Rays Whispers...

The Rays currently have the best record in baseball. The pitching is doing their job and the hitting is coming through at the right times. Maybe it is the year for the Tampa Bay Rays, they certainly have been patient enough. Rumors are spreading across the country that the Rays may break their status quo and make a trade for a big name player. CC Sabathia's name has come as one possible option for the Rays, but would he make a significant difference? Sabathia is 6-8 with a 3.79 ERA so far this season, but he would probably cost the Rays a top prospect or two. He is a free agent at the end of the season though and will probably ask for Johan Santana money. The Rays are in place to invest that kind of money in a player like Sabathia.

The Rays are also interested in pitcher Brian Fuentes. Adding Fuentes would help at the closer spot while Percival is down, but he would also help in the playoffs when Percival returns. He is experienced in the later innings and could be the player in the bullpen that makes all the difference.

Should The Rays Move?

The Rays are working very hard to get out of Tropicana Field as soon as possible. They have a waterfront stadium picked out, and are taking the other steps required in hopes of passing the referendum. However, if the referendum fails, don't expect the Rays to wait until 2027, when the lease on their current stadium runs out. Owner Stuart Sternberg said that the stadium has become obsolete among other stadiums and moving to a new one should motivate players and fans. It has worked in D.C. so far with the Nationals, and it should with the Rays, who appear on the brink of being a serious contender in the American League.

I spoke with one MLB player (who asked to remain anonymous) through email and he said that Tropicana Field is a "dry place." He went on to say that having a stadium that looks like other stadiums would motivate players and fans: "Everyone would be happy, and it would probably show in the standings." Staying in Tampa is their number one choice, but it is possible they would move to Charlotte to start their new franchise. I doubt a move to Las Vegas would happen because that would throw off the whole standings alignment, so Charlotte seems like the best fit.

Nothing will be solved for a couple seasons, but if it doesn't look good for the Rays, we could start hearing rumors that they are planning a move. Any change for the Rays would probably be for the better.

Sources: Burrell Likes Rays

According to sources, free agent outfielder Pat Burrell is intrigued by the possibility of DH-ing for the Rays. Burrell and the Rays know that his defense is slipping and bringing him in on a one or two year deal to play DH would not only have a huge impact on the Rays, but also add years to his career. Burrell hit .250 with 33 HR in 157 games for the World Champion Phillies last season, who defeated the Rays in the postseason. 

Players who have moved from the NL to the AL to DH have seen a rise in their average. Jim Thome hit .249 over three seasons with the Phillies, but then hit .269 for the White Sox over the next three seasons. If Burrell could hit .265-.270 with over thirty homeruns for the Rays, he could have a serious impact on the AL East. 

In 84 career at-bats as a DH, Burrell has hit .155 with 1 HR and 26 strikeouts.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

2009 American League Predictions

American League East

1. Tampa Bay Rays: 93-69

2. Boston Red Sox: 89-73

3. New York Yankees: 86-76

4. Toronto Blue Jays: 82-80

5. Baltimore Orioles: 73-89

The AL East is going to be a really close race, but the depth the Rays have will keep them on top the whole season. While the Yankees have strong pitching, they are more vulnerable to injuries because of their age.

American League Central

1. Chicago White Sox: 90-73

2. Minnesota Twins: 86-76

3. Cleveland Indians: 83-79

4. Detroit Tigers: 79-83

5. Kansas City Royals: 77-85

The AL Central is up in the air so it is hard to predict, but I expect strides from all teams in the Central. If the Tigers don't hold a fire sale midseason, they could pose a threat for the division. 

American League West

1. Los Angeles Angels: 86-76

2. Texas Rangers: 83-79

3. Oakland Athletics: 78-84

4. Seattle Mariners: 75-87

The Athletics and Rangers both made improvements over the offseason, but the A's young pitching and the Rangers spotty rotation still has them behind the Angels. As for the Mariners, they need to trade their veterans to bring in more young prospects. 

