Rays Acquire Chad Qualls From Diamondbacks for PTBNL; Grant Balfour to DL
by Steve Slowinski on Jul 31, 2010 8:55 AM EDT
Email
PrintAnd no, we don't mean the Podcast. From MLB Trade Rumors:
The unloading of veteran Diamondbacks continues, as they've shipped reliever Chad Qualls to the Rays for a player to be named later. The Rays will pay the entire $1.48MM remaining on Qualls' contract, keeping interim GM Jerry Dipoto's streak alive of not sending cash in his transactions.
This seems about as official as official can get. We've covered Qualls here on DRB multiple times in the last month, including ranking him number six in our trade deadline wish list., and he'll definitely provide our bullpen with more depth. While his ERA looks ghastly (8.29), he's striking out eight batter per nine and walking only three and a half. His problem seems to stem from a .434 BABIP and a 51.4% left on base percentage, which could be a result of bad luck and/or grooving too many pitches. In the end, though, he's an extreme groundball pitcher (54.9% GB rate) and the Rays have one of the best infield defenses in the league. When he's at his best, Qualls is closer material, giving the Rays a potential steal of a trade. He should fit in nicely.
Even if Qualls doesn't immediately revert to his 2008-2009 self, the Rays only need him to be better than the last man in their bullpen: Andy Sonnanstine or Lance Cormier. One of them will need to go to make room for Qualls: either Cormier will need to be DFA'd or Andy optioned to the minors. Either way, it boosts the depth of the Rays' pen and provides us with that other bullpen arm we've been so dearly coveting.
UPDATE: From Marc Topkin, "Grant Balfour headed to the DL with a intercostal (rib) strain. That's how they'll make room for Qualls." Topkin also goes on to say that Balfour could miss 4-6 weeks, which would place his return around the middle of September.
69 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
If Cormier isn't DFA'd then he officially has some "pictures" of stu in a compromising position
I like the move a lot. I think it’s a little move like this that can make a huge difference.
I know his stats don’t show it this year, but he is a major upgrade over Cormier and won’t be asked to pitch in high leverage situations for us. At least not yet
Wasnt Choate at like 36.00 at one point?
Turns out he is good. 1/3 of an inning at a time.
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Wow, this is good but we need one more move
I can’t see Qualls doing anything but middle relief (and be the backup closer to Soriano or backup setup man to Benoit).
"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey
Yep, but thats all we're asking him to be.
Just another link in the chain to Soriano
www.draysbay.com, www.bloombergsports.mlblogs.com, Twitter @trancel
by Tommy Rancel on Jul 31, 2010 9:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
whats his contract status Tommy?
"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey
by Gone Phishing on Jul 31, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Free agent after this year
Probably not Type B
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
TR should i be concerned?
when i click on DRB a warning comes up that it might be infected with malware—thoughts?
Seems to be a bad ad
Run Firefox with Adblock for now
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
We're working on it.
It seems to be an ad causing the issues.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jul 31, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry for the vagueness
what Erik said, no need to worry.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Jul 31, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
What else would you have asked for?
We just made one of the deepest bullpens a little bit deeper.
by Travis Lee on Jul 31, 2010 9:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Another option is that they DFA Kapler
We really don’t need him at this point, and his performance has been mediocre at best this year. Zobrist can fill in as emergency CF, and Aybar can act as RH pinch hitter.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I think you DFA Cormier
I would normally agree, but wih the injury to Zo and BJ fresh of his injury, it’s nice to have Kapler as insurance (for now at least).
by Travis Lee on Jul 31, 2010 9:16 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I feel like they DO NOT want to DFA Kapler if they can help it.
It’s my guess but I think they want to end with him on good terms in hopes of keeping him in the org after he’s done playing.
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jul 31, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
This is correct.
He’s a team player. Wouldn’t be shocked by a fake injury to head to the DL. They really want him in the org as as manager as soon as possible.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 31, 2010 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions
You really think they would keep a guy on the roster when they know they have better options
Just because they want him to manage in the org after
He wouldn't be on the roster. He would be on the DL. Just until rosters expand.
Allows him to take a few weeks off then head down for a rehab assignment.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 31, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
We're talking about the same team
That circumvented the rules in 2008 to extend Rocco Baldelli’s rehab assignment and in 2009 that got Jason Isringhausen to go on a rehab assignment because he otherwise did not want to pitch in the minors.
They’re crafty when it comes to utilizing every loophole baseball roster have.
See how J.P. Howell is in on the 60-day DL? Watch for him to be on the playoff roster so they can replace him with another pitcher later on. Just like they did with Price back in 2008 too.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 31, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe
if he’s the last guy on the bench it’s not going to hurt the team much. Starts against RHP may hurt a bit though.
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jul 31, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes. I'm mostly talking about the extreme GB rate
by Erik Hahmann on Jul 31, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Bradford 64% for career
Qualls 58%. They don’t get much more extreme than Chadford, but Qualls is close enough with more K’s.
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
I cant imagine the player would be anything of significance.
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Might not be anybody. The PTBNL for Bradford turned out to just be a cash deal
If they do go the player route, I’m guessing nothing more that org. filler.
www.draysbay.com, www.bloombergsports.mlblogs.com, Twitter @trancel
by Tommy Rancel on Jul 31, 2010 9:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Probably not a top 30 prospect
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
If it's for anyone of value, then it's a bad deal, IMO
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
WOW. Just wow
Are these the people that are fans?
tbdudette says:
July 31, 2010 at 8:26 am
From the highest of the high feeling for the win last night to the lowest of the low….this is our money is no object end of the season shoring up our lineup for a WS run….seriously…a RH reliever with an 8+ ERA…FAIL
You would think that after guessing wrong so many times on the RFO, they'd learn to just be patient.
(real talk from a rumormonger)
((fuckfuckfuck))
PLAY BALL DANG IT !!!!!!!
by PlayOnWords on Jul 31, 2010 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm waiting for that to crop up.
PLAY BALL DANG IT !!!!!!!
by PlayOnWords on Jul 31, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
People that put
first or fail in there posts should be tied to an ant bed and covered in honey.
by Blue or CONKZILLA on Jul 31, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Oops...
should have read it before I posted , make that “their”. Thanks for pointing that out, I hate it when I do that sort of thing.
by Blue or CONKZILLA on Aug 5, 2010 6:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Voodoo Five - South Florida Bulls SBN Blog
The Toughest Blog in America
by Jamie DeVriend on Jul 31, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
.
Jayson Stark
Now that #Rays have added bullpen arm (& payroll), looks unlikely they’ll add bat today. Not pursuing any bat out there aggressively #trades
DON't FUCK WITH MY BLACK ASS
by sternfan1 on Jul 6, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply Unrec? 4
We dont need an impact bat
Just someone (maybe two someones) who can actually hit lefties as advertised
by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 31, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Goodbye Lance Cormier! You had a good April!
Devil Rays World Series 2009
by Japhei on Jul 31, 2010 10:02 AM EDT reply actions
So Qualls was traded for the Podcast To Be Named Later?
Tough, but fair. Hopefully the PTBNL has success with ’Zona
As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.
I sure hope they have their citzenship papers in order
Can't we all just get along?
by St Longo Drew on Jul 31, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Bye Bye Core-meer
"I have a formula for excitability actually." - RJ Anderson
by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 31, 2010 10:35 AM EDT reply actions
His ZIPS numbers on FanGraphs look pretty good
They project that is his BABIP comes back down to a reasonable level, that he’ll be a decent pitcher. Imagine that!
Maybe a change of scenery, a new pitching coach, or a team that’s contending will kick his butt a little and get him on the right track.
by Wade Davis, Pride of Lake Wales on Jul 31, 2010 10:44 AM EDT reply actions
Jeremy H
Being called-up now to replace Balfour?
by AllthewayTampaBay1 on Jul 31, 2010 1:29 PM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Please read our Community Guidelines.
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
DRB Suggestion Box
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
