Yu Davish is signing with the Cubs for a reasonable contract:a $126 million guarantee and escalators up to $150 million over six years. And now that someone has finally broken the free agent dam, let the games begin:
Where the pitching market now stands, per sources: Brewers, Twins, Phillies and Dodgers are targeting starters. Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi are likeliest to fill those gaps in some way, shape or form, though Philly could go shorter-term on a guy.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2018
The Twins also appear to be suitors for Chris Archer, with outfielder Max Kepler involved in the discussions.
It seems extremely unlikely that the Rays would move their ace without a godfather offer in hand, but Kepler could be part of an Odorizzi/Span discussion.
Meanwhile, Marc Topkin reports the Angels have joined the discussion on Jake Odorizzi, joining division rivals Baltimore and New York, who likely value his AL East experience. There’s enough smoke here to think there’s some fire for an Odorizzi trade this Spring.
Stadium Links
The Rays announced their intention to build in Ybor City, and you can find all our coverage here.
- There are still some unanswered questions about the new Rays stadium site
- Former mayor Bill Foster says the Rays are “checking boxes off their exit plan” to leave Tampa Bay
The Rays will find their inspiration for the stadium’s design in... a modern sculpture of a bird?
Other Rays Links
- The Tampa Bay Times profiled Rays GM Erik Neander’s rise to the head of baseball operations, the first such piece written on Neander in his career
- Chris Archer penned a letter for The Undefeated:
We gotta get to the root of the problem, stop the perpetual cycle https://t.co/aGKJx97j8k
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) February 12, 2018
.@ChrisArcher22's letter. #DearBlackAthlete pic.twitter.com/FmxJkb86Ar
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) February 12, 2018
- The Rays hosted their annual Fanfest this weekend, where Kiermaier faced off with a professional pool player.
- Top prospect Brent Honeywell thinks he’s ready to join the Rays rotation in 2018
- Baseball America’s list of players who just missed the Top-100 include Christian Arroyo, Brandon Lowe, Justin Williams, Vidal Brujan, and Ronaldo Hernandez
- Minor League Ball lists three Rays prospects the industry needs to know
- Finally, the Rays are adding a pipe organ to the Trop in 2018.