Archive for November 19th, 2008

Nov 19

[HOT STOVE] George King Would Love To See Jason Giambi In A Rays Uniform

Andrew Friedman, Cliff Floyd, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Nick Swisher Cork Gaines 2 Comments »

George A. King III of the New York Post speculates today that free agent Jason Giambi could end up with the Rays as a left-handed hitting DH to replace Cliff Floyd. King does not list any sources. Rather, he is just matching needs. Also, keep in mind that the story is about the pressure on Nick Swisher to replace Giambi in the Yankees lineup. If Giambi were to sign with a divisional rival, the pressure on Swisher would be even greater, making for a juicier story for King.

Still, it is safe to assume that the Rays will be contacting the Giambino’s agent at some point. The Rays are going to show interest in almost every free agent that meets one of their needs.

This is how the conversation probably goes:

World B. Friedman: [picks up Blackberry, calls Giambi's agent] Give us a ballpark number on what your guy is looking for.

Giambi’s agent: [covers phone, giggles like a school girl] OK. Let’s start at three years, $45 million.

World B. Friedman: [gulps] But…but your guy is old and we only had to pay Cliff Floyd $2.75 million for half of a season’s worth of work. Giambi is one-dimensional and baseball gloves probably should get a restraining order against him. Even PECOTA says he was only worth $9-10 million in 2008. How about two years, $12 million?

Giambi’s agent: Listen, my guy just posted an OPS+ of 130 which was just behind Vlad the Impaler and Miguel Cabrera and just ahead of Grady Sizemore, Magglio Ordonez and David Ortiz. That OPS+ was better than free agents Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez and Pat Burrell. He is only 37, and have you seen him recently? I don’t want to say my boy is back on the juice, but have you seen his arms recently? He is bigger than when he got busted the first time…Uh, I mean the only time…or whatever it was that he apologized for and never admitted to…Three years, minimum. And he made $23 million in 2007. My client is used to a certain lifestyle.

World B. Friedman: [shrugs shoulders] Best of luck. have a nice day.

World B. Friedman: [scratches Jason Giambi off wishlist. Looks back in Blackberry for the number of Jeremy Giambi's agent]

The Rays will kick the tires on all of these free agents. Friedman is not doing his job if he doesn’t. Unless Giambi wants to give the Rays a “I wanna stick it to the Yankees 19 times next season” discount, there is little-to-no chance of him signing with the Rays. Less when you consider the interest being shown by the A’s and the Jays.

HEAT’S ON SWISHER; GIAMBI MAY BE RAY [New York Post]

Nov 19

[THE HANGOVER] Price Not A Candidate To Close In ’09

Andy Sonnanstine, David Price, Edwin Jackson, Ethan Embry, James Shields, Jason Bartlett, Josh Phegley, Rocco Baldelli Cork Gaines 14 Comments »


DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Not sure this needed to be clarified but Andrew Friedman made it clear yesterday that David Price will be a starting pitcher in 2009 and is not a candidate to be a closer. [MLB]
  • Rays Prospects takes another look at how starting pitchers throughout the organization pitched in 2008. This time we see that Andy Sonnanstine and James Shields both pitched within the range of major league #1 starters, while Edwin Jackson was no better than an average #5…We’ve mentioned this before. Sonny was clearly the better pitcher in 2008 (it wasn’t even close). But the question for the Rays and for other teams looking to trade for a starting pitcher is: How good will Jackson be moving forward? Sonny is probably as good as he is going to get. And as we can see, that is pretty darned good. Jackson still has plenty of room for improvement and could be better than Sonny down the road, but will he be? [Rays Prospects]
  • Her Rays is back with another installment of “Rays as Leading Men” in chick flicks. This time it is “Sweet Home Alabama” with Jason Bartlett and Rocco Baldelli…Ahhh, wasn’t Bryant so adorable. But we think Jessica got the wrong character for Rocco, considering Rocco and Ethan Embry were “seperated at birth.” [Her Rays]
  • Here is Marc Lancaster’s ballot for AL MVP. [Rays Report]
  • Here is the first 2009 MLB Mock Draft we have seen. With the 30th pick, MyMLBDraft.com projects the Rays to take Josh Phegley, a catcher from Indiana. Who? Exactly. [MyMLBDraft]
  • Rise of the Rays takes a closer look at the change in ticket prices for 2009. [Rise of the Rays]