RAYS 3, Boston 0  Tropicana FieldSt. Petersburg, FL

Win Probability Table Courtesy of Fan Graphs

RAYS SWEEP BOSTON!

RAYS 5, Toronto 3 Champion StadiumLake Buena Vista, FL

RAYS SWEEP!!!!!!!!!

RAYS 6, Toronto 4 Champion StadiumLake Buena Vista, FL

Win Probability Table and Stats Courtesy of Fan Graphs

Reviewing what we talked about last week

-         Edwin regressing. Check.

-         Hammel appearing real. Check.

-         Shields hitting the brakes. Check.

-         Carl beginning to hit. Check.

Now onto today’s topics.

via d.yimg.com

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• Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times reports that newly acquired 1B Dan Johnson will report to the Rays today. At that time, the team will have to make a roster move to make room for him on the active roster. RHP Calvin Medlock was already designated for assignment on Friday to make room for Johnson on the 40 man roster, but the rumor is that OF Justin Ruggiano will be demoted to AAA Durham make room for Johnson at the major league level.
  
• Struggling SS Jason Bartlett will get a day off today as Manager Joe Maddon tries to help him break out of a slump that saw him make four errors in eight games. The shortstop said he experienced soreness in his arm that could possibly be the reason for his recent spate of throwing errors, though he'll still need to do far better offensively. He was hitting .230/.230/.237 going into last night's game, a line that rose marginally after a 1 for 3 campaign. IF Elliot Johnson will start in Bartlett's place this afternoon. With an off day coming on Monday, Bartlett will get two days to rest up before the Rays' series with the Toronto Blue Jays starting on Tuesday in Orlando.
• 1B Carlos Peña will likely be the Designated Hitter in this afternoon's game against Chicago, per Maddon's wishes. He too will get Monday to rest and could be back at first base for the Orlando series.
• LHP David Price threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday afternoon at the Naimoli complex as his recovery from a left elbow injury continues.
• The focal point of Marc Topkin's Sunday column this week is, not surprisingly, the long-term deal that the Rays reached on Friday with 3B Evan Longoria. Explains Rays VP Andrew Friedman of the underlying strategy:

We're always going to have to manage our roster years and years in advance to be able to compete in this division. It's the way the economics of the game are right now, and it's something that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves we've got to be proactive and do anything and everything we can to succeed.

• The reaction from fellow players and their agents was, not surprisingly, rather negative. Quoth Alan Nero:

I give the Rays a lot of credit because they did what's hard to do anymore, which is make a heck of a business deal; they controlled their costs and extended their control. I'm happy for Longoria if it's what he wants, but I'm a little disappointed that a player with seven days (in the majors) would give away his future like that.

• Other interesting morsels from Topkin's Sunday column:

How does Evan Longoria's contract affect B.J. Upton's view of a potential long-term deal? "It doesn't," Upton said. … Former longtime Ray Toby Hall on the new uniforms and Trop paint job: "It's awesome. It all looks great." … Friday morning's advisory of a 1 p.m. "major announcement" drew calls asking if the Rays were signing Barry Bonds, including one from a curious MLB official. … Ex-Ray Shawn Camp, having added a changeup, got called up by Toronto and should be in the Jays bullpen at Disney.

RAYS 5, Chicago 0 Tropicana FieldSt. Petersburg, FL

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UPDATE(1:04): It's done. Could be nine years when it's all said and done. Topkin has more:

The Rays have signed 3B Evan Longoria to a long-term deal that could be worth more than $44-million over nine years. The first six years are guaranteed for $17.5-million and the Rays hold a one-year option for 2014 and a two-year option for 2015-16.

(Additional notes: The Rays have also claimed Dan Johnson off waivers and Calvin Medlock designated for assignment(hat tip: websterjtc); and I'll post the final part of my draft preview series tomorrow when things are a little less busy in Rays-world.) 

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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the "major announcement" will be that the Rays have inked Longoria to a long-term contract:

The details of the contract are not yet known, but it is believed that the deal will be for six years in the $17 million range with option scenarios that will enable the Rays to buy out two years of Longoria's free agency.

The contract, to be announced at 1 p.m. ET, also is expected to include escalators that will enable Longoria to add to his guaranteed money if he develops into a major star.

More from Marc Topkin as the official announcement draws near:

There is no official word and lots of speculation at this point, including some talk that the deal could run for nine years (with team options) and be worth close to $50-million.

This Thursday last, I had the opportunity for about twenty minutes to discuss Rays-centric Fantasy Baseball with ESPN expert Matthew Berry. Now, I know there was some discontent a couple of nights ago about his projection for Rays 3B Evan Longoria, but it is worth noting that I didn't really ask him about that since the interview took place before his call-up.

Anyways, I found the interview to be well worth it. Berry definitely understands what he's talking about, and even though some of his more pessimistic views of Rays personnel might clash with some opinions here, the encyclopedic knowledge he possess of players is to be respected. He was well-prepared and well-informed in answering each of the questions I posed to him. For someone not that familiar with his work, I came away impressed.

In any case, the paraphrased interview follows the jump.

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Just as we did with Niemann, let's glance over what PECOTA suggests will happen with the man with a ton of nicknames and hype.

• A VORP near 26 in nearly 700 PA is expected this year.
  
• That VORP is projected to be his lowest for six seasons.
• Some of his top comparables: Paul Konerko, Cal Ripken, Frank Robinson, and Manny Ramirez, although Travis Lee sneaks into the equation.