[Update] The jersey has already been pulled from the website, which is silly. The cat is out of the bag and now all MLB and the Rays are doing is costing themselves money. After the new jersey was linked here, several other sites, including The St. Pete Times, linked to the MLB Shop. Most of the people that click through to the jersey are Rays fans and all are potential customers. There will be no reason to link back to the shop after today.

[1:46pm] We’ve been sitting on this for a while. But now that MLB.com has them on sale, we guess it is ok to tell you that the Rays will be introducing a new alternate jersey in 2010 (thanks Josh).

Hello powder blue. And like the other three jerseys, this one does not say “Tampa Bay” across the front. In fact, not only does it not say “Tampa Bay,” but the “Rays” logo is now much larger ginormous.

Also notice that there is no fish patch on the sleeve. Let’s face it, this ownership group wants nothing to do with the “Devil Rays” past, which leaves us wondering why they didn’t just scrap the “Devil Rays” altogether and start fresh with a new logo.

Last week, the Rays announced an agreement with The Mosaic Company to rename the Rays spring training park in Charlotte. In the press release, the Rays said they were looking for a partner “with a strong presence in our region and a demonstrated commitment to local communities…The Mosaic Company has an exceptional track record of community engagement.”

Well, that “community engagement” may include destroying local wetlands and some in the community are not happy with the partnership.

“It’s an outrageous slap in the face,” says longtime Charlotte County Commissioner Adam Cummings. “For years we fought Mosaic’s efforts to expand strip mining in the Peace River Basin. We spent $12 million doing it. Now the Tampa Bay Rays want to put the Mosaic name on our sports center. It’s as if Mosaic is going to get the naming rights for Florida Field and change its name from the ‘Swamp’ to the ‘Clay Pit’ because that is what they do to natural wetlands.”

According The Mosaic Company’s website, they are “the world’s leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash, two of the primary nutrients required to grow the food the world needs.

So Mosaic produces the two of the main ingredients in fertilizer that is then used to help grow crops in areas that otherwise might not be able. But they do this at the cost of strip mining in the Charlotte area and possibly damaging local wetlands.

Fair or foul? We don’t know, but if the voices behind this story get any louder, the Rays could have second-thoughts on their new partnership.

The Rays short-season affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades have introduced a new blog, The Renegades Rundown…

Here you’ll get a glimpse into what the Renegades are doing on and off the field. By keeping up with the blog you’ll get the latest news regarding players, schedules, promotions, events, and more! This will be your one-stop shop for all things Renegades!

The blog is part of a new effort by the ‘Gades to be more active in social media. An effort that includes a very active Twitter account (@HVRenegades). And the voice behind the new fronts is Megan Ogulnick, the ‘Gades manger of new media.

As much as minor league teams depend on promotion, we are amazed that so few teams are this active in new media and these new ways of reaching out to current and potential fans.

So, if you have a moment, go on over and welcome Megan to the organization.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

• David Price spoke to a Nashville paper about life in the spotlight, his charity work and money, including a bizarre story about some overaggressive autograph seekers. [Nashville News]
• Marc Topkin hears that Pat Burrell “has been working out extensively at the Athletes’ Performance Institute in Arizona, specifically strengthening his back, and is in tremendous shape.” [St. Pete Times]
• Devil Rays blast from the past…Joel Guzman has signed a minor league deal with the Orioles. [Baltimore Sun]
• Durham manager Charlie Montoyo was named sports person of the year during the Greater Raleigh Sports Council’s “Evening of Champions.” [Carolina Newswire via Biscuit Crumbs]

Two years ago on Rays Index we learned that Willy Aybar had been jailed in the Dominican Republic on Domestic Abuse charges. Of course, those charges disappeared about as fast as a pizza in the same room as Dioner Navarro and Pat Burrell.

Willy Aybar Jailed In D.R.; Longoria’s Fate Should Not Be Affected [Rays Index]

Let’s take a moment and update the 40-man roster and the opening day payroll.