American League MVP: Evan Longoria, Rays

American League Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays

American League Rookie of the Year: Matt LaPorta, Indians

American League Manager of the Year: Ozzie Guillen, White Sox

ALDS: Red Sox defeat Rays; White Sox defeat Rays

ALCS: Red Sox defeat White Sox

American League Champion: Red Sox

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Weekly Roundup

What started as a nice start to another baseball season, we were blindsided with the news that Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in an automobile accident. Off to a promising start with a six inning shutout performance, the top pitching prospect looked to be blossoming into a true major leaguer. The news of his death was a tragedy, not to mention the three other lives that were taken as well. The Angels, already with their three top pitchers on the DL, are now forced to find a replacement. The Angels held a very nice ceremony for the victims before Saturday's game, and were able to beat the Red Sox in his honor. On a lighter note, there were several young players who had nice weeks, and teams are looking to these guys to build off their strong starts.

Jordan Schafer, Braves: .348 AVG, 2 HR, .423 OBP.

- Schafer has put up great numbers at the plate and has shown off his speed in the outfield. 

Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins: .500 AVG, 1 HR, .517 OBP, 4 SB.

- Bonifacio is off to a great start at third for the Marlins. The talent has always been there, it's poor consistency that has been the problem.

Adam Lind, Blue Jays: .400 AVG, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .419 OBP.

- Entering his third major league season, Lind has taken big strides at the plate. He could play a big role in the Blue Jays playoff hopes this season.

Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles: 2-0 W-L, 2.25 ERA, 5 K, 12 H.

- Guthrie has been an Orioles project for the past three seasons, and he might be putting his stuff together. He did put up 10 wins last season, and is off to a good start this year.

Josh Johnson, Marlins: 2-0 W-L, 0.57 ERA, 1 ER, 15 SO.

- Johnson is a big, hard throwing right hander who combines his fastball with a hard slider. He was able to beat Johan Santana today, and is hoping to lead that young rotation.

Here are some other young players whose first week is something they would like to forget:

John Lannan, Nationals: 0-2 W-L, 10.00 ERA, 10 ER, 3 BB, 9 IP. 

- The Nationals hope Lannan can breakout for the Nationals after putting up 10 wins last season, but he hasn't been able to command his fastball early on.

Scott Olsen, Nationals: 0-2 W-L, 14.63 ERA, 8 IP, 13 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB.

- The Nationals hoped that when they traded for Olsen, he would emerge into a solid top of the rotation starter to lead the Nationals. So far, that hasn't been the case.

Chris Davis, Rangers: .045 AVG, 1 H (22 AB), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 10 SO.

- There is a lot of pressure on Davis to put up big numbers after having a breakout 2008 campaign. So far he has struggled mightily and the Rangers could be scrambling if Davis doesn't pick it up.

Injuries

Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks: 15-day DL, shoulder tightness.

Doug Brocail, Astros: 15-day DL, strained rotator cuff.

Rumors

After Cole Hamels struggled through his first outing, several believe that he is showing the effects of an overworked pitching from last season. Hamels told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he is "fine now."

The Angels may be forced to add another pitcher with Escobar, Lackey, and Santana on the DL. Pedro Martinez is available. The LA Times mentions Anthony Ortega and Darren Oliver asi in-house possibilities.

Dodgers outfielder Delwyn Young is out of options, and several scouts have been watching him during his rehab assignment. The Indians, Pirates, and Phillies are interested.

Minor League Update

Juan Miranda, Yankees (AAA): .474 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI.

- The Yankees won't hesitate to recall Miranda if Teixeira goes down for an extended amount of time.

Matt LaPorta, Indians (AAA): .625 AVG, 1 HR, 1 SO, .667 OBP.

- LaPorta could be playing for the Indians very soon if he continue to swing a big bat.

Tyler Flowers, White Sox (AA): .417 AVG, 1 HR,  2 RBI, .500 OBP

- Flowers is the young power hitter the White Sox hope can fill the shoes of Jim Thome or Jermaine Dye when there time with the team runs out. So far he is looking really good.

