Feb 13
We updated the 25-man roster projection last week when we first heard about the Brian Shouse signing. Now that we know how much he is making, let’s update the 40-man.
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.
- There are currently 40 players on the 40-man roster.
- Willy Aybar is the only remaining arbitration-eligible player. Salary for him was an educated guestimation based on contracts of similar arbitration-eligibles in the past few years. There are indications that the Rays are close to signing Aybar to an extension and avoiding arbitration.
- The 40-man roster now projects to have 27 players on the 25-man roster. This is due to the belief that Troy Percival and Chad Bradford will begin the season on the DL. However, there are some suggestions that Percival might be ready by opening day. We are skeptical, but will keep a close eye on that situation.
- As a Rule 5 draft pick, Derek Rodriguez must be on the major league roster or be offered back to his original team. We don’t see a spot for Rodriguez, but we think the Rays will work out a deal to keep Rodriguez in the organization. It would likely cost the Rays a low-level minor leaguer or cash.
- The opening day payroll now projects to be $62.7 million, but we also need to include Rocco Baldelli’s buyout ($4 million). While not technically part of the payroll, it is a cost that cannot be ignored. That brings the projected payroll up to $66.7 million.
- $62.7 million would have ranked the Rays 25th in payroll on opening day last year. The Rays opening day payroll in 2008 was $43.8 million.
- The Rays project to have 17 players making at least $1 million.
Feb 13
Bunch of stuff going on in the Raysiverse this afternoon, so let’s dust off the Friday Afternoon Happy Hour.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman held court with the press in Port Charlotte today, where Coach Joe addressed the hunger to get back to the World Series and the workload for the players in the Spring. World B. Friedman said four (David Price, Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel, Mitch Talbot) will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation but hinted that Price is a long-shot, even incorporating Price’s nickname in to the press conference. [Tampa Tribune]
Friedman noted yet again that “with David, development is king,” and ensuring he remains on track to be a top-of-the-rotation starter down the line will “have to play a part in the decision-making.” That means he could end up opening the season in Triple-A…
- Grant Balfour will not play in the World Baseball Classic at the request of the Rays. And the front office has filed papers to block Scott Kazmir from participating. Teams can block players if they spent 45 days on the DL the year before. Beef K was on the DL for 44 days. If the Rays can block Kazmir, that leaves JP Howell, Akinori Iwamura and possibly Evan Longoria as the only Rays in the WBC. Just a few weeks ago, we the number was as high as 8. [The Heater]
- Troy Percival says he is planning on being the Rays closer on opening day. Even funnier than that is Percival’s assertion that he needs three weeks to get into shape. That dude weighs at least 270 pounds. He needs 3 months on “The Biggest Loser” to get into shape. [The Heater]
- Marc Topkin reports that the Rays won’t know if Troy Percival will be ready for opening day until he pitches in some mid-March games. [The Heater]
- David Price is #2 on the list of top 100 prospects at Baseball Prospectus. Tim Beckham (15), Wade Davis (29) and Desmond Jennings (49) are also in the top 50. Reid Brignac comes in at #62. [Baseball Prospectus]
- Ryan Fagan of Sporting News says the Rays have the best rotation in the AL. [Sporting News]
The Rays are deep and balanced, young and experienced. That’s quite the combination…There’s really only one question about this group: How will these young arms bounce back after pitching deep into October? The longer spring training will help; there’s no need to rush anyone. Plus, the added depth in the bullpen will allow Rays manager Joe Maddon to give his starters a little more rest when the opportunity arises.
- Marc Lancaster takes a look at the Rays new spring training facility. [Tampa Tribune]
- Hal Bodley interviewed Joe Maddon about last season, his off-season and heading into 2009. [MLB]
- Joe Henderson says the Rays are not a one-hit wonder. [Tampa Tribune]
Feb 13
Man, we can already smell that fresh-cut grass. Yummy.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- In case you missed our update yesterday afternoon, the Rays DFA’d Juan Salas to make room for Brian Shouse…It seems like only yesterday when Salas, a converted infielder allowed only 2 earned runs and struck out 52 in 34.2 double-A innings. Then the following season Salas got caught injecting himself with idiot-enhancing drugs, and he was never the same. [Rays Report]
- In the next week or so we will be updating our Trade Value Index (in the sidebar). In the meantime, we would be remiss if we don’t mention that Bill Simmons has released his annual NBA Trade Value Index, which was the inspiration for our TVI. [ESPN]
- Former Phillies GM Pat Gillick was asked whether the WFC* tried to resign Pat Burrell. Gillick responded that the WFC* did talk to Burrell’s agent last season but that the two sides were very far apart and that Burrell was expecting too much money and too many years at the time. [The Fightins]
- Troy Percival has already thrown off the mound a “couple of times” during his rehab. [MLB]
- Joe Maddon has been “refining his philosophy” this off-season and already has his new catch-phrase to replace “9=8.” Maddon assures that this year’s motivational tool will not be as covert. [St. Pete Times]
- Scott Kazmir makes the annual RotoAuthority list of spring training cliches. [RotoAuthority]
- Rays of Light has updated their roster projection. [Rays of Light]
