Rays News
Bringing in a Boomstick #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/RvGgCyoNVo
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 22, 2021
- Rays acquire veteran Nelson Cruz from Twins - Adam Berry, MLB.com: The Rays (finally) land the Boomstick.
- Rays get the big bat they were seeking in Nelson Cruz - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times: The Rays may have just landed the best pure hitter that any team will get at the trade deadline.
- The news broke just as pre-game was starting up for the Rays:
BREAKING The @RaysBaseball have acquired OF Nelson Cruz and minor league RH Calvin Faucher from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for RH Joe Ryan and RH Drew Strotman.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/2piNSG7sG4
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) July 22, 2021
- How to use Nelson Cruz, Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron in the same sentence - David Schoenfield, ESPN
- Pretty fantastic company for Nellie:
Nobody strikes out more than the Rays right now. Only three qualified batters have a higher slugging percentage and a lower K% than Nelson Cruz (Vlad Guerror Jr., Matt Olson, and Max Muncy). Great fit.
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) July 22, 2021
- Twins acquire RHPs Ryan, Strotman for Cruz - Do-Hyoung Park, MLB.com: An a good read to hear from the Twins perspective.
- Grading the Nelson Cruz Trade for the Rays and Twins - Nick Selbe, Sports Illustrated
Nelson Cruz is 41 years & 21 days old today
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 22, 2021
The only players in Rays history to appear in a game at that age or older are:
Wade Boggs in 1999
Julio Franco in 1999
Rich Hill this year
Only 1 Rays HR has been hit at that age or older: by Boggs at 41 y, 53 d on 8/7/99
- The Padres made a push for Nelson Cruz; Boras on Max Scherzer’s no-trade clause; more notes - Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic: Some very interesting notes and speculation from Ken in this piece.
- Rays chip away, cash in with 10-inning victory - Bill Ladson, MLB.com: The Rays celebrated the news of their new slugger teammate by coming from behind in the 9th and winning in the 10th.
- Elsewhere in Champa Bay: The Bucs got their hardware
“This is by far the most incredible ring that’s ever been made.” -@TomBrady pic.twitter.com/pvsaDET8w1
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 23, 2021
All in the . pic.twitter.com/qoIDcQroRx
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 23, 2021
Around the League
- Is the MLB Sticky-Stuff Ban Actually Making a Difference? - Ben Lindbergh, The Ringer
- The Yankees blew leads in the 9th and the 10th to lose to the Red Sox (keeping the Rays still 1 GB of the Sox for the AL East lead):
Brooks Kriske's historical night!
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 23, 2021
His four wild pitches in one inning ties an MLB record set five times previously. The last time was 2008. It's the first time in MLB history a pitcher has thrown four or more wild pitches in the ninth inning or later pic.twitter.com/0VcNqzITkN
The Yankees have 4 losses this season when leading by multiple runs in the 9th inning
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 23, 2021
That's tied with 1979 for their most such losses in a single season since at least 1974