David Price, Rays (AAA): 0-0 W-L, 4.91 ERA, 4 SO, 3.2 IP.

- Price will be pitching for the Rays at the major league level really soon. Once he gets comfortable and into more of a routine will the Rays give him the opportunity. 

What to look for next week...

Interviews will start to be scheduled next week.

Rich Harden, who is coming off a solid 10 strikeout performance, will be making his second start of the season. Some think that Harden is already DL bound, so it will be interesting to see if he can string together back to back strong outings.

The Pirates, Cubs, Nationals, Rays, Dodgers, and Mets all have their home openers. 

Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello will make his second start of the season.

 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

2008 American League Awards

What an interesting year it has been! Here is who MLB Rumors thinks is worthy of 2008 MLB Awards in the American League:

AL MVP: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox (.312 AVG, 29 HR, .390 OBP)

- A controversial pick over Pedroia or Morneau, but Youkilis played a big role in the Red Sox playoff run. He hit .377 with runners in scoring position and made just seven errors playing three positions over the course of the season. 

AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Indians (22-3 W-L, 2.54 ERA, 170 K)

- Leading the league in wins and ERA makes him the obvious choice for the Cy Young. The only thing holding him back is that he is playing for the Indians, who struggled mightily this year. However, Lee was coming off a bad season and came back to dominate nearly every opponent. Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina are up there, but this is Lee's for sure.

AL Rookie of the Year: Alexei Ramirez, White Sox (.288 AVG, 20 HR, .374 AVG w/ RISP)

- While you could argue that Ramirez is not a rookie since he played in Cuba, but many GMs planned on having Ramirez start in Double-A if he had signed with them. All Ramirez needed was a month to adjust and he dominated the rest. He hit for power and average, and held his own wherever the Sox put him on the field. 

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Edwin Jackson, Rays (14-11 W-L, 4.42 ERA, 108 K)

- Jackson is a surprise pick but after losing fifteen games in 2007 and being in the minors for some of 2006, he makes for a great choice. He played a huge role in the Rays playoff run this season and should be rewarded for it.

AL Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, Rays

- Enough said.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Will The Rays Make A Move?

The Rays will enter this offseason with one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball. They have four very capable pitchers waiting in the wings in David Price, Jacob McGee, Wade Davis, and Eduardo Morlan. Trading Edwin Jackson or Andy Sonnanstine for a right fielder or catcher would keep them right at the top of the division, as well open a spot for David Price to shine. Trading Edwin Jackson makes sense because he will bring back more, but Sonnanstine will give the Rays a prospect or two for the future.

Trading Jackson to the Rockies would be a good move. They could make a play for Ryan Spilborghs, who hit .313 with 6 HR and 89 games for the Rockies. He would give the Rays depth in the outfield and a solid bat in the lineup. Other options include Delmon Young, Connor Jackson, Andre Ethier, David DeJesus, and Reed Johnson, among others.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Quick Hits: Price, Santana, De La Cruz, Paulino

Quick Hits:

• Rays top prospect David Price has been sent down to Triple-A Durham, the Tampa Bay Rays announced. Price pitched in five games last season, but the Rays want him to get into a good rhythm in Triple-A before calling him up. Sources say the Rays would like to add Price to the roster, but it would probably have to take an injury or an impressive showing at Triple-A to get him up sooner.
  
• The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Santana will miss the month of April because of a strained ligament in his elbow. While every team in the AL West is looking better than last year, the Angels are still the favorite and losing Santana might not impact them significantly.
• The Padres, in a quest to find quality pitching, traded for Marlins pitcher Eulogo De La Cruz. De La Cruz came over from the Tigers in the Cabrera trade, and has some upside.
• Phillies catcher Chris Coste beat out Ronny Paulino for the back up job, making Paulino expendable. Paulino could hit 10-12 homeruns, making him a possible trade candidate.
  

