Links:

• The annual off-season simulation is live with Danny and Hatfield again controlling the fate of the fake Rays
• Today is the Qualifying Offer deadline, which could heavily impact the Rays off-season
• The Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners made a small trade last night as Carlos Ruiz was sent to Seattle while Vidal Nuno heads to L.A.
• Former Ray, Jason Hammel will become a free agent as the Chicago Cubs opted of his deal while also former Ray, Scott Kazmir is staying in Los Angeles
• Bud Black will become the new manager of the Colorado Rockies
• After another losing season, Matt Silverman says the Rays are almost open to anything that would improve the team
• The Rays have officially re-signed Dana Eveland, and two others to minor league deals
• Over at the Process Report, Jason Collette examined Kevin Kiermaier’s patience
• Shadow of the Stadium looks at the battle brewing between St Pete and Tampa that is beginning to heat up
• Also, there’s this

• Brent Honeywell just demonstrated in front of a national audience how awesome he is
• The Cubs and Indians just proved this theory would work for the Rays

Coming Up:

Later today, I’ll have an interview with former Ray, Aubrey Huff, who is close to releasing his book Baseball Junkie

Danny recaps day one of the off-season simulation

Rays History:

On November 7th, 1997 Larry Rothschild is named as the first ever manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who were just a few days away from the expansion draft. Rothschild didn’t have very much success at the helm though as he guided the team to three straight last place finishes before being relieved of his duties early on in 2001. He has since spent time as the pitching coach of the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees.

Trivia:

Name the Former Rays Player

• He was once named the Rookie of the Year and is a former Cy Young contender
• During his career, he played in the majors with seven teams over 14 years, sending one of those years with the Rays sometime between 2001 and 2007
• While with the Rays, he had a record of 5-8 with an ERA of 7.24 over the course of 19 starts.