Archive for November 8th, 2007

Nov 08

DEVIL RAYS COLUMNISTS SUCK For A Writer, Bill Chastain Makes A Crappy GM

Jorge Posada Cork Gaines 2 Comments »

Bill Chastain clearly has no idea what team he is covering. He thinks the Tampa Bay Rays should sign free agent catcher Jorge Posada, and worse, he thinks the Rays actually have a shot if they open up their wallet.

Joe Torre is no longer the Yankees’ manager and Posada lives in Tampa. Such a commitment might take the entire free-agent budget, but given the point in the team’s progression, such a commitment might be the best money spent in franchise history.

This is absolutely idiotic and we will speak very slowly for Mr. Chastain, in case he is still taking his stupidity pills.

6 Reasons why the Rays will not sign (and should not sign) Jorge Posada…

  1. The Rays “free agent budget” is going to be taken up by the arbitration-eligible Scott Kazmir and Carlos Pena. The Rays will not give a 36-year old catcher at least $60 million for 4 years.
  2. He has two years left as a full-time catcher, which means the Rays would be paying at least $15 million per year in 2010 and 2011 for a DH.
  3. The Mets and the Yankees are about to get into a bidding war for Posada, and both teams will go to a fourth year on the contract to get the deal done. The Mets only other option is to re-sign Paul LoDuca. Who would you rather have?
  4. We will forgive Mr. Chastain if he does not know about Posada’s son. Jorge Jr. was born with Craniosynostosis. The Jorge Posada Foundation was started by Jorge and his wife to help find a cure. If given a choice, Posada will sign with one of the New York teams where he enjoys more publicity for himself which leads to more publicity for his foundation.
  5. Dioner Navarro is very young and started to show signs of becoming an above-average major league catcher in the second half of 2007. The upgrade from Navarro (age 23) to Posada (36) in 2008 is not enough to justify the extra cost over the next four years (~$50 million) especially when Navarro could be an equal catcher in 2009 and the better catcher in 2010-2011.
  6. With both New York teams going to 4 years on a contract, that means the Rays would have to up the contract to $17-18 million per year or add a 5th year on to the end to get him out of New York. In the end…It would probably cost the Rays $85 million for 5 years, with Posada being 41 in the final year of the contract.

Would that be the “best money spent in franchise history”? We admit, the Rays have spent some dumb money in the past, but if the Rays signed Posada, by the 4th year, the contract would make the Greg Vaughn signing look like the Deal of the Century.

Rays’ focus on internal improvements [devilrays.com]

Nov 08

THE HANGOVER Rocco Baldelli May Be On The Way Out

Andrew Friedman, Elijah Dukes, Kazuo Fukumori, Masahide Kobayashi, Matt Silverman, Rocco Baldelli Cork Gaines No Comments »

Team USA 3, Mexico 0.
Well, Team USA won their World Cup opener against Mexico. We know that Justin Ruggiano was hit by a pitch to start a rally (bastards) but we are having trouble tracking down a box score, so we have no idea how Evan Longoria did. But since we cannot find a boxscore, we will assume he went 4-4 and hit a 3-run home run and that Jorge Campos was catching for the Mexican team. How awesome would that be (Campos, not Longoria)?

[Update: We found a boxscore HERE. No Campos]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

  • The Rays are in the market for a shortstop that can field and relievers that can pitch. It appears the Rays may be talking to the Twins about acquiring one or both in exchange for Rocco Baldelli. [Twins Territory]
  • It looks as if Rocco Baldelli is the player the Rays are interested in moving as they are also in talks with the Nationals about the oft-injured centerfielder. [MLB]
  • Andrew Friedman wouldn’t rule out the possibility when asked if Elijah Dukes would have a shot at a roster spot in the Spring. [TBO]

“It’s too early to answer that,” he said. “There’s a lot more that we want to go through, but I will say there have been a lot of positive strides in the last couple of months. But we’ve still got a ways to go.”

  • There are several Japanese pitchers that will be available as free agents (no posting fee required) and the Rays are expected to actively pursue one or more of the relief pitchers including Kazuo Fukumori and Masahide Kobayashi. Here is hoping the Rays sign Kobayashi so we can have an entire season with Keyser Soze references. [TBO]

“We were active scouting the Japanese leagues this year, and there certainly are some guys that are on our radar,” Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. “I expect the market to be more active than it has been in the past…We’ll see how that market unfolds,” Friedman said. “It’ll be very interesting to see in light of some of the recent success, what that means for the market.”

  • Jordi at The Serious Tip tried to crash the GM meetings in Orlando only to be rejected by one of the Golden Girls. Next time offer her a membership to the “Silver Rays” fan club. Certainly Matt Silverman would have that comped. [The Serious Tip]