Archive for the ‘D-Rays’ Category

Rays hoping to get Jason Bay

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

The Rays are again deep into discussions with the Pirates over a deal that would bring outfielder Jason Bay to Tampa Bay, according to major-league sources.

Shortstop Reid Brignac and right-hander Jeff Niemann are among the players the Rays have offered, sources say, but the Pirates are looking to replace Niemann with another pitcher while adding other prospects.

Bay, sought by the Red Sox in the proposed Manny Ramirez blockbuster, would give the Rays the impact hitter they are seeking, a right-handed threat who likely would play right field.

The addition of Brignac by the Pirates would lead to the eventual departure of shortstop Jack Wilson, who is earning $6.5 million this season and $7.25 million next season with an $8.4 million club option for 2010.

The Dodgers attempted to trade for Wilson earlier this month, but the talks failed to progress and have failed to revive.

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Rays after Jason Bay?

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

The Rays are trying to trade for an impact player of any kind. Pirates left fielder Jason Bay would qualify, but whether the two teams can agree on a trade remains to be seen.

The Pirates, heavily criticized within the industry for their four-player return for outfielder Xavier Nady and left-handed reliever Damaso Marte, want “an appropriate return for an All-Star caliber left fielder,” according to a source with knowledge of the club’s thinking.

The Rays are deep enough in prospects to fulfill the Pirates’ wishes, and Bay would appeal to them because of his affordability at $5.75 million this season and $7.5 million next season.

The Braves believed they were close to completing a 4-for-1 trade for Bay last week, sources say, but the talks collapsed, reportedly because of interference from Pirates’ ownership.

The Pirates, however, contend that the package from the Braves wasn’t strong enough for them to move forward at that time.

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Rays give ‘07 AL strikeout king big raise

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir agreed Wednesday to a $28.5 million, three-year extension through 2011, a deal with a club option that could raise the contract’s value to $39.5 million over four seasons. The 2007 AL strikeout champion is 36-30 with a 3.63 ERA in 100 major league appearances, including 99 starts. He began this season on the 15-day disabled list after straining his left elbow, but returned to the rotation on May 4 and is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts.

The 24-year-old, 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA last season, was an All-Star in 2006. He is Tampa Bay’s career leader in wins, strikeouts, starts and innings pitched. Kazmir is earning $3,785,000 this season, and would have been eligible for free agency after the 2010 season. He gets $6 million in 2009, $8 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011. Tampa Bay’s 2012 option is for $13.5 million with a $2.5 million buyout. Kazmir gets the use of a luxury suite for five home games each year, and he would receive am $800,000 the first time he’s traded. He will contribute $75,000 annually to the Rays Baseball Foundation in 2009 and 2010, $100,000 in 2011 and, if the option is exercised, an additional $100,000 in 2012.

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Rays, Percival near 2-year, $8M deal

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

Six months ago, Troy Percival was out of baseball. Now, he is on the verge of signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Rays, according to major-league sources. The deal will contain a series of escalators that could push the total value of the package to more than $10 million, sources say.

Percival, 38, is joining the Rays for two reasons — the chance to close and the opportunity to reunite with manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels’ bench coach when Percival was the team’s star closer.

The Yankees were willing to pay Percival a higher salary, sources say, but they wanted him as a set-up man for closer Mariano Rivera.

The Brewers, Giants, A’s and Blue Jays also expressed interest in Percival, who pitched effectively with the Cardinals last season after missing nearly a year and a half with a right-forearm injury.

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Reds acquire Cantu from Devil Rays

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Jorge Cantu, a minor leaguer and cash from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for reliever Brian Shackelford, a minor league pitcher and future considerations on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Cantu had played out his welcome in Tampa Bay after setting the Devil Rays’ single-season club record in 2005 with 117 RBIs with 28 home runs while hitting .286. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player that season. Last season, he hit .249 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs, and he hit .207 in 25 games with the Devil Rays this year. He was sent to the minors on July 19 and said at the time he expected he’d played his last game for Tampa Bay.
Shackelford spent parts of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Reds. He was 0-5 in 41 relief appearances with Louisville this season. Tampa Bay also received minor league right-hander Calvin Medlock, who was a combined 4-3 in 42 relief appearances with Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga.