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rays Sign Burrell

The Rays and Pat Burrell have come to terms on a two year deal worth 16 million dollars. Burrell, who hit .250 with 33 HR with a .367 OBP in 157 games for the Phillies last season, will likely DH and hit sixth for the Rays. This is an excellent signing by the Rays who add a veteran outfielder that puts up better power numbers and is much more durable that new Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley, who signed for two million dollars more annually. Not only that, but he is natural leader in any clubhouse. 

This likely means that Jason Giambi will sign with the Athletics, leaving Adam Dunn to probably land with the Nationals. As for Bobby Abreu, the Mariners and Mets seem like his best options, but a surprise team could always jump in. If the Giants miss out on Manny Ramirez, they could use that money to pursue Abreu, assuming his asking price is down. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Spring Training Day 3

Transactions
- Orioles sign Bedard
- Marlins sign Cabrera
- Dodgers sign Stinnett

Controversies
- Griffey comes clean about hand
- Hudson on his way out
- Zito fixes delivery
- Wood, Prior throw off mound
- Prior unhappy with critism

Injuries
- Randy Johnson to miss start of season (back)
- Dodgers Brad Penny has sprained knee
- Brad Ausmus has shoulder stiffness
- Brandon League day to day (hamstring)
- Jered Weaver out for couple of weeks (shoulder)
- Angels Rodriguez/Escobar day to day
- Nate Robertson missed workouts Friday (foot fungus)
- Chad Qualls experiencing shoulder problems
- Jose Guillen still recovering from Tommy John surgery
- Mark Mulder continues to throw from flat ground
- Brad Lincoln out for two weeks

Rumors
- No rumors to report

Teams that reported
- A's, Blue Jays, Devil Rays, Diamondbacks, Devil Rays, Dodgers, Indians, Mets, Royals, and White Sox.

Highlights from Spring Training

Team by Team Updates from Orlando

Angels: After signing Gary Matthews to a five year deal, the Angels have kept fairly quiet. GM Bill Stoneman arrived late Monday and had minor discussions with a couple different teams. The Angels are tossing names around like Bartolo Colon and Felix Rodriguez in hopes of acquiring a bat. But other than just rumors, there has been no news to report.

Astros: The latest news from the Winter Meetings for the Astros is that Andy Pettitte wants to pitch next year and is leaning towards returning to the Astros. This could influence Roger Clemens decision on whether he wants to return to Boston, New York, Houston, or just retire. The Astros are also discussing a possible trade for Jason Jennings.

Athletics: The A's appear to be the number one team to sign Mike Piazza as their DH. The deal is a two year deal worth 15 million dollars. They are also working on a deal with Alan Embree.

Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are desperately trying to retain Ted Lilly but it appears that the Cubs are the favorite. Lilly has received a four year offer, worth 40 million dollars. "That's just hearsay from our end," Ricciardi said. "I personally talked to Ted Lilly on Saturday and had a great conversation with him. That's really all I can go on." The Blue Jays are also targeting Gil Meche, and are talking with the White Sox about trading Vernon Wells.

Braves: Reports from Orlando are saying that the Braves may look to trade Adam LaRoche and Marcus Giles. However, there are also rumors concerning Andruw Jones as well. It appears that GM John Schuerholz will look to trades before signings.

Brewers: The Brewers have been talking with teams about trading Geoff Jenkins or Kevin Mench, and have heard the Red Sox are interested in acquiring Derrek Turnbow. The Brewers are also interested in signing Kenny Lofton. They also are working a deal with Tony Graffanino who appears to be staying in Milwaukee.

Cardinals: The Cardinals have inked a five year, 65 million dollar deal with Chris Carpenter. The also plan to meet with Jason Schmidt. Other than that, the Cardinals have been relatively quiet.

Cubs: The Cubs have made an offer to Ted Lilly at an estimated 40 million over four years. They are also looking into Jason Schmidt and Gil Meche. They are also looking to trade Jacque Jones, have inquired about Jason Jennings, and may look to sign outfielders Cliff Floyd and Kenny Lofton.

