Archive for December 29th, 2008

Dec 29

[2009 TAMPA BAY RAYS] The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 5 (Five-Year Extension For Matt Garza)

12 Days of Raysmas Cork Gaines 3 Comments »

If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do, and why. Unlike most team blogs, we do not very often tell you what the Tampa Bay Rays should do. However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans.

On the fifth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, a FIVE-year extension for Matt Garza…

After 52 big league starts, the Rays gave James Shields a 4-year deal with three option-years that could potentially buy out Shields’ first two years of free agency. The deal is potentially worth $39.25 million.

Matt Garza now has 54 starts under his belt and in 2008 showed why he was the top prospect in the Twins organization. With Shields and Scott Kazmir already signed through at least their first free agency season, Garza is the next pitcher that the Rays will target for a long-term deal.

Blessed with what many consider the best stuff on the staff, Garza will be arbitration-eligible following the 2009 season. If the Rays can reach an agreement with Garza on a long-term extension this off-season, it will be for at least 5 years (including options). A five-year deal would buy out Garza’s first year of free agency.

Shields’ deal averages $5.6 million over the life of the deal if all options are exercised. As a super-two following the 2009 season, Garza is a little ahead of where Shields was in terms of service time. On the other hand, Garza does not have the same durable appearance.

Let’s say five years, plus a team option for 2014, which is one year less than Shields’ deal, with an average annual salary of $6 million ($36MM total). Mr. Garza? Mr. Friedman? Good. Do it.

We are only two years removed from a rotation that we often referred to as “Kazmir, Hendrickson and pray for a power outage at the Trop.” Now the Rays may have an opening day rotation in 2009 that includes three first-round draft picks, James Shields and a Volvo (Sonnanstine is safe and dependable).

If the Rays want to remain competitive in the AL East, long-term deals for their young pitchers are a must. Kazmir and Shields have been taken care of. It is Garza’s turn.

On the fifth day of Raysmas, all Rays fans want is a FIVE-year extension for Matt Garza, and…
FOUR pitchers with 15 wins [Day 4]
THREE Gold Glove awards [Day 3]
TWO months in triple-A for David Price [Day 2]
ONE impact bat with a bow on top [Day 1]

Dec 29

[THE HANGOVER] There Is Nothing ‘Utility’ About Julianna Zobrist

Ben Zobrist, Bud Selig, Joe Maddon, Joe Nelson, Julianna Zobrist, Rocco Baldelli, Troy Percival Cork Gaines 1 Comment »


We are still waiting on an official announcement from the Rays that they have signed reliever Joe Nelson. Nelson announced on December 24 that he had agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Rays. As per most deals, the contract requires the player to pass a physical and the holidays may be holding up that part of the process.

Rays agree to terms with reliever Joe Nelson [The Heater]

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Ben Zobrist’s wife, Julianna Zobrist, has released her new album, “The Tree.” Ben and Julianna are also expecting their first child in January [Ed note: you can find pre-pregnancy photos of Julianna HERE] [Iowa City Press-Citizen]
  • Buster Olney says the Rays and A’s are in a bidding war of sorts over the remaining DH/corner outfielders. Olney says both teams are willing to spend money but neither wants to go first, preferring to wait until the other team is out of the market, which in turn could drive the price down on the remaining players. [ESPN]
  • We already talked about how defense is the Rays’ “Moneyball”. Well, Bleeding Blue and Teal is jealous and wants the Mariners to duplicate. [Bleeding Blue and Teal]
  • We have been trying to temper people’s emotions on Troy Percival, noting that he was effective when healthy in 2008. Now Drays Bay backs that up with more numbers…Of course, staying healthy is something else indeed. [Drays Bay]
  • One team that was said to be interested in signing Rocco Baldelli, the Reds, have signed Willy Taveras to play center field. However, they are supposedly still looking into the medical condition of Baldelli. [MLB Trade Rumors]
  • The Rays were included as part of the New York Times’ “2008 Year in Review.” [New York Times]
  • Joe Maddon was voted the top story of 2008 by his hometown paper. [Hazleton Standard-Speaker]
  • Bud Selig points to the 2008 success of the Rays as the culmination of 9 years of efforts to bring competitive balance to baseball. [Yahoo! Sports]
  • Joe Smith reports on how much the Rays’ overseas scouting has grown, with over 70 international free agents signed in the last three years. [St. Pete Times]
  • The Rays Party of America has updated their 25-man roster projection…With Gabe Gross and Matt Joyce offering a similar skillset, we don’t see them both on the roster. [The Rays Party of America]