The players colored in gold are the ones performing above their expected averages, the rest are either borderline or within .006 points with the exception of Jason Bartlett.  Hinske being that good was a bit of a surprise to me, I suppose his .877 OPS has crept past me. Longoria, Upton, Floyd, and Navarro were no surprise, but having two catchers above average? At no time prior in Rays history have we really had one above average catcher, now two?

And for those wondering, here's a definition of EqA:

Equivalent Average. A measure of total offensive value per out, with corrections for league offensive level, home park, and team pitching. EQA considers batting as well as baserunning, but not the value of a position player's defense. The EqA adjusted for all-time also has a correction for league difficulty. The scale is deliberately set to approximate that of batting average. League average EqA is always equal to .260. EqA is derived from Raw EqA, which is (H + TB + 1.5*(BB + HBP + SB) + SH + SF) divided by (AB + BB + HBP + SH + SF + CS + SB).

Returning to Hinske I have to ask, should we start talking about re-signing this guy or simply sell high?

He's not Wigginton, in the way that Wigginton was never quite this good and in 14 less games -- albeit 20 or so more at-bats -- Hinske has walked more times than he did last season. Nearly everything about Hinske, minus his slightly high HR/FB%, is right on career par, in fact his BABIP/xBABIP actually suggest he's been unlucky (.280 BABIP, league average is around .300, and 20% line drives suggest around .320 xBABIP), and yet players like Hinske, Wigginton, and Dan Johnson are almost always available.

He likely won't bring back Class-A compensation, ditto for trading him, and really can we even afford to trade him? I know Dan Johnson is down there in Durham and he has a few service years remaining before free agency, but in the end he's only two years and five days younger than Hinske.

It's just hard to see a scenario where Hinske, Johnson, and Gross can co-exist on the same team unless Hinske is re-signed as a DH type, replacing the likely retiring Cliff Floyd. Even then you'd be discussing two lefties "platooning" in right field, and it's very possible the platoon ends within a few weeks as it stands now unless the team has Gross/Murton or Nady or whomever envisioned in a similar role.

AA Montgomery Biscuits (34-35)

BISCUITS 9, Mobile 7-Montgomery jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, and extended that lead to 7-0 later on en route to a 9-7 win over the Mobile BayBears.  Mobile did briefly claw back in the game, scoring five runs in the sixth to chase LHP James Houser from the ballgame. All but one of those runs were unearned, however, as Houser saw his ERA drop to 2.08. The Biscuits and BayBears each made three errors in a sloppy ballgame, though four Biscuit players had multiple hits and the team had 12 total. RHP Ryan Reid closed out the ballgame for Montgomery, earning his second save of the year and possibly signaling a setup role for RHP Eduardo Morlan when he starts pitching regularly. The first half of Montgomery's season concludes today with a game in Mobile. By winning, the Biscuits can finish with a .500 record. 

BISCUITS Up Next-at Mobile, 7:05 EST (LH Jino Gonzalez)

Details on the other Rays minor league affiliates after the jump

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AAA Durham Bulls (33-30)

Charlotte 6, BULLS 2-Durham starter Jeremy Cummings ceded the lead to division-rival Charlotte by giving up five runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and the Bulls' offense could not keep up as they dropped the first of a two game set to the Knights. 

BULLS Up Next-vs Charlotte, 5:05 EST (RH Ben Hendrickson)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (30-33)

Birmingham 12, BISCUITS 4-RHP Wade Davis was rocked for six runs in just two innings of work, and the Biscuits could never get closer than 7-4 in being thumped by the Birmingham Barons. 

BISCUITS Up Next-at Birmingham, 3:05 EST (LH James Houser)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (31-31)

V-RAYS 7, Sarasota 3-LHP David Price showed that he was mortal, surrendering his first runs in his fourth start as a professional, but the Vero Beach bullpen held the Sarasota Reds at bay while the offense scored six runs in a two inning span late as the Devil Rays won 7-3.

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Sarasota, 1:00 EST (RH Heath Rollins)

A- Columbus Catfish (22-40)

Rome 3, CATFISH 2 (11)-An error by 3B Greg Sexton, one of four Columbus errors and one of seven total in the game, led to the winning run scoring as the Catfish allowed a strong start by RHP Alex Cobb to go for naught in an 11th inning loss. 

CATFISH Up Next-at Rome, 2:00 EST (RH Jeremy Hall)

AAA Durham Bulls (33-29)

BULLS 10, Richmond 2-The Bulls lineup broke out for ten runs on nine hits, while RHP Mitch Talbot and RHP Dale Thayer did not give up an earned run as Durham won their second straight to earn a four game series split with the Richmond Braves.

BULLS Up Next-vs Charlotte, 7:05 EST (RH Jeremy Cummings)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (30-32)

BISCUITS 6, Birmingham 3-LHP Jake McGee gave up a run in each of the first three innings, but settled down while Montgomery scored four in the top of the fourth inning to key a 6-3 win over the Barons. 

BISCUITS Up Next-at Birmingham, 8:05 EST (RH Wade Davis)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (30-31)

Sarasota 12, V-RAYS 3-LHP Ryan Morse was bad, RHP Wilton Noel was worse, and not even CF Desmond Jennings' 3 for 3 day could save Vero Beach from going down in defeat 12-3 to the Sarasota Reds. 

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Sarasota, 6:00 EST (LH David Price)

A- Columbus Catfish (22-39)

CATFISH 11, Rome 1-Columbus won for the second time in three days following a 12 game losing streak, walloping the Rome Braves 11-1 behind seven strong innings from LHP Brian Flores and a 14 hit day from the lineup.

