Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Jake Odorizzi, Baltimore Orioles trade details emerging

Spring training is under way as the first formal workout will take place today at 10:30 am. Many teams across the league have switched to a later time due the majority of the regular season being played at night.

The Rays have 44 pitchers and catchers on their spring training roster and all of them except one (Jesus Sucre) are expected to be in camp today. Sucre is being held up by visa issues.

Odorizzi’s O’s?

Ken Rosenthal designed a bizarro world trade scenario in which the Rays send Jake Odorizzi to the Yankees, who then flip Odorizzi as well as others, to Baltimore for Manny Machado. In the article, Rosenthal dropped an interesting nugget of whom the Rays have been targeting in talks with the Orioles.

They could always get Odorizzi directly from the Rays — according to one source, the Rays are seeking a pitching prospect and the Orioles’ competitive-balance pick, No. 33 overall, in return.

The Rays would be wise to try and pry away 2017 draft pick DL Hall, who is considered among the better southpaw prospects in the game, but when the Orioles can still spend money on a Jeremy Hellickson, that’s a high price to pay.

Perhaps another LHP like Tanner Scott, who hits triple digits with deception, could still be a possibility, but the Rays are more likely to target a pitcher farther away than Triple-A.

For more on Jake Odroizzi’s trade value, check out our outsider survey here.

Rays spring training coverage

• The Rays held their annual press conference to open up camp as Kevin Cash, Erik Neander, and Chaim Bloom answered the media’s questions.

• The topics covered were Brendan McKay’s development, Jose De Leon looks like a completely different pitcher, Matt Duffy is finally healthy, and are the Rays in a rebuild.
• Nick Ciuffo, recently suspended 50 games for violating MLB’s drug policy, talks about the suspension and having to make the toughest call of his life
• Alex Colome is surprised to be in the Rays camp, after an off-season filled with rumors and speculation
• The Rays made the signing of Sergio Romo official, outrighting Micah Johnson off the 40-man roster. Johnson will remain with the team as a non-roster invite.
• The competition up the middle for the Rays is packed as several players are competing to be the Rays Opening Day second baseman

Other Notes

• Jim Bowden released his top 50 prospect list with three Rays making the cut
• Pinstripe Alley says Alex Cobb is the best remaining pitching option for the New York Yankees to pursue
• The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Chase Utley to a two year deal
• Royals Review learned of the Rays leaving St Petersburg and wrote...this on it
• The Toronto Blue Jays will be retiring the late Roy Halladay’s number 32 during a ceremony on Opening Day
• Remember Esteban Loaiza, a solid pitcher during the 2000’s, well he has been arrested for possessing 44 pounds of drugs

TRIVIA

Who was the first draft pick in franchise history to reach the majors?