The Reds also received outfielder Shaun Cumberland, who was hitting .246 with six home runs and 34 RBI for Double-A Montgomery. Cumberland was assigned to Chattanooga.

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Astros, Devil Rays make trade

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

Houston Astros acquired Ty Wigginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturday for relief pitcher Dan Wheeler. Wigginton was hitting .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games this season. Last year, he had a career-high 24 homers and 79 RBIs. Since Wigginton isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2009 season, the trade could signal the end of Morgan Ensberg’s career in Houston.

Wheeler (1-4, 5.07 ERA) leads the Astros with 11 saves, but has blown four this season. Wheeler had a 2.41 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 159 innings over the previous three seasons.

Earlier Saturday, Tampa Bay traded for minor league reliever Brian Shackelford from Cincinnati, and sent down struggling reliever Shawn Camp. On Friday they added reliever Grant Balfour in a trade with the Brewers.

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Devil Rays sign Japanese infielder Iwamura

Saturday, December 16th, 2006

Infielder Akinori Iwamura became the second Japanese star to land in the major leagues in as many days when he agreed Friday to a $7.7 million, three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The Devil Rays submitted a winning bid of $4.55 million for rights to negotiate with the six-time Gold Glove third baseman and had until midnight EST Friday to reach a contract agreement or Iwamura’s rights would have reverted to his Japanese League team, the Yakult Swallows.

Iwamura will earn $1.8 million in next year, $2.4 million in 2008 and $3.25 million in 2009, and the Devil Rays have a 2010 option at $4.25 million with a $250,000 buyout. The 2010 salary could increase to $5.25 million and the buyout to $750,000 based on plate appearances in the first three seasons. Counting the posting fee and guaranteed money, Tampa Bay’s total investment is $12.25 million.

The power-hitting infielder batted .311 with 32 homers and 77 RBI’s with Yakult last season. He hit at least 30 homers each of the past three years, including a career-high 44 in 2004. Iwamura, who hit 188 homers in eight seasons with Yakult, also was the starting third baseman for Japan in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. He batted .389 in six games to help his team win the tournament.

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Astros get Huff from Tampa Bay

Wednesday, July 12th, 2006

The Houston Astros acquired third baseman Aubrey Huff from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for two minor league prospects Wednesday, hoping Huff can help revive the Astros’ struggling offense.

The 30-year-old Huff, who went to high school and junior college in Texas, hit .283 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 63 games for the Devil Rays this season. He has been the subject of trade speculation each of the past three years.

Houston will pay $1.4 million of the $3 million that remains on the final year of Huff’s contract. Tampa Bay will pay the rest, Purpura said. The Devil Rays get right-hander Mitch Talbot and infielder Ben Zobrist from the Astros’ system. Both players will report to Double-A Montgomery.

To make room for Huff, Houston will send outfielder Jason Lane to Triple-A Round Rock.

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Dodgers, Devil Rays Swap Catchers, Pitchers

Tuesday, June 27th, 2006

The Dodgers have acquired left-hander Mark Hendrickson and catcher Toby Hall from the Devil Rays for right-hander Jae Seo, catcher Dioner Navarro and a player to be named.

Hendrickson, 4-8 with a 3.81 ERA, joins a rotation that has featured only two consistent starters, right-handers Derek Lowe and Brad Penny.

Seo, 2-4 with a 5.78 ERA, was dropped from the Dodgers’ rotation in May and has been pitching out of the bullpen. The Devil Rays could keep Seo — he is not be eligible for arbitration until after this season — or spin him to another club. The Mets have shown interest in re-acquiring Seo, 29, whom they traded to the Dodgers along with reliever Tim Hamulack last January for relievers Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll.

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