40-Man Roster Projection (notes and explanations on the projection can be found following the roster)…

Notes on the 40-man roster projection

• Ages are as of today. Shaded players are projected to be on the 40-man roster, but not on the 25-man roster. Italicized players are currently on the 40-man roster but are not projected to be on the roster in ‘10.
• The Rays now have 38 players on the 40-man roster. Elliot Johnson is out of minor league options and we don’t see a spot on the big league roster for him. Barring an injury to one of the big leaguers, we expect Johnson to be removed from the 40-man roster at some point.
• The Rays had 10 players that were arbitration-eligible this off-season. The Rays non-tendered Gabe Gross and avoided arbitration with all of the rest except BJ Upton. His salary will be determined by an arbitrator and will either be $3.0 million or $3.3 million.
• Last season, the opening day payroll was $63.3 million, which was 25th out of 30 teams. With the addition of Rafael Soriano and the decision to keep Dioner Navarro (for now) the opening day payroll projects to be $72.1 million. That would have ranked 20th last year.
• Of the $72.1 million, more than half ($36.4m) is tied up in four players (Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Pat Burrell, Rafael Soriano).

(1) Based only on players currently within the organization and will be updated when trades are consumated and free agents are signed.
(2) Once a player is added to the 40-man roster, the team can ‘option’ the player to the minors 3 times. A team cannot be charged with using more than one option in a given season even if a player is demoted to the minors several times that year. An option is not used if a player is added to the 40-man roster midseason unless he is sent back to the minors at some point. An option is only used if a player spends more than 20 days in the minors while on the 40-man roster. A player with more than 5 years experience can refuse a minor league assignment, so we list those players as having no options.
(3) Years remaining under control of franchise before free agency eligibility. A player can become a free agent after 6 years of Major League service time.
(4) First, second and third year players will have their salaries determined by the team, but will fall close to the major league minimum which is $400K in ‘10. Minor leaguers on the 40-man for the first time make $33,750 and second-year players (or players with at least 1 day of major league experience) make twice that amount. We are not including signing bonuses or incentives.
* Players with at least 3 years since their big league debut. These players must clear optional waivers in order to be demoted to the minors even if they have options remaining.

Business Week ranked the “Power 100″ athletes. This list is based on achievements on the field as well as ability to promote products and services off the field. The Rays very own Evan Longoria comes in at #57…

Longoria is one of just two male athletes on the list not to bring in at least seven figures (he can thank the MLB pay scale for that), yet many consider the second-year pro to be the best at his position—topping even fellow power athletes A-Rod and David Wright. Combined with his marketable face, that should spell big bucks down the road.

In addition to Wilson gloves, Longoria recently became the coverboy for 2K Sports newest version of their popular baseball game, “MLB 2K10.” And not sure if you guys noticed, but Longoria’s shoes and batting gloves have pretty little swooshes on them. Nike commercials can’t be too far away.

#58. Not bad. Then again, #57 is Lorena Ochoa.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

• The Rays claimed RHP Mike Ekstrom off waivers.  Ekstrom made 20 appearances for the Padres the past two seasons and has a 6.75 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 28.0 innings. He was a 12th round pick in 2004 by the Padres.
• The Rays announced a deal with The Mosaic Company to rename their spring training park in Charlotte. It will now be called Mosaic Field at Charlotte Sports Park for the next 15 years.
• The Minaret Online spoke with Andy Freed about his broadcasting career and how he ended up in the Rays radio booth. [The Manaret Online]
• The Rays will make five appearances on Fox national broadcasts this season. [The Heater]

Evan Longoria may be the most valuable player in baseball. A lot of that has to do with the contract he signed two weeks into his big league career. A contract that will pay him less in the next six years (~$28 million) than Alex Rodriguez will make in 2010 ($32 million).

But that contract is so good for the Rays, that it could lead to a scenario in which the Rays are forced to trade Longoria before the contract expires.

The flip side to the contract being valuable to the team, is that it is not so much to the player. The Hardball Times calls Dirtbag’s contract “the worst contract in baseball.”

So the question bothering me is this: What in the world was Longoria thinking? From what point of view was getting just $17.5 million for his entire time under club control an acceptable decision? And what possessed him to give the Rays those options? Looking back, his deal just puzzles me. The easy answer, of course, is risk management. Lock in that one big payday so that, even in the event of a career-ending injury, you’re good to go. I get it. But isn’t that what Lloyd’s of London is for?

Of course, a injury could still happen, but in reality, how often do position players experience injuries that threaten their career or earning potential? For hitters, it is usually a matter of talent, and Longo has oodles of it.

What Longoria was thinking is no longer relevant. The important question now is: Will Longoria’s contract live to see the last 2-3 years? Might Longoria at some point sign with a real agent and demand to renegotiate his contract? It is rare in baseball, but that is because most baseball players are overpaid towards the end of their respective deals.