Devil Rays: The Devil Rays main priority is to build their bullpen. However, that has not stopped them from looking to trade Rocco Baldelli, Jorge Cantu, or Carl Crawford. They are also working on a deal to sign Akinori Iwamura.

Diamondbacks: The Dbacks have been very quiet, hoping they could possibly sign Mark Mulder. The have also met with the agents of Keith Foulke.

Dodgers: The Dodgers appear to be interested in Jason Schmidt and have only had few conversations. On Monday, the Dodgers and Red Sox were talking about a trade for Manny Ramirez, but according to Colletti, the deal has a less than "5 percent" chance of getting done. They are close to finalizing a deal with Mike Lieberthal and rookie closer Takashi Saito.

Giants: The Giants have signed numerous players over the past week and have just began to finalize them. They have signed Dave Roberts, Rich Aurilia, Bengie Molina, and have resigned Pedro Feliz. The Giants are looking into signing Ryan Klesko, and have inquired about the Mariners Richie Sexon and the Cubs Jacque Jones.

Indians: Joe Borowski will take a physical either today or tomorrow for the Indians and then he will sign a one year deal. However, they will still look into signing Octavio Dotel or Keith Foulke. The Indians are really focusing on pitching and beefing up their bullpen after signing Dellucci.

Mariners: The Mariners are in hot pursuit of two pitchers. They plan to meet with Jason Schmidt and appear to be the favorites if the Cubs sign Lilly. However, Schmidt has said he wants to win now and has no problem leaving the West Coast. They are also looking to trade for Jason Jennings, but so are several other teams.

Marlins: The Marlins are showing serious interest in acquiring Rocco Baldelli. The Marlins are reluctant to part with pitching, but according to sources, Scott Olsen could get the deal done.

Mets: The Mets were in hot pursuit of Barry Zito but may have to settle for a veteran because of how high Zito's price tag is. Scott Boras is reportedly asking for a six to seven year deal, worth 102 million dollars. The Rangers seem more willing to offer the big deal.

Nationals: The Red Sox and Giants are talking a three way deal with the Nationals concerning Manny Ramirez. They would probably lose Chad Cordero and possibly acquire Noah Lowry. However it is just speculation. The Nationals Ryan Church, Jose Vidro, and Chad Cordero are all drawing interest in other trades.

Orioles: Rodrigo Lopez is on the topic of most general managers list of pitchers. The Mariners, Brewers, and Mets have all inquired about Lopez but no deal appears imminent. The Brewers have offered Kevin Mench but a formal offer will have to be sketched out. The Braves appear interested in Brian Roberts but the Orioles are reluctant to trade him.

Padres: The Padres are closing in on a deal with Greg Maddux. The deal is estimated at a one year deal worth 10 million dollars with an option for one more. They are also interested in Jason Schmidt and Ronnie Belliard.

Phillies: A frustrating off season so far might make a turn for the worst. Pat Burrell is drawing little to know interest and the Phillies continue to struggle to find pitching. Eaton only pitched in 65 innings and pitched okay when he returned. They are looking to Chicago to acquire Freddy Garcia, possibly reuniting Aaron Rowand. The Cubs might also be interested in Aaron Rowand because they are in need of a center fielder.

Pirates: The Pirates are talking with the Braves and Reds about Adam LaRoche and Adam Dunn. They have also inquired about Trot Nixon for right field. None of these deals appear to be finalized soon. The Pirates do have a slight advantage with the overload of pitching. They could acquire a decent hitter for a pitcher or two.

Rangers: The Rangers and Vicente Padilla have agreed to a three year deal, worth 33 million dollars. This will set the minimum for other second tier pitchers like Ted Lilly and Gil Meche. The Rangers also expect to make a serious run for Barry Zito, who is seeking a six year deal, worth 17 million annually.

Red Sox: The Red Sox are close to signing Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew. They also plan to finalize a deal with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Theo Epstein has also set a deadline for when he will stop trying to trade Manny Ramirez. THIS JUST IN: The Red Sox have agreed to a 5 year deal, worth 70 million dollars. I do not see Manny Ramirez being traded because the teams that are pursuing him do not have what the Red Sox want. Or they are not willing to part with what the Red Sox want.

