TAMPA BAY RAYS 2012
For 2011 Opening Day roster, click HERE. For End-of-Season roster, click HERE.
*Players on the 40-man roster: BOLD.
*Players who are injured: +
*Players who are Out of Options: ##
*Baseball America '12 pre-season prospect rankings: BLUE #
*Baseball Prospectus '12 pre-season prospect rankings: GREEN #
•Durham (AAA)/ Montgomery (AA)
•Charlotte (Hi-A)/ Bowling Green (Lo-A)/ Rookie Levels
'MLBDepthCharts Magazine' includes this roster projection feature but includes additional info, such as player age, 2011 level and stats, 2012 salary and contract info in an easy-to-read, printer-friendly pdf file and excel spreadsheet.
*40-man roster total (40)
*Projected 2012 Payroll: est. 63,00,000 according to MLBDC Magazine
OPENING DAY ROSTER (*indicates left-handed batter **indicates switch-hitter)
Starting Lineup (Click HERE to see last 7 lineups)
1 CF Desmond Jennings
2 RF Ben Zobrist**
3 3B Evan Longoria
4 DH Jeff Keppinger
5 SS Sean Rodriguez
6 1B Carlos Peña*
7 2B Elliot Johnson** ##
8 C Jose Molina
9 LF Matt Joyce* ##
Bench
C Jose Lobaton** ##
C/1B/OF Stephen Vogt* BA#22
1B/OF Luke Scott*
SS Reid Brignac*
Starting Rotation
1 RHP James Shields
2 LHP David Price
3 RHP Jeremy Hellickson
4 LHP Matt Moore BA#1 BP#1
5 RHP Jeff Niemann ##
Bullpen
CL RHP Joel Peralta
SU LHP Jake McGee ##
SU RHP Fernando Rodney
MID RHP Wade Davis
MID LHP J.P. Howell
MID RHP Josh Lueke
LR RHP Burke Badenhop
Disabled List
Position Players
C Robinson Chirinos + UPDATE 4/4 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 26th (concussion)
OF Sam Fuld* ## + UPDATE 4/4 - placed on 15-Day DL (wrist surgery); out 4-5 months
CF B.J. Upton + UPDATE 4/4 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 26th (back soreness)
Pitchers
RHP Kyle Farnsworth + UPDATE 4/5 - placed on 15-Day DL (elbow soreness)
Restricted List
*RHP Matt Bush BA#19 UPDATE 3/25 - not expected to play for the organization again after DUI arrest UPDATE 3/30 - placed on Restricted List
Optioned to Minors
Position Players
OF Brandon Guyer BA#11 BP#14
Pitchers
RHP Chris Archer BA#3 BP#8
RHP Matt Bush BA#19
OF Brandon Guyer BA#11 BP#14
Pitchers
RHP Chris Archer BA#3 BP#8
RHP Matt Bush BA#19
LHP Alex Torres BA#6 BP#4
Major League Free Agents
Position Players
C Kelly Shoppach (12/13: signed w/BOS)
1B Casey Kotchman* (2/2: signed w/CLE)
Pitchers
Minor League Free Agents
Position Players
1B Dan Johnson* (2/1: signed w/CWS)
IF J.J. Furmaniak
IF Daniel Mayora
IF Ray Olmedo (12/2: signed w/CWS)
OF Matt Carson (11/17: signed w/MIN)
OF John Matulia*
Pitchers
RHP Brian Baker (12/9: signed w/MIL)
RHP Joe Bateman
RHP Lance Cormier
RHP Rob Delaney (1/4: signed w/MIA)
RHP Mike Ekstrom (12/16: signed w/COL)
RHP Deivis Mavarez
RHP Paul Phillips
RHP Adam Russell (11/22: signed w/ATL)
Elected Free Agency/Traded
•C John Jaso* UPDATE 11/27 - traded to Seattle
•IF/OF Russ Canzler UPDATE 1/27 - DFA'd UPDATE 1/31 - traded to Cleveland
•OF Justin Ruggiano UPDATE 1/24 - DFA'd UPDATE 1/30 - cleared waivers and elected free agency UPDATE 2/6 - signed to minor league deal
TAMPA BAY RAYS
OFFSEASON PREVIEW posted 10/5/2011
Last offseason, Rays GM Andrew Friedman had a seemingly impossible task of re-building a bullpen from scratch after losing virtually the entire group to free agency. On top of that, he didn't have a lot of payroll space to make it happen. He spent $2.6 million on closer Kyle Farnsworth and less than a $1 million on Joel Peralta. Both pitchers played an important role in the Rays' successful 91-win season that led to a playoff berth. Heading into 2012, Farnsworth can be retained for just over $3 million and Peralta should also make a few million in his final year of arbitration. Still a very good bargain. The task of improving their bullpen should be much less daunting this time around.