If Longoria demands to renegotiate, the Rays may be force to trade him to a team that is willing to give him more money. So while we all assume that the Rays are set at the hot corner for the next seven years, that might not necessarily be true.

The Red Sox have made a concerted effort this off-season to improve their run prevention. John Tomase of the Boston Herald says the Red Sox philosophical change can be traced back to a 14-5 loss to the Rays back in May.

The 14-5 defeat that afternoon against the Rays was mostly characterized as a poor showing from starter Jon Lester, who served up a two-run homer to Evan Longoria in the first inning and was chased in the fifth after allowing a career-high eight runs on 10 hits…The Sox knew better than to pin the loss on Lester. They knew that while the lefty hadn’t pitched his best, he didn’t lose that game. The gloves did.

Yikes. So now it is a $120 million payroll, one of the top farm systems in baseball and they now understand the value of run prevention.

Meanwhile, the Orioles are now implementing a plan similar to the one used by the Rays to compete in the AL East (thanks Amanda).

The Rays are screwed.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

• The Rays have brought back Heath Phillips on a minor-league deal. Phillips, who made six appearances with the White Sox in 2007, was in the Rays organization in 2008, making 3 starts for Durham. He spent the 2009 season with the Royals’ triple-A club, making 25 starts and posting a 4.99 ERA.
• Wade Townsend has signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays. [Rays Prospects via Twitter]
• Joe Nelson, the Vulcan Tripod, has signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox. [WEEI]
• Most have picked the Rangers, but for the third time in four years, the Rays have the top organizational talent according to Baseball America and their just-released “Prospect Handbook.” Marc Topkin also provides their list of the top 31 prospects. [The Heater]
• It is behind the pay wall, but Buster Olney looks at the Rays next wave of prospects and how important they are to the Rays continued success. [ESPN Insider]
• Rob Neyer discusses the Rays top prospects and how it is loaded with pitchers. Some of whom could be moved for a catcher, something sorely lacking in the system. [ESPN]
• One ranking in which the Rays are ahead of the Red Sox, is team nicknames. Of course, that is not saying much as the Sox are last and the Rays come in at #24. [The Hardball Times]
• The guy that wants to bring a baseball team to Orlando has dropped out of his congressional race to concentrate on his effort to bring a team to Orlando. [Shadow of the Stadium]

In the science community, a meta-analysis is what we do when we don’t want to do any work ourselves and instead want to take the work of a bunch of other people, tease the data a little, draw some conclusions that nobody had noticed before, and then pawn it off as our own.

Presenting the 2010 Tampa Bay Rays Top Prospects Meta-Analysis.

Notes on how the rankings were constructed are found at the bottom of this post. Notes on the final rankings can be found after the table…

A few notes on the final rankings…

• Last year, there were only two players (David Price, Wade Davis) in the top 5 of every list. This year, the top three are unanimous, although there is disagreement about the exact order. Nobody else is in the top 5 of each list (Matt Moore is top 5 in 5 of 6 lists).
• Alexander Colome, Alex Torres, Kyle Lobstein, Matt Sweeney and Wilking Rodriguez are new to the list this season.
• David Price (#1 in ‘09), Jeff Niemann (10) and Fernando Perez (13) are no longer eligible. Mitch Talbot (13) is no longer in the organization. John Jaso (11) and Jake Jefferies (14) fell off the list.
• Tim Beckham had the biggest drop from last season (#2 in ‘09) and Desmond Jennings had the highest jump (6).
• Of the players that appeared on every list, Matt Sweeney had the biggest disparity between high (5) and low (24) rank.
• Four of the players have triple-A experience. Of the other rest, 7 have never been above single-A or short-season ball.

A few notes on how the Meta-Analysis was constructed…

• We included rankings from Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Minor League Ball, Biscuits Crumbs (Stacy Long), ESPN (Keith Law) and our own Trade Value Index.
• Our Trade Value Index ranks players a bit differently. In addition to projecting how good a player will be, we also consider value to the organization. For more information see the most recent TVI post.
• The final list includes all players that appeared in the top 10 of at least one list.
• Some players did not appear on every list. For players not on a list, we gave that player a ranking of 2 spots lower than the lowest ranked player in the list for the purpose of calculating the final average.