Reds: The Reds have signed a 2 year deal, worth 5 million dollars total with Dave Weathers. Other than Weathers and Gonzalez, that is all the news from the Reds office. Adam Dunn is drawing some interest from teams but no deals have been worked out.

Rockies: The Rockies have signed LaTroy Hawkins and he will be their setup man. Several teams have inquired about Jason Jennings including the Astros, Cubs, Mariners, Mets, Rangers, and Twins. They also have interest in Kenny Lofton and Darin Erstad.

Royals: The Royals have focused on pitching, and have made an offer to Miguel Batista (3/24). They also have put Gil Meche as a top priority but it appears he will either go to the Cubs or Blue Jays.

Tigers: Jeremy Bonderman and Marcus Thames' names have come up in trades but the Tigers do not appear to be interested in trading them. They are interested in trading for Marlins pitcher Renyel Pinto. Pinto, 24, went to the Marlins last year in the Juan Pierre deal. He pitched from the bullpen most of the season.

Twins: The Twins are serious about acquiring Jason Jennings and a deal could get struck by tomorrow. With Liriano out for 2007 and Radke to retire, the Twins are looking for pitching and due to a lack of funds, will have to do it by trade. They are also working a deal to keep Rondell White.

White Sox: White Sox pitcher Brandon McCarthy may start in AAA next year unless they can trade one of their pitchers. Javier Vasquez and Freddy Garcia have both drawn a lot of interest from the Mets, Phillies, and Yankees and it is more than "50 percent" possible that one of them gets traded. The White Sox are also interested in acquiring Vernon Wells but I do not know if they have what it takes to trade him. They also have interest in Aaron Rowand.

Yankees: The Yankees have made an offer to Andy Pettitte worth 15 million for one year. The Yankees and Bernie Williams have also had minor discussions about a deal. They are also close to a deal with Kei Igawa. They have interest in Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, and Freddy Garcia (via trade).

Baldelli Wants To Play Closer To New England

Free agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli, coming off a positive rediognosis, is drawing interest from the Phillies, Reds, Mets, Red Sox, and Rays, among others. However, sources close to Baldelli have informed the Boston Globe that Baldelli prefers to play "closer to New England." The Red Sox, Phillies, and Mets are probably the best options, with the Rays as a dark horse. Baldelli hit .263 with 4 HR in 28 games for the Rays last season, but is a .281 career hitter. 

Baldelli's best fit would be with a team that would use him as a fourth outfielder, but would get him a couple hundred at-bats. The Mets and Phillies are solid picks if that is the case.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rays Like Ensberg

According to DRays Bay, the Rays are moving closer to signing Morgan Ensberg to a minor league deal. Ensberg's best year came in 2005 when he hit .283 with 36 HR in 150 games for the Astros. But since then, he has battled injuries as well as problems at the plate. He has been in Triple-A already, but it is possible he could make the bench for the Rays. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Bradley Meets With Rays

Free agent outfielder Milton Bradley arrived at the Winter Meetings today and went to lunch with his agent and Rays officials, according to Ken Rosenthal. This throws off the idea that the Rays are the third team in the Jake Peavy deal, but we'll see what happens.

About to board my flight, talk to you when I get there.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Trade Winds

Red Sox scouting Braves' Francoeur: Braves GM Frank Wren chose not to comment on a report that the Red Sox were scouting outfielder Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur is hitting .253 with 3 home runs this season, and a lot of local media outlets have been speculating that he could be traded.

Dodgers eyeing Peavy?: The Dodgers are in the market for pitching, despite a pretty strong showing from their pitchers right now. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said that he has been in contact with the Padres, but hasn't spoken to them since Peavy vetoed the trade to the White Sox. One source I spoke to said he fully expects the Dodgers to get in on the Peavy chase in July.