CATFISH Up Next-at Rome, 7:00 EST (RH Alex Cobb)

AAA Durham Bulls (32-29)

BULLS 3, Richmond 0-Jeff Niemann, Juan Salas, and Scott Dohmann combined on a six hit shutout of the visiting Richmond Braves, while SS Reid Brignac doubled in two of Durham's three seventh inning runs.

BULLS Up Next-vs Richmond, 7:05 EST (RH Mitch Talbot)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (29-32)

Birmingham 3, BISCUITS 1-Montgomery was able to manage just four hits off of Barons pitching, scoring their lone run in the ninth inning. PH John Jaso struck out with runners on the corners to end the game.

BISCUITS Up Next-at Birmingham, 8:05 EST (LH Jake McGee)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (30-30)

V-RAYS 5, Sarasota 1-SP Jeremy Hellickson pitched a perfect five innings, while RF John Matulia and 1B Matt Fields had four and three hits, respectively, to lead the Vero Beach offense.

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Sarasota, 6:30 EST (LH Ryan Morse)

A- Columbus Catfish (21-39)

Savannah 5, CATFISH 0-Columbus reverted back to their losing ways a day after snapping a 12 game losing streak, getting shut out 5-0 by the Savannah Sand Gnats.

CATFISH Up Next-at Rome, 7:00 EST (LH Brian Flores)

AAA Durham Bulls (31-29)

Richmond 8, BULLS 1-SS Reid Brignac had two doubles, the only Durham player with multiple hits, but the team had just five in total and were sacked 8-1 by the Richmond Braves.

BULLS Up Next-vs Richmond, 7:05 EST (RH Jeff Niemann)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (29-31)

BISCUITS 10, Carolina 2-Montgomery rode a six run second inning to a lopsided 10-2 win over the Carolina Mudcats. Carolina Pitcher Matt Yourkin was ejected from the game in the seventh inning along with Mudcats Pitching Coach Scott Mitchell after Sergio Pedroza was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Yourkin is no stranger to these types of incidents, having knocked out Rhyne Hughes' front teeth with a pitch last season.

BISCUITS Up Next-vs Birmingham, 8:05 EST (LH Mike Prochaska)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (29-30)

Jupiter 12, V-RAYS 1-Starter Brandon Mann pitched seven strong innings for the Devil Rays, but Wade Townsend failed to record an out as he was tagged for six of Jupiter's nine runs in the eighth en route to a 12-1 blowout loss to the Hammerheads.

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Sarasota, 7:00 EST (RH Jeremy Hellickson)

A- Columbus Catfish (21-38)

CATFISH 2, Savannah 0-The Catfish snapped a 12 game losing streak behind six shutout innings from SP Jessie Darcy and three more from their bullpen, despite a starting lineup that could manage just three hits off of Sand Gnat pitching.

CATFISH Up Next-vs Savannah, 7:00 EST (RH Woods Fines)

AAA Durham Bulls (12-17)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 9, BULLS 5-RHP Chris Mason struggled through 6.1 poor innings of work, and the Yankees swept the Bulls out of Scranton as Durham dropped its fourth straight.

BULLS Up Next-at Pawtucket, 6:15 EDT (RH Mitch Talbot)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (11-19)

Huntsville 11, BISCUITS 3-LHP Mike Wlodarczyk struggled early and put the Biscuits in a hole from which they could not recover as Montgomery was blown out in the final game of their series against the Huntsville Stars.

BISCUITS Up Next-vs Birmingham, 8:05 EDT (LH Jake McGee)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (15-15)

V-RAYS 2, Dunedin 0-The Devil Rays got a fantastic starting effort from LHP Ryan Morse, and that's mainly why Vero Beach would need only two runs to surmount the Dunedin Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon. 

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Dunedin, 7:00 EDT (RH Matt Walker)

A- Columbus Catfish (12-18)

Greenville 5, CATFISH 0-The Greenville offense produced five runs in the middle innings, which was more than enough to overtake a Catfish lineup that was shut out on four hits. 

CATFISH Up Next-at Greenville, 7:00 EDT (LH Brian Flores)

• The Jeff Niemann move last night wasn't the only one the Rays appeared set to make. Though Niemann was pushed out to clear room for 1B Dan Johnson in the immediate, the team will also activate C Dioner Navarro following the conclusion of his rehab assignment tonight for Vero Beach. To make room for Navarro, it looks like C Mike DiFelice has lost out on the battle for the backup catcher's position to Shawn Riggans. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that DiFelice was seen saying goodbye and hugging teammates following the conclusion of Sunday's game. He could be claimed on waivers as a result of the Rays' having removed him from the active roster.
• In addition, with RHP Matt Garza also soon to return, Topkin speculates that OF Justin Ruggiano will be sent down later this week to make room for him. RHP Andy Sonnanstine was moved forward in the rotation one day to fill Niemann's slot, while it appears as though Garza will start the opening game of the Boston series on Friday. Also on the injury front, IF Ben Zobrist took BP at the Naimoli Complex, but is still a few weeks from returning.
• Some snippets from Marc Lancaster's Notes column in the Tribune:
The Rays say they are expecting attendance for the three-game series at Disney that begins Tuesday to be similar to last year's numbers. Three games against the Rangers last May drew an average of 8,806 fans. ... With Johnson joining the team, Maddon said he may give Carlos Pena another game or two at DH to make sure his right hamstring is fully healthy. Pena still appeared to be favoring his leg Sunday. ... The Rays are not believed to have serious interest in Frank Thomas, who was released by the Blue Jays on Sunday.

• 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.

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.