Ramirez and Damon finally put pen to paper for the Tampa Bay Rays
It has taken a few weeks, but yesterday Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon finally put pen to paper as the Rays announced the official signing of the two players which bring an interesting twist to the Rays this season.
This is yet another in a long line of Rays ownership’s low risk, high reward signings.
During the signing of the two former Boston Red Sox teammates, Manny Ramirez told reporters, ” Like Johnny said, the pitching is great. Me and Johnny, we could help. We have a lot of experience. I think we could work with the young guys and make them better”.
The signing comes as I explained, with little risk and a huge upside potential. Johnny Damon now can possibly return to the leadoff position, giving the Rays a genuine leadoff bat, and Ramirez comes with some huge potential as finally providing the Rays with a DH bat which will no longer be hovering around the .200 batting average level. While Man-Ram might not blast 30 homeruns at this point in his career, if he can hold his batting average around .280 and hit 20 homeruns, he will be more productive in the long run than Carlos Pena was last season.
These two are interesting signings, and as many Rays fans were getting ready to write the Rays fans off for the 2011 season, the addition of these two veterans could make the 2011 season very, very interesting. The signing of these two are drawing some interest from baseball observers around the league. Bryan Douglass chimed in at Gunaxin Sports. Bryan always adds a very interesting take on the latest in the world of sports. You can read his take right here.
Tampa Bay Rays continue to build towards the future
Tampa Bay Rays fans knew this season, several key players were going to leave through free agency or trades. Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena departed to sign with other teams. P Joaquin Benoit is now a member of the White Sox. Despite taking some short term hits, the Tampa Bay Rays have made some pretty shrewd moves and continue to build towards the future.
The Matt Garza trade brought five players that should contribute with in a few years. And yesterday it was reported that two Tampa Bay Rays free agents finally signed. RP Chad Qualls signed a one year deal with the san Diego Padres worth $2 million dollars for one season. In return the Rays will get a compensatory sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of this years MLB draft.
Last evening, news broke that the New York Yankees have finally signed RP Rafael Soriano, one of the highest remaining free agents of the offseason. Soriano’s contract is a remarkable 3 year $35 million dollars. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said last week that the team would not mortgage the future by signing Soriano, despite Soriano stating he would be willing to accept a set up role with the club. This just shows how you cannot take anything a team spokesman says at face value. In return for Soriano, the Rays will now have the 31st pick in the first round in this year’s draft as compensation for losing the closer who recorded 45 saves for the Rays last season.
And for those Rays fans who wanted the club to retain all of these players, here is a staggering figure for you, of the 9 Rays free agents which have signed contracts, those contracts total 19 years of duration and the full value of those contracts are worth a staggering $215 million dollars. And that figure does not include the signings of Grant Balfour, Willy Aybar and Lance Cormier as of yet.
I feel that the Rays have done the best that they could do given the circumstances and I seriously doubt the moves are finished. I have faith that the front office understands what it is doing. The Garza trade allowed a spot on the roster for Jeremy Hellickson, a move that was overdue. These were a series of wise moves for the Rays that are putting together a team that might make another run in 2012 or 2013. However, I am not ruling 2011 out. This is still going to be a very competitive team with one of the best young starting pitching staffs in baseball.
I realize that some Rays fans are having flashbacks to the days of old and are thinking that 2011 is going to be completely lost, the team will be lucky to win 75 games this year. This is not the Rays team of old, have some faith in the moves of the front office and the young talent that this team has groomed. I can easily understand the mindset of what some long time Rays fans must be thinking, I’m also a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans and after a 3-13 season in 2009, thoughts of the Hugh Culverhouse days flashed into my head. However, look at the season the Buccaneers had this year with very young talent, in a season when not very many analysts predicted them to win more than 6 games.
What are your “Best Rays Moments of 2010″
With only a few more day till we say goodbye to another year, I’d like to reflect on 2010 Rays moments! There are many reasons this past year was fantastic! I really thought 08′ couldn’t be matched. Something inside me says, it’s just gonna keep getting better.
One of the surprising revelations for me was the die hard devotion to the Rays. Whether people agreed… agreed to disagree. The love for the Rays was there. I witnessed it. I saw it first hand!
The never ending talks of our fan base, stadium, the chatter in general, speaks for itself. Someone once told me there’s no such thing as bad publicity (slightly disagree). In general, The Rays are now being talked about. Which is an accomplishment in itself. Especially considering we were once the worst team in baseball! We’ve come a long way!
The Rays and Joe Maddon have so much to be proud of, and I’m proud to be a Rays fan!
What was your best Rays memory of 2010?
Was it the beginning?
Spring Training?
A favorite player meeting?
Opening Day?
Matt Garza’s No No?
Reid Brignac’s clutch homer in 11th inning?
Winning the AL east?
Maddon’s classic ejections?
MFIKY?
The BRayser?
A game that meant alot to you or your family?
The very cool plaid?
A special Rays romance?
Maybe even the Carlos toothbrush holder?
Let’s reminisce about the 2010 Rays. Whatever your moment was I’d love to know … I can’t wait to tell you all about mine!
Ciao for now! Jenny
Former Rays 1B Carlos Pena signs with Chicago Cubs
[picappgallerysingle id="9459039"]
YahooSports is reporting that former Tampa Bay Rays 1B Carlos Pena has agreed to a 1 year contract with the Chicago Cubs. The contract is worth a reported $10 million dollars. Last season Pena struggled at the plate while with the Tampa Bay Rays. Pena batted .196, hit 28 home runs and drove in 84 runs.
The Chicago Cubs were in need of some power after hitting only 149 homers as a team last season. When the wind is blowing out at Wrigley, Pena will be a monster. Good luck to Carlos, his inconsistency will not be missed.
Carlos Pena and the Cubs
Free agent, Carlos Pena is said to be the Cubs next first baseman. Word is Pena and the Cubs agreed to a one-year $10 million deal, according to MLB.com, which first reported the two sides were close. The Cubs seem focused on adding a left-handed-hitting first baseman.
Sources say General manager Jim Hendry has talked to Pena’s agent, Scott Boras, several times since arriving in Orlando. The Cubs continued discussions with representatives for Pena, late Tuesday. We should expect to hear more early Wednesday. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman tweeted late Tuesday that the “deal is done.”
I believe Pena was one of the Rays staples. I hate to see him go. Carlos is a class act. He brought a lot to Tampa Bay and the Rays clubhouse.
With Winter Meetings in full swing, tons of lobby rumors are to be expected. This year it seems to sting a bit more. I’ve been hearing constant talks about Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett, even Garza’s name mentioned (Please leave our bullpen alone).
The amount of key players leaving seem to be rising. It’s hard to believe anything is a done deal, until I see the presser myself. I’m really looking forward to seeing who the Rays add to our roster for 2011. So many questions to be answered… I’d like for this part of my ongoing relationship with the Rays to be over. I don’t like saying goodbye. Especially to someone like veteran Carlos Pena. Wherever he may end up, I wish him the best. As always I have faith in the skipper, Joe Maddon and the Rays front office.
Ciao ~ Jenny
