Tank: Rays Lose! Smyly Wins!

This Date in Team History!

The Rays signed three different veteran players on February 5.  In 2007 they signed journeyman reliever Al Reyes and seven years later, in 2013, they signed Kyle Farnsworth and Kelly Johnson.

"El Assassino" struggled during his two years with the club, both on and off the field, despite posting some of the best walk and strikeout rates of his 13 year career. He even recorded 26 saves in 2007.

Farnsworth was returning to the club after two years, the first great, the second not-so-much. His third year would continue his downward spiral, however he did provide the team with a very memorable moment during a game against Detroit as he tried to intimidate Miguel Cabrera, which he did...for one pitch.

Johnson turned out to be a quality signing as he served a bench role and played all around the infield, slashing .235/.305/.410 with 16 home runs over 118 games, good for 100 wRC+ and 1.2 WAR.

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Trivia Time!

The answers to yesterday's excellent trivia were; Damion Easley, Hideki Matsui, Pat Burrell, and Troy Percival answered correctly by tigerpu

His tools are all below-average. He's not particularly fast and doesn't have a strong arm, but rates as a premier defensive outfielder because he gets excellent jumps on balls and takes good angles. Despite a .274 average this year, he's an effective leadoff hitter because he's an outstanding bunter and has a knack for getting on base.

Hint: was never a top ten prospect, despite being the best defensive OF in his system three years in a row.

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There are 58 days until Opening Day!

That's the same number of runs driven in by Brandon Guyer so far in his career.

The first of which came during his first plate appearance.

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Links

- The big Rays related news from yesterday was the fact the Drew Smyly became the first player in team history to defeat the Rays in arbitration.

- The Rays also revealed what they would like for their ideal stadium.

- The Process Report kicks off their 2016 Player Card series with Corey Dickerson.

- All but set in stone, the Rays are heading to Cuba from March 21st to the 22nd to take on the national team in Havana.

- Jonny Gomes is heading to Japan and took to the Players' Tribune and shared his thoughts on his career and his decision to move to the the land of the rising sun.

- The Orioles finally acquired a starting pitcher, who I hope the Rays constantly miss so I don't have to spell his name in game notes, Odrisamer Despaigne from the Padres. After the acquisition, the O's DFA'd C.J. Riefenhauser, who if claimed will join his fourth team during this off-season.