Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Where will the Buffalo roam?

I don’t often lead with an article behind the pay wall, but the most Rasy thing written on the offday was Matthew Trueblood’s examination of Wilson Ramos, as a potentially very attractive in-season trade target. Ramos hasn’t hit yet this year (he will eventually), but he’s been a good defender, in terms of his throwing from behind the plate. And as Trueblood notes, his pitch framing has also been excellent, returning to form in his second year after knee surgery. To quote:

Framing is one of the very first skills we can properly assess each April. The sheer sample size involved, being so much larger than it is for any other individual statistic at this stage, really helps. In this case, the numbers say that Ramos (who had an average season as a framer in 2017, but was among the league’s best at it in 2015 and 2016) is back on top of his game.

In the article, Trueblood has some ideas about who might be in the market for Ramos.

Rays Links

• Steve Kinsella gave an injury update, witht the status of Brad Miller, Nathan Eovaldi, Matt Duffy, Christian Arroyo, Kevin Kiermaier, Garrett Whitley, and Josh Lowe.
• Marc Topkin wrote about Mallex Smith’s opportunity.
• The first FanGraphs mock draft is out, with a note that the Rays are one of several teams in on Parker Meadows.
• Ryan Yarbrough got engaged.

• Last year’s Durham Bulls also got rings.

• Former Ray Alex Cobb had a message for Orioles fans.

• Ian Browne checked in on a newcomer on each of the AL East teams. The featured Ray was Yonny Chirinos. Nothing we didn’t know, but also in there is a note that Orioles pitcher Andrew Cashner credits Alex Cobb with helping him develop his curve. Cobb really better become a pitching coach when he retires.
• Johnn LaRue compared current American League teams to past teams. The Rays got the 1996 Royals. The Top-10 Rays comparisons had a .500 winning percentage.

Other Links

• Zach Maisel wrote took notes on the Puerto Rico series.
• The Mariners turned a very strange, sorta lame triple play.