Davis or Washburn to Minnesota: The Diamondbacks will likely shop lefty pitcher Doug Davis as we approach the trade deadline. Davis is 2-6, but has a 3.77 ERA and had four consecutive double-digit seasons before his season was cut short in 2008. Washburn is another option, probably the more likely option because he is already in the AL and is open to a trade to the Twins.  

Nick Johnson to Mets?: Johnson told reporters he would welcome a trade to the Mets, but who wouldn't if you were playing for the crowded Nationals. The Nats have been shopping Johnson for a couple seasons, and now that he is hitting .337 with 4 home runs, it is a good time to trade him. The Red Sox have been linked to them, but nothing appears serious. 

Pirates' Sanchez to Rays?: The Pirates will likely shop Freddy Sanchez at the trade deadline, and the Rays could be a possible fit. Sanchez is a solid fielder and hitter, and could be a long term option for the Rays. With Aki Iwamura out for the season and a club option for 2010, it would make sense that they would pursue him. 

Sanchez to Marlins or Phillies?: Lefty pitcher Jonathan Sanchez could be moved at the right deal, and if they start shopping him now, they could get a good value for him. They need a second baseman. They need a corner outfielder. The Marlins and Phillies have both. Dan Uggla is available.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

MLB Rumors Brother Site

MLB Rumors Correspondent Dale Nakashjima has created a site that's goal is to follow the four new Japanese player through 2007 and beyond. It is called MLB Rumors: Japan's Fab Four which plans to follow Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa, Akinori Iwamura, and Hideki Okajima. I hope you will check it from time to time. It will also talk about the Red Sox, Devil Rays and Yankees, the teams they play for. It was started today, and so far, it looks pretty good. Check it out...

Rays Sign Nelson

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Rays have come to terms with free agent pitcher Joe Nelson on a one year deal worth 1.3 million dollars. Nelson, who was non-tendered by the Marlins, will not only give the Rays bullpen depth, but he will also take a lot of pressure off some of the young guys to produce coming off a big year. While Nelson had his best season with the Marlins, he is an experienced veteran. In 59 games for the Marlins last season, Nelson went 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 60 K.

The Indians and Marlins were also pursuing Nelson.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rays Signed Kennedy

The Tampa Tribune is reporting that the Rays have signed Adam Kennedy to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. The Cardinals are on the hook for Kennedy's 2009 salary, so it costs the Rays nothing to bring him in. He probably won't make the Opening Day roster, but a spot could open up for him during the season if he plays well.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Eli's MLB Rumors Staff

Eli G., CEO/Founder
See About Eli.

Alan O., Editor in Chief
Alan, 42, is a married father of four. The family believes in God, but their cathedral is Tropicana Field. He has been blessed to be able to take his oldest children to Rays games with regularity. They have built many memories together over the course of this miraculous season. He enjoys this site and hopes his contributions will help Eli's MLB Rumors reach the next level.

Will M., League Updates Contributor
Will lives in Ontario, Canada and has been a baseball fan dating back to the early 1990s. He credits Roy Halladay's near no-hitter in 1998 that made him fall in love with baseball. He is a Blue Jays fan at heart, but watches five to seven games from around the league each week.

Stu L., Personality Contributor
Coming Soon!

Nicholas W., League Updates Contributor
Coming Soon!


Barry N., Contributor
Coming Soon!

Patrick D., Contributor
Coming Soon!

Cardinals Extend Wainwright

The Cardinals and pitcher Adam Wainwright have agreed to a four year extension worth with club options for 2012 and 2013. Wainwright is supposedly to be guaranteed fifteen million dollars, and the deal will cover the first years of free agency. Wainwright is just twenty-six, so I think this is a great deal for the Cardinals who lock up their new ace well through his prime years.

Here is what else is making news:

- The Nationals released pitcher John Patterson.

- Orlando Cabrera and the White Sox are not close to any deal.

- The Giants are still looking for an established third baseman.

- Kenny Lofton turned down the Rays.

- Rays looking at Coco Crisp.

That is all for now. Will update through MLB Rumors mobile if necessary.

Eli