I'm not having any fun. Can the fun commence soon please?

Tools Whore

by Tyler on May 27, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm waiting on slow people to do their jobs before I can post it.

by R.J. Anderson on May 27, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

will you be breaking the news before any other source? (ie heater, rays.tv)

by walkoffwalk on May 27, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

All but one, yes.

by R.J. Anderson on May 27, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

ah sweet. congrats.

by walkoffwalk on May 27, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

And we should have a relatively meaningless add-on tomorrow, but no promises yet.

by R.J. Anderson on May 27, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

i was looking at archive.org the other day...man, this logo trumps the old logo so hard. it didn't seem like a bad logo at the time, but man. the "new" one is so much better

by walkoffwalk on May 27, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow

No and No. The National Media is so out of touch with Andrew Friedman, its laughable.

by FreeZorilla on May 27, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

We expect Troy Percival to retire and forfeit millions of dollars? Why retire when you can get DFA'd and paid...I'll believe it when I see it.

by walkoffwalk on May 27, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions

where in the hell do these supposedly knowledgeable people come up with this nonsense?

what GM in the world would trade davis for jose f’n valverde? c’mon.

by yeseggs on May 27, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

Valverde for Wheeler and Percival sounds about right

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 27, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions