"Solving" The Rays Starting Pitching Glut: Matt Moore To The Pen

Every spring training, pitchers get hurt – either for us, or more likely for other teams. Davis/Niemann and/or some reconciliation of the suplus will be made at that time when the demand is higher than it is now.

They wouldn’t want him to potentially lower his innings from last year just from the point of getting to 200 or so in 2013. Just use him like Helly and he’ll get around 180 and you can skip a start or 2 through off days.

I just am excited to seeing him pitch and maybe just trying to justify it.

I absolutely hate the idea of Moore to the bullpen. Let him start.

Every move AF has made this off season has been logical and almost predictable. Scott, Pena and even Rhymes. Radical moves, although sexy sounding just aren’t going to happen. Cobb to AAA since he’ll need additional time to recover from surgery. Moore in the starting rotation with limitation of innings and trading Davis/Niemann for catcher/prospects. If trade not there initially, then Niemann to pen. Everything points to making a run at ring this year before Price etc become too expensive.

Hi — I’m new to this board, so apologies if this topic has been talked to death earlier.

But I don’t understand why we can’t start with a 6 man rotation. I know the argument about how pitchers have their routines and don’t like them to be altered….but our pitchers often deal with days off, rain outs, etc. and they survive. If need be, you could move things around when there are off days so that, say, Shields and Price are closer to a 5-day schedule with Niemann (who seems like quite a delicate flower), Hellickson and Moore getting longer breaks.

I recall Brian Anderson last year saying that the main reason no one has a 6 man rotation is that few teams have 6 viable starting pitchers — they are lucky to have 5.

So, why not go with six starters?

That would be borderline insanity!!!!

IMO someone especially like davis would appeal to a much different demographic, ie a team that isnt making a playoff push, doesnt want to spend big bucks, and values the 6 years of team control. I could see him going to a smaller market team like this versus a team willing to shell out the money for someone like Jackson. Like someone memtioned above, teams like pit, kc, oak, sd, or whoever could make the most sense. I still think oakland is the best match. It would be fun to see a beane/friedman trade.

he’d be a good non-tender candidate, right?

Well, that would be the same logic as Longoria to DH, wouldn’t it?

Both make similar amounts this season with arbitration for Hundley(if he puts up solid numbers) possibly equaling Davis’s contract over the next two(2.8 and 4.8).The options add security and at a risk but one that can be not picked up. Hundley may have one year before Grandal is ready and Davis could be expendable this season. Rays get a potential full time improving catcher for three seasons and the Padres get a potential workhorse(200+ innings) for a rotation that could use some stability now and has their better prospects still a couple of seasons away.

Teams will be willing to give up more as opening day approaches and they don’t have their rotation set. The Rays don’t have to make a move while a team that thinks it is one pitcher away will once there aren’t any options in the FA market (Oswalt, Jackson)

I understand the logic but its definitely not the best course of action. When you have a guy you think is an ace you want to make every decision with that in mind. The Rays made it very clear their intentions by starting him in game 1 of the ALDS and then locking him up long term.

Somewhere collette is crying

Don’t feel so bad, Jason.

Absolutely no reason to screw around with Matt Moore.

Moore does not need to be babied because the Rays have properly prepared him for the rigors of a full season. He is probably the most talented pitcher on that team right now, the rays would be intentionally hurting themselves.

Also, if your going to make Moore a reliever when his body is properly conditioned for 200 innings, what are you going to do in 2013 after a year of throwing maybe 65 innings and expecting him to suddenly be able to go back to 200 inning shape. That’s a large risk for his health and your future.

I’m a yankee fan but I am also a NC native so I love the durham Bulls….this idea you are proposing is an awful waste of a great talent.