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The Rays 2020 promotional schedule was released yesterday, and we have a few more details on some of the giveaways:
Theme Tickets
Some of the promotions will be tied to specific themed tickets this season, including the following:
Yandy Diaz WWE Bobblehead - Tuesday, March 31 vs. New York Yankees
The road to WrestleMania starts in St. Petersburg as WWE Night comes to Tropicana Field on Tuesday, March 31st. Witness two AL East titans brawl as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the New York Yankees. Upgrade to a Theme Ticket and receive a limited edition Yandy Díaz WWE Bobblehead to commemorate this night of Baseball with a WWE twist.
(pictured in our original post)
STAR WARS Jedi Jersey - Saturday, May 16 vs. Baltimore Orioles
‘May the Force be with you’ on Saturday, May 16th at Tropicana Field as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Baltimore Orioles. Young Padawans can purchase a Theme Ticket upgrade in order to receive a limited edition STAR WARS Jedi Jersey. Come to Tropicana Field and interact with your favorite STAR WARS characters for an out of this galaxy experience. Hurry before this opportunity is a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
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More images of giveaways
Remember the Sunday giveaways are intended for kids 14 and under!
- Tote Bag - Saturday, March 28 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
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- Sunglasses - Sunday, April 26 vs. Kansas City Royals
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- Sports Bracelet - Sunday, May 10 vs. Texas Rangers
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- Yandy Díaz Beach Tank - Sunday, May 31. vs. Milwaukee Brewers
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Get your tickets for the games at the promotion site here.
Other Rays News
- New GM James Click was introduced to the media in Houston
Dusty Baker, new GM James Click and Jim Crane pic.twitter.com/eMonF7i2B1
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 4, 2020
ICYMI... former #RaysUp VP/new Astros GM James Click says he's “very confident and absolutely certain” Houston did not use tech to steal signs during 2019 postseason.#Rays lost to Astros in 5 games in the ALDS. pic.twitter.com/RMreJITqTG
— Grace Remington (@GraceRemiWTSP) February 5, 2020
- Click got coverage from ESPN — New GM Click confident in Astros’ ability to win — and FanGraphs, below:
What does new GM James Click bring to the Astros? A progressive, analytics-driven mindset—and hopefully a change of culture from the last regime's scandal-tainted ways, writes @craigjedwards. https://t.co/2qaHPdVfCz
— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) February 4, 2020
- Mayor Castor threw out another first pitch
#Tampa mayor @JaneCastor with a perfect first pitch last night before @USASoftball vs. @USFSoftball. @CityofTampa #USF #USASoftball #StandBesideHerTour #USA pic.twitter.com/OBJ28BbU7o
— CHRIS TORELLO (@TorelloSports) February 5, 2020
- Tune in tomorrow!
Also confirmed to appear at tomorrow's debut of Countdown to Opening Day: #Rays GM Erik Neander. First 30 @RaysBaseball fans at the @953WDAE studios get a seat for the live show, lunch, & entry for Rays prizes & memorabilia.
— RaysRadio (@RaysRadio) February 5, 2020
- Blake Snell reacts to the Betts-Price send off:
h/t @Jaredsward pic.twitter.com/SxmjCDnOjV
— Danny Russell (@d_russ) February 5, 2020
More on the Punto 2.0 trade
The national media is not loving Boston’s bid to get under the luxury tax.
- The Score calls the trade “shameful”
- The Ringer calls the trade an Utter Disgrace
- FanGraphs reminds us that Betts is, “a generational player whose value has been eclipsed only by Mike Trout since he arrived in the majors in 2014”
- Baseball Prospectus has a poor review for Boston’s return (beyond the ~$75 million in payroll commitments and $10 million tax for 2020) ($)
Beyond cold hard cash, Boston turns, for the arithmetically-inclined, four years of control into 12 (seven over Graterol, five over Verdugo), albeit over players who one might uncharitably call “a spare piece for the Dodgers” and “not a sure thing in the Twins rotation.”
- Now trending on twitter? #MookieSmearCampaign — lets leave some twitter discourse here for your perusal outside that hashtag:
Two AL execs tell me criticism of #RedSox is misplaced.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 5, 2020
Sox get:
*Two talented youngsters with greater value than draft pick if Betts had left as FA.
*Ability to get under threshold and re-set penalty rate to minimum.
*$40M-$50M in payroll flexibility in coming seasons.
Dave Dombrowski was fired because he tried too hard to win a World Series and now the Red Sox are running up the white flag because John Henry doesn't want to pay to have good players. Baseball is fundamentally broken if that's a bigger goal than winning championships.
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) February 5, 2020
Just wait until Boston media digs into Verdugo’s involvement in the Dodgers 2015 sexual assault cover up. This is who we got back in return for trading a good guy/role model and generational talent. To say that we got played is an understatement...https://t.co/f6Yy2lfRza
— Joshua Laff (@josh_laff) February 5, 2020
Oh and Graterol has already had Tommy John, had shoulder trouble last year, and has gained 100 lbs. since he signed his pro contract. What could possibly go wrong?
— Paul Swydan (@Swydan) February 5, 2020
OTHER AWESOME TRADES THE RED SOX COULD MAKE:
— Red (@SurvivingGrady) February 5, 2020
Xander Bogaerts for Tim Beckham and a couple nice suits
Rafael Devers for a sweet 2020 Toyota Camry
Nathan Eovaldi for some Sonic gift cards
Chris Sale for my Netflix password
JD Martinez for "all the turkey subs"
"They can sign him as a free agent now" yeah I don't think you trade David Price, lowering the value of what you get back from Betts, if your actual goal is to bring Betts back and be as competitive as possible. If it were, you'd play 2020 as is and fight to re-sign Betts.
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) February 5, 2020
A sad thing about sports is when small-market teams have to trade their star players because they can’t afford to pay them. Should Boston be an MLB city? Are the Red Sox better off playing half their games in Montreal? What can be done to get teams like the Red Sox more revenue? https://t.co/LYMCzitV1C
— DL (@davelozo) February 5, 2020
Other Links
- CBS Sports: How MLB could make a designated hitter compromise and occasionally keep pitchers at the plate
- Ten Year Anniversary: Phils to honor Halladay on date of perfect game by retiring No. 34
- Mets are having a 2020:
Statement from #Mets ownership on reports that Steve Cohen is backing out of deal to purchase majority stake in club: “The parties are subject to confidentiality obligations, including a mutual non-disclosure agreement, and therefore cannot comment.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 4, 2020
- Pete Rose asks for relevance again
BREAKING: Pete Rose asks MLB for reinstatement, cites no punishment for Astros players for electronic signs-stealing. "There cannot be one set of rules for Mr. Rose and another for everyone else," Rose's 20-page petition to Manfred says. https://t.co/9CRCHBXkUy
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) February 5, 2020
- The Ringer is on the move...
Here's the story: Spotify is buying all of The Ringer, and @BillSimmons's company will continue to run its website. But want @eldsjal really wants is a podcast boost. https://t.co/jJHnwhpJOn
— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) February 5, 2020
- And now your moment of zen:
The last time the Red Sox traded a player with 40+ career WAR before their 27th birthday...Babe Ruth
— Michael Dyer (@Mike_Dyer13) February 5, 2020