Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman told Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times that the club plans to be active in adding at least one reliever and another catcher to use in tandem with Dioner Navarro."We have a list of guys on other teams we have an interest in, and a list of free agents as well," Friedman said. "And depending on how the market evolves on both fronts, it will go a long way toward shaping our thought process. ... We feel like there are a lot of talented names out there."
The Rays probably won't be able to afford the higher-end relievers like Rafael Soriano or Mike Gonzalez, however they could have interest in Danys Baez, according to Friedman. After missing all of 2008 following Tommy John surgery, Baez posted a 4.02 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 59 appearances with the Orioles in 2009. While his strikeout rate fell to a career-low of 5.02 K/9, his career-high 60.9% groundball rate was among the league-leaders. Baez previously pitched with the Rays from 2004-2005.
The Rays will likely have to turn to trades for a catcher since the position is rather thin among the free agents, however they appear open to continue talks with Gregg Zaun, despite declining his $2 million option earlier this month.
Some of the juicier tidbits were buried at the bottom, but probably for good reason. According to Smith, the Rangers and White Sox have shown interest in B.J. Upton while the Mets and Braves have inquired about Carl Crawford. The Rays exercised Crawford's $10 million option for 2010 earlier this month, and remain interested in discussing a contract extension.
Are the Rays perhaps also considering a major refurbishment of that horrible burial mound they call "Tropicana Field" first? Like painting the hideous thing some actual colors or maybe festooning it with Pokemon? Would they consider getting rid of that stupid radio-controlled miniature camera blimp that blunders around in the rafters like a predator drone with acromeglia? I suspect that if their players didn't have to report like a bunch of Eloi to that Morlock dome every day, their incipient depression would dissipate and they could start playing to win at home as enthusiastically as they do on the road.
The real news here is that they won't be non-tendering Navarro.
"Blunders like a predator drone with acromeglia." Lovely image. Mind if I use that, Old Gator?
Take it to your bosom and cherish it; it's yours.
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