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Peralta was a free agent bargain at $900K.
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.
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Internally, the bullpen could be strengthened by virtue of the team's amazingly deep starting rotation, led by David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, and James Shields. Is there any way they don't break camp without lefty Matt Moore, who might already have the best stuff of anyone in the rotation? Alex Cobb also proved to be a nice option as a possible #5 starter. The addition of Cobb and Moore to the 2012 rotation could mean that Wade Davis and/or Jeff Niemann will shift to the bullpen if they're not traded this offseason. Both are coming off of solid seasons so they'll have plenty of trade value with so many teams looking for starting pitching. Shields has more value than either of them so don't rule him out of a possible offseason trade either.
The Rays will once again go into the offseason with Dan Johnson as their only option at first base but that figures to change by the time Spring Training begins. Casey Kotchman was 'Plan B' last season after he signed a minor league deal in January. He made it to the big leagues by the second week of the regular season and locked up the starting job soon after. The 28 year-old and once highly-touted prospect, who had been considered a bust, came through with a terrific season (.306 BA, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 48 BB in 146 games). Now a free agent, Kotchman may be out of the Rays' price range. Expect them to do what they can to re-sign Kotchman unless they think they can acquire a major league ready first baseman via trade.
The B.J. Upton trade rumors figure to pick up again this winter. Unless they can bring in another bat or two to fill the corner outfield hole that it would create, they may be content with holding on to him for 2012. Desmond Jennings is very capable of moving over to center field to replace Upton but the Rays would then probably be in the market for a corner outfielder, as well as a designated hitter and first baseman. With chips like Upton, Shields, Davis, and Niemann, the Rays could find themselves an impact bat or two on the trade market.
Shortstop and catcher are two other areas of need after Reid Brignac and John Jaso each regressed in 2011. Sean Rodriguez, as he proved in the last two games of the ALDS, is a hard-nosed ballplayer who deserves to play on a semi-regular basis. But he's probably a better fit in a utility role rather than an everyday shortstop. Tim Beckham, the #1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, had a solid year (.736 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A) but he's likely another year away from becoming a big league shortstop, as is an even more highly-regarded shortstop prospect, Hak-Ju Lee.
•UPDATE 10/31 - Farnsworth had his club option exercised.
•UPDATE 11/28 - Jaso was traded to Seattle and Jose Molina was signed to a one-year deal. The 36 year-old is a career backup but he could be in line for significant playing time unless the Rays can acquire another catcher before the season.
Offseason Needs: First Baseman
Potential Position Battles: TBD
Posts
24 comments:
Good job. Dan Johnson has declined assignment to Durham and is now a free agent.
I think it possible that Guyer will be in RF and Joyce the DH, but my guess is the Rays want Joyce to stay in RF and have Guyer on the bench as the 4th outfielder. That would signing a DH.
I also am not convinced the Rays are comfortable with Canzler as the regular first baseman. He put up good numbers at Durham, but I don't think the scouts are very high on him.
