Hank Blalock In "Serious Talks" With Tampa Bay Rays

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 7, 2010 10:16 AM EST

Considering the source is once again Jon Heyman, it could very well be true. Or it could be Scott Boras using the Rays as a negotiating tool; however, the Rays reportedly are not interested in a bidding war and the closest competition is the Florida Marlins.That said, remember that Jose Julio Ruiz and Blalock are just the latest to be linked with the Rays and we've seen no targeted players actually sign yet.

We've covered Blalock twice before, here and more recently here. He's a decent hitter (.269/.329/.465 AVG/OBP/SLG career) and has legit 25 home run power. He is also due for some positive regression in terms of batting average in balls in play (BABIP). His BABIP dipped to a career low .245 last season; Blalock's career number is .296. There are some noted flaws as he comes with injury concerns, a declining walk rate (5.3% last season) and an increasing strikeout rate (23.4% last season).

I compared him to Carlos Pena this week, but would not expect a Carlos Pena-esque breakout; those things just don't happen normally. If Blalock turns out to be Eric Hinske or Ty Wigginton, I would take that. Without know any parameters of a potential deal, but we can expect the risk to be very low on the Rays side with the potential reward to be high.

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If he breaks camp with the team, wjo doesn't?

He’s a a platoon DH

by sternfan1 on Mar 7, 2010 10:33 AM EST reply actions

My guess would be Aybar.

Given Aybar isn’t going to play any more 2B, Aybar and Blalock seem rather repetitive

Dockoftherays.com

by Jason Collette on Mar 7, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

I thought the same, yet earlier Joe said he was looking to get Willy more ABs--Go figure

by sternfan1 on Mar 7, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

Would not surprise me to see Aybar start the season on the DL

Which would give the team more time to make a decision.

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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 7, 2010 11:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

my thoughts exactly...

doesn’t this seem like a bit of a waste?

by tbmd on Mar 7, 2010 10:40 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think I would rather have Blalock

simply because he has the potential to be a higher impact bat

--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..

by raysfan81 on Mar 8, 2010 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

I would rather.....

have Aybar!

by realerays on Mar 7, 2010 11:04 AM EST reply actions

Everything I've heard

Says that the offer was a minor league deal. I suspect it will be similar to the Adam Kennedy deal – minor league, and we don’t stand in his way if he has a shot of getting playing time in the majors elsewhere. Otherwise, he serves as insurance for Burrell, Aybar, etc. in Durham.

by sstamour on Mar 7, 2010 11:11 AM EST reply actions

Rather have the Cuban guy

Or trade for Yonder Alonso somehow for 2011

by raysrule44 on Mar 7, 2010 11:23 AM EST reply actions

Personally, I'd rather have Albert Pujols

by sstamour on Mar 7, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions

Sonny for Pujols

Duncan could work wonders with him.

"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 7, 2010 11:39 AM EST up reply actions

No chance.

Eliot Johnson + Justin Ruggiano, maybe.

by sstamour on Mar 7, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

Aybar

he’s already here and does not cost extra money.

by hans k on Mar 7, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions

I'm not understanding Hank the Blank

Hopefully this doesn’t happen, but if it does and someone gets injured…..then alright

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Mar 7, 2010 4:43 PM EST reply actions

no unless he plans on competing with Dan Johnson and Chris Richard in Durham

by Dbullsfan on Mar 7, 2010 6:40 PM EST reply actions

Let`s not forget Ryan Shealy

How can you have any pudding if you haven`t eaten your meat? I`m still waiting...

by Barnese and Bailey Circus on Mar 7, 2010 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

You don't avoid signing a Blalock out of concern for Richard PT

Blalock has big league potential and can play opposite Shealy. Dan Johnson can play other positions though not well. THis wasn’t a Durham signing, it was an organizational one.

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by FreeZorilla on Mar 8, 2010 7:42 AM EST up reply actions

I don't see how this is a bad thing in any way. The deal won't cost more than a minor league deal

and Blalock has shown .200 ISO power. Best case it works out and he contributes, worse case he gets released and no harm done.

www.draysbay.com, www.beyondtheboxscore.com, Twitter @trancel

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 7, 2010 10:14 PM EST reply actions

great point

--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..

by raysfan81 on Mar 8, 2010 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

It appears a deal is very close.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/node/25165#comments

Topkin does not usually report rumors unless he has solid information from his sources. If it is a minor league deal with little or no financial advantages over a Marlins offer, it surprises me as I think Blalock’s opportunities for playing time is greater with Florida than with TB. But I like the idea of him coming here if he can be stashed at Durham.

by bobr on Mar 7, 2010 10:53 PM EST reply actions

I dont understand the signing really

Unless they know something we don’t, which I’m sure they do. Either Aybar is DL bound or they are considering waiving/trading Burrell

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

by joeybw on Mar 8, 2010 10:30 AM EST reply actions

Except they can leave him in Durham until someone gets hurt

"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 8, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

Similar to the Kennedy deal last year?

Somebody suggested this was probably what was going on in the negotiations. Now, from mlbtraderumors.com:

MONDAY, 3:06pm: Heyman writes that the Rays and Blalock are working out final details on a “complicated deal that will enable him to opt out if he’s not in the majors.”

by bobr on Mar 8, 2010 5:20 PM EST reply actions