FanGraphs pages:

Pat Burrell

Jason Giambi

Bobby Abreu

DH ADJ is simply the WAR with FLD and POS adjusted to DH standards (0 and -17.5)

There's also baserunning to throw in there. I ran the numbers and Abreu's looking at a ~1 run advantage over both when it comes to steals and caught stealings. Mainly because he's the only one who can run. Marcels and Chone have them worth the following offensive runs:

I think Chone is way out of touch here in projecting Giambi to be a win better offensively than Abreu. Otherwise what we have is a DH race that seems strikingly close. Other things to consider:

- League adjustment for Burrell.

- Park adjustments

- Price.

- Handness (since they're all so close this can become a factor. Abreu/Giambi: L, Burrell: R.)

- Age. (Abreu 35, Burrell 32, GIambi 38)

- Likelihood of decline.

I think I'm beginning to warm to Abreu.

Foxsports.com

The Cubs are confident of signing free-agent designated hitter Milton Bradley, but a number of teams remain interested in the free-agent designated hitter, including the Rays, Yankees and Nationals.

One slugger to watch: Pat Burrell. The Rays could sign either Burrell or Jason Giambi if Bradley lands with the Cubs. The Mariners also like Burrell, and the Rangers could view him as an option if they do not trade for the Tigers' Gary Sheffield. The Reds have publicly stated an interest in Burrell, but he likely will rise out of their price range.

Just sign Burrell already.

The A's are poised to begin talks with free-agent designated hitter Jason Giambi, who was named the American League MVP while playing in Oakland in 2001. General manager Billy Beane chatted with Giambi's agent, Arn Tellem, this week, and the sides could begin discussing a contract early next week. According to sources close to Giambi, he is looking for a three-year deal, but Oakland is not likely to offer more than two years and perhaps an option. Giambi will turn 38 in January.

SF Gate (H/T Athletics Nation)

The Rays top option appears to Milton Bradley, with others like Pat Burrell, Jason Giambi, and Bobby Abreu close behind. A sticking point with Giambi is the longevity of the contract, and we'll see if those demands alter with the Athletics, otherwise Giambi's not going to have much of a choice in the matter.

While we all wait for Mark Teixeira to pick a destination, it seems that the Juan Rivera signing may have had a little impact on the Rays. After learning about Rivera's re-signing, the Reds have now zeroed in on Rocco Baldelli, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Willy Taveras. From Cincinnati.com

The Reds quest for a right-handed-hitting outfielder is now centered on Jerry Hairston Jr., Rocco Baldelli and Willy Taveras.

The Reds have an offer out to Hairston. They remain interested in Baldelli. A new report on Baldelli's mysterious ailment came out Wednesday. It makes him a much more attractive option for the Reds. He could play center or left. He's a middle-of-the-order bat when healthy.

Also Ken Rosenthal gives his guesses on where the 11 biggest remaining free agents will land. He has Bradley to the Cubs, Burrell to the Mets, Abreu to the A's, Dunn to the Nats and.....

Giambi had moments last season (mainly before the break) where he looked to be recapturing his early 2000s form. But he leveled off and put up a respectable line of .246-32-96. He's got appeal to AL teams seeking a solid power bat at DH. He'll be 38 this season, so long-term expectations have to be tempered.

Rosenthal's likely destination: Rays.

Personally, I have Giambi third on my wish list behind Bradley and Burrell, but in no way would I be disappointed in a DH with a career slash line of .286/.408/.534.

Ok, it's been an action packed four days of winter meetings. It's time to gather up everything in one nice recap and see where we stand.

 Day One

• The Rays were quiet until late afternoon Eastern Time when it was announced that Milton Bradley ate Pizza and French Onion soup with the Rays.
• The Rays also signed minor leaguer Paul Phillips, the pitcher.
• We learned that Griffey wanted to be the next Raymond.

Day Two

• Delmon Young coming back was the hot topic, but that was shot down quickly.
• The Rays and Cardinals had discussions. The suggested names were Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick
• Jason Giambi and The Rays chewed the fat at N9ne steakhouse.

Day Three

• The Rays liked Nelson Cruz, but so do the Texas Rangers.
• The Marlins offered Jeremy Hermida for two pitching prospects and got the no thx.
• The Rays have interest in Griffey. Position, DH or Mascot, unknown.
• Bobby Abreu's agent met with the Rays and it appears the Rays and the White Sox are the front runners for his services.
• In the biggest Rays news from the meetings, the Rays traded Edwin Jackson, who was proclaimed in 2003 as the best Dodger pitching prospect since Pedro Martinez, to the Detroit Tigers. It's only fitting that his last regular appereance came in Detroit and saw him blow a two-run lead only to get lucky enough to later win the game and tie the franchise record for wins in a season.
• The return for Jackson is Matt Joyce, a Tampa native with good power and is an above average corner outfielder. The Rays get six years of  team control for what Dave Cameron calls "essentially, a left-handed Werth - a guy who can play very good defense in a corner OF spot, has gap power and will walk occasionally, but whose lower contact rate will always keep his average down. "
• Oh and he rescues kittens. P Brady would be proud.

Day Four

• The Rule 5 Draft took place and as expected Eduardo Morlan was selected. Morlan is now property of the Brewers, but could still land back with the Rays at some point.
• The Rays selected RHP, Derek Rodriguez, who oddly enough could be the loogy the Rays need.  Here is what Andrew Friedman had to say about him.

"We feel like he’s got an advanced feel for pitching," Friedman said. "He changes arm angles, he changes speeds, he misses bats. We’ve got numerous reports that he makes hitters uncomfortable in the box with the different things that he does and we’re anxious to get him into big-league camp and get a look at him firsthand."

Friedman said Rodriguez will definitely be given a chance to make the team.

"I don’t think we would have taken him if we weren’t intrigued enough to give him a real opportunity," Friedman said. "What will happen remains to be seen, and some of that will be dictated by what we do between now and then. But as we stand here today we’re excited to add him and feel like he’s got a very legitimate chance to come in and earn a job."

• In news that just makes you smile, Marc Topkin shares this.

Probably the most interesting thing Friedman said is that he thinks the Rays can be "competitive" in bidding for the free-agent hitters. The Rays have not made a formal offer for any of them, thus far just talking parameters.

All in all it was a crazy rumor filled week. The Yanks got Sabathia and made offers to every possible free agent pitcher. The Mets got K-Rod and then traded for a better closer the next day, but will use him as a set up man. The Red Sox really didn't do anything and the Rays got stronger in two areas with one move.

The Rays still have a few holes, including DH, a possible right handed bat in the outfield, and maybe a bullpen arm or two, but do you know the best part of this whole week? The Rays are players, serious players. We all felt great after the successful on the field season, but hearing the words: Rays, competitive and free agents in the same sentences just makes it even better.

Overall Winter Meeting Reaction:

via cache.daylife.com

What we learned on day two:

- The Rays and Jason Giambi met and ate at N9ne Steakhouse.

- Marc Topkin reports the Rays will meet with Bobby Abreu's agent within 24 hours. The suggestion that Abreu might play the outfield for the Rays is terrifying.

- Topkin also reports that Dave Myers has replaced Gary Gaetti as Triple-A hitting coach.

- The interest in Delmon Young is apparently smoke.

- The Rays and Cards conversed.

Reaction:

Heater

The Rays apparently moved quickly in the next stage of their information gathering process on candidate to improve their offense, with word around the Bellagio that they met late Monday night with Jason Giambi.

Need proof?

via dailyfiasco.com

Time for the night cap of the day 2 thread or the mid-afternoon cap depending on where  you are.

What we know as of now:

• Milton Bradley likes Pizza and French Onion soup. He has also met with the Cubs as well as the Rays.
• Depending on who you speak to, the Rays are interested in re-acquiring Delmon Young in a three way deal involving the Twins and Rockies. Others say the Rays haven't even talked to the Twins or Rockies about a deal. Somebody is lying here.
• Jason Giambi may be returning to the A's and the Rays have shown "interest" in Garrett Anderson.
• The Rays and Cardinals have had discussions. Rick Ankiel or Ryan Ludwick?
• The team has no free agent meetings today.
• K-Rod to the Mets

Reaction to all this news:

Post any rumors, tidbits, or thoughts here for conversation and digestion.

Here's a cheat sheet on the players the Rays are reported to be interested in, using Marcels and Chone projections.

If explanation is needed:

Position: COF - corner outfield

Age: Years.Months. For instance, Dunn turned 29 one month ago.

Proj. WAR:  Using Marcels/Chone a simple WAR estimate is made, which leads to...

Proj. 09$: Essentially, how much the player projects to be worth next season, when a single WAR is worth roughly 4.84 million. This is context free, what the Rays would pay for Bobby Abreu isn't the same as what the Orioles would or the Cubs, ect.

Also, answering a question sure to be asked: I included Hermida as a way of estimating how much talent the Rays would have to give up in return. Of course, this also opens a can of worms on how one should estimate prospect worth...

"There's no question this is a dual market situation," says one GM. "The corner bat/DH market is flooded, and the stock market is drowning. Not a good combination, not when pitching rules the market."

 

"The other thing is that teams are moving away from the base offensive statistics," says another GM. "They are pouring through defensive studies and seeing that below-average defenders like Ramirez and Burrell in the field depreciate their offensive numbers because of what they give up."

That is an excerpt from this piece written by Peter Gammons on the corner outfield/DH market which figures to be tops on the Rays priority list.

Gammons specifically mentions the Rays in this portion of the entry

Which is why the Tampa Bay Rays are in such a great position. They need a right field or DH bat. They have a terrific lineup in which to stack numbers. And a long list of names to consider, like Dunn, Jason Giambi, Burrell, Abreu, Raul Ibanez and Garrett Atkins from which to choose.

What once looked like a pipe dream, is now becoming a bright reality for the Rays. After the major pieces like CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira fall and set the market, the Rays will probably have three or four solid options for right field and/or DH. This comes without  trading Edwin Jackson, Andy Sonnanstine, Jeff Niemann or even Jason Bartlett.

This should give Friedman the flexibilty to pick and choose in a trade while supplementing whatever position he doesn't fill via a trade with a weakened market. Even if names like Dunn, Burrell, Ibanez, Bradley and Abreu get multi-year deals elsewhere it leaves guys like Giambi, Juan Rivera, Ken Griffey, Eric Hinske, Cliff Floyd and Rocco Baldelli with no place to go. Now some of those names(including the former Rays trio) aren't ideal, but for the potential price they maybe worth a shot. 

And that doesn't even bring in the trade market which could include guys like Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick and Jeremy Hermida among others.

In the beginning of this offseason most of us thought  talking about these guys was just wishful thinking. Now, we may infact just get what we wished for.