But given what we know right now, your projections are certainly reasonable.
Agreed on all points. The projections are based on 'if the season started today' so plugging in Guyer and Canzler is based on necessity. Finding a first baseman and DH/corner OF is a high priority for the Rays.
I'd get Damon back for small money. He won a World Series with the other two AL East powers, why couldn't it happen in Tampa?
Not quite sure Damon would be their first choice but he might be back when it's all said and done.
Shields and Ashley to the Reds for Alonso, Grandal, Frazier or Volquez, and Fisher.
The Reds get their ace and a catcher who can take Grandal's spot in LOU and be a possible emergency replacement incase Mesoraco fails. Rays get a 1B, hopefully future C'er, and either a super utility type and 1 bullpen arm or 2 bullpen arms.
Who do you think hangs up?
Very tempting for the Rays but here's where they might hesitate. Giving up three years (3 yr, $28M remaining on deal) of a top-of-the-rotation starter, they are very likely asking for a can't-miss impact 1B or OF in return. Not everyone is sold on Alonso but if the Rays think he is that type of hitter, then they would likely pull the trigger. I think it really comes down to what they think of him. The fact that Grandal and Alonso were both born in Cuba and went to college at the University of Miami also has to have some appeal.
Could Zobrist slide over to 1B for 2012?
His versatility gives them options but I think he'll stay at 2B. There isn't much available at 2B on the free agent market and I don't think they'd want to slide Sean Rodriguez over to play 2B permanently after Reid Brignac's disappointing season. There are a few 1B still available on the free agent market (Kotchman, Peña, Lee) that could end up there. There's also a chance they can trade for a 1B (Yonder Alonso) given their starting pitching depth. So yes, he can slide over to 1B but I doubt they'd do that.
Luke Scott would be an ideal Dh for about 4.5 mil.
joyce ain't gonna DH, guyer a 4th OF, they need to find a DH, their players are to athletic
Right. I think they'll end up with a DH and 1B. Might be Damon and Kotchman again. That would put Joyce in RF and Guyer on the bench or AAA.
Note that Shoppach has now signed with Boston.
Here's a crazy thought, Brandon Guyer to the Royals for first base prospect Clint Robinson. Guyer could compete with Lorenzo Cain for the Royals center field job, while Robinson can step in at first base for the Rays. Yeah its a wild idea, but hey, speculation is what makes baseball exciting this time of year.
Hand down, the best rotation top to bottom in the league IMO
Where's the market for Kotchman? He lacks power, but he is a dazzling fielder who can hit over .300. Tampa, and other teams, need that offense.
Tampa Bay and Cleveland are logical landing spots for Kotchman, but I'm guessing neither team wants to pay what he's asking for after just one good year. Have to think one of those teams eventually ends up with Kotchman and one with Carlos Peña. Their asking prices have to come down eventually, if they haven't already.
McGee or Cobb to SD for Bartlett?
I think Cobb would make more sense to trade. McGee has the potential to be a dominant reliever. I would do a swap with the White Sox; Wade Davis, Tim Beckham, and Robinson Chirinos for Alexi Ramirez, Simon Castro, and Tyler Flowers.
Don't think anyone's looking to acquire Bartlett and his $5.5M for 2012 (and potential $5.5M more in 2013 if he reaches certain # of PA's) after he struggled last season. At least they're not looking to give up anything of value for him. Cobb has value as a potential #4 starter, McGee as a potential setup man or maybe even future closer.
If Rodriguez doesn't hit, does Keppinger start at SS?
His defense is supposedly very, very bad at SS. It's Rodriguez vs Brignac for the starting job. Or maybe they share the role. Keppinger looks like a 2B option vs LHP.
what's going on with Niemann and his arbitration stuff?
He's asking for $3.2M. Team is offering $2.75M. Arbitration cases will be heard in the next few weeks.
Deeper lineup than they have had maybe ever
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