The Mitch Talbot era in St. Petersburg turned out to be a short one, as he was demoted back to Triple A Durham before even throwing a pitch as the Rays made a flurry of off-day roster moves. SS Jason Bartlett has been placed on the 15 Day DL due to a right knee sprain that he suffered in yesterday's win over Boston. Since he was the only shortstop on the roster, the Rays called up not one, but two players to take his place. Ben Zobrist begins a third tour of duty with the team, while more intriguingly, top prospect Reid Brignac gets the call.

More on this move a bit later on, but I can't possibly seeing anyone but Brignac getting the bulk of the playing time at shortstop in Bartlett's place. Lou Piniella doesn't manage this team anymore, so unlike B.J. Upton's poorly-handled debut in 2004, I imagine the Rays will set out with a plan to see Brignac get regular playing time. Zobrist is their middle infield insurance policy, and quite frankly I wouldn't be surprised to see him stick, given the tumult that an injury to Bartlett has provoked. I'm sort of disappointed to see that Talbot won't get an extended opportunity to prove himself at the major league level, but I guess the need for roster flexibility on the infield was the paramount concern.

Brant James of the St. Petersburg Times reports that LHP Scott Kazmir will throw five or six innings and a "maximum" of 85 pitches tonight in his final minor league rehab outing for AAA Durham. He is on track to join the rotation this weekend against the Boston Red Sox, most likely for Sunday's game. James also reports that RHP Al Reyes will make his second and final one inning rehab stint for A+ Vero Beach this evening. His fastball apparently "reached" 85 mph in his last outing on Saturday, but he is still expected to be activated when eligible to come off of the DL on Thursday. More injury news from Bill Chastain of RaysBaseball.com:

Willy Aybar [left hamstring strain] said he expects to start playing in games in a week. ... Cliff Floyd [right knee surgery] is expected to begin playing in some games later this week.

Chastain produced another article, the latest to focus on the Rays' impending rotation crunch, and he does a fairly decent job in summarizing things. Chastain also says that LHP Kurt Birkins, who has not pitched in a week, will be optioned to AAA Durham once Reyes is activated from the DL. Essentially, the team faces two tough choices. First, who exactly will be bumped from the rotation? Second, who will be bumped from the active roster? The answer to both questions could easily be the same person, either RHP Andy Sonnanstine or RHP Matt Garza (unlikely). Otherwise, they will need to not only move someone to the bullpen, but bump someone from the bullpen off of the active roster. Should be an interesting choice for the team. Although it isn't my personal preference, I'm guessing based on the circumstances that Sonnanstine will get demoted to AAA Durham since he still has options and the team won't have to disrupt the bullpen by moving him out.

IF Ben Zobrist is due to get the pins out of his fractured thumb today, and he could begin playing in Extended Spring Training games as soon as this week. That from Marc Lancaster of the Tribune, who also had this to report concerning late inning pitching roles:

When RHP Al Reyes rejoins the Rays on Thursday after finishing a stint on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement, he won't necessarily slide back into the eighth-inning spot he had held before. Maddon indicated Sunday he was inclined to keep RHP Dan Wheeler in the primary setup role, though he has done plenty of mixing and matching over the past week.

Lancaster also reports that RHP Jeff Niemann has not made a start for AAA Durham since being optioned down one week ago. He did throw a bullpen session with no problems, however, and thus should make his next start sometime this week. Lancaster speculates that day will be Thursday.

Elsewhere, Adam Morris of Lone Star Ball goes behind the ESPN paywall to retrieve a few Buster Olney bits from ESPN on the state of the Rangers franchise. Hat tip to Rays Index. Here's the paragraph pertinent to the Rays:

Texas general manager Jon Daniels recently received an extension, but if Ryan ultimately decides he wants somebody else making the baseball choices, others who know Ryan wonder if he'll ask former Houston GM Gerry Hunsicker -- now an advisor with Tampa Bay -- to come on board. Even if that happens, friends say Hunsicker very much likes his role with the Rays.

• 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.

• The Tampa Tribune reports that the hairline fracture in IF Ben Zobrist's left thumb still has not healed; it is an ailment that could keep him out until mid-April. Zobrist will be checked out again on Monday.
• According to the same article, OF Jonny Gomes is scheduled to make his first start of the season tonight in Baltimore. He will be the third right fielder the Rays have used in as many games. Gomes' only plate appearance this season came last night as a pinch hitter for Cliff Floyd in the ninth; he popped out into shallow center to end the game. Gomes also saw the appellate hearing for his two-game suspension postponed until Monday in New York, making him eligible for play through the weekend.
  
• Shawn Riggans and Elliot Johnson will make their first starts of the season on Saturday in New York. They will be the Catcher and Designated Hitter, respectively, and will face Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte.
• Meanwhile, Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times says that RHP Grant Balfour has cleared waivers and will be given an outright assignment to the bullpen in AAA Durham. Whether he accepts that outright assignment is not yet known, though the Times reports that he stands to collect a $175,000 salary should he do so.
• Lastly, Marc Lancaster of the Tribune writes that chances are less than good that tonight's game against the Orioles will be played, thanks to a 90% chance of rain. Lancaster further speculates that the make-up opportunities for a rain-out today could be slim, with August 21st being the only logical one in his mind as it is a mutual off day.