Oct 21
The Rays today announced that they have hired Derek Shelton as the team’s new hitting coach. For the last four and a half seasons, Shelton served as the hitting coach for the Indians under Eric Wedge. Shelton replaces Steve Henderson, who was let go earlier this month after four seasons in the position.
Andrew Friedmanon Shleton (via press release):
“Derek has proven himself to be one of the better minds in baseball when it comes to hitting,” Rays Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said. “He brings a fresh voice that can help our talented core of hitters reach new heights. His attention to detail and ability to communicate will be great additions to our group.”
Joe Maddon on Shelton:
“I believe he is the kind of coach who can create a hitting program that will benefit the organization both at the minor league and major league levels,” said Rays Manager Joe Maddon. “In our conversations, I found that we share the same philosophy on a number of different areas. He was very clear and concise on his intentions and in the end it was an easy decision.”
The quote from Maddon seems telling as Shelton’s job will be just important, if not more so, at the minor league level. Many believe that a hitting coach’s impact at the big league level is minimal. However, the Rays are an organization that believes it is important to instill a philosophy in their players very early on in their development.
Back in September, Let’s Go Tribe took a look at the Indian’s hitting performance under Shelton and had hoped he would be retained even if Wedge was dismissed.
Shelton is the fifth hitting coach in club history joining Henderson (1998, 2006-09), Leon Roberts (1999-2000), Wade Boggs (2001), Milt May (2002) and Lee Elia (2003-05).
Oct 20
[Update] We have now updated this projection with the recent additions of Jesse Chavez and Ramon Ramirez to the 40-man roster. Both pitchers still have minor league options so at this time we are projecting that they will start the year in Durham. However, both pitchers will compete for roster spots in the Spring. Also, the Rays recently bought out two options at a total of $700K. While not officially part of the 2010 payroll, the Rays operate within a budget and it is a cost that cannot be ignored. Therefore, we choose to include the options as part of the 2010 payroll projection.
[Update] This projection has been updated to reflect the re-signing of Gabe Kapler. This move likely bumps Fernando Perez back to the minors and reduces the number of projected openings on the 40-man roster to five.
Yesterday we projected the 2010 25-man roster. Now let’s look at what that means for 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 ’09 (actually, Dillon, Hernandez and Nelson have already been declared free agents).
- Several players in the minors will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the first time this winter and either need to be added to the 40-man roster or risk being selected by another organization. This list includes Desmond Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson, Aneury Rodriguez, Ryan Royster, Chris Nowak, Eduardo Morlan, Nevin Ashley and Ryan Reid. Jennings and Hellboy are locks. We have Rodriguez also being added. You could make a case for Morlan and Reid. If only three are added to the roster, that leaves 6 open slots, which would provide the Rays with a ton of roster flexibility when it comes to signing free agents or making trades.
- The Rays have 9 players that will be arbitration-eligible following this season. Salaries for 8 of those players are guestimations at this point based on other arbitration-eligible players in recent years that play the same position, have similar service times and comparable stats. Last year, we missed the five arbitration cases by a total of $300K and nailed 2 right on the head. Anybody you think we are way off on? We are projecting that the other arbitration-eligible player, Gabe Gross, will not be offered arbitration by the Rays.
- The opening day payroll projects to be $62.0 million, but will certainly go up with free agent signings (bullpen) and any additional long-term contracts given to young players (Upton, Garza, Bartlett). Of course, there are places where the Rays can save money, if they choose to trade a player like Carl Crawford or Carlos Pena, both of whom are entering the final years of their current deals. Combined, those two players will account for about one-third of the 2010 payroll.
- Elliot Johnson and Mitch Talbot are out of minor league options and we do not see a spot for them on the 25-man roster, so they will have to be Designated For Assignment and placed on waivers before they can be demoted to the minors.
(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.
Oct 20
Just a few links today as we celebrate the birthday of Mickey Mantle.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Alex Pedicini of The Hardball Times takes a look at Desmond Jennings and what he may be able to contribute to the Rays in 2010. [The Hardball Times]
- The Rays have released their 2010 Spring Training schedule and ticket prices. [Tampa Tribune]
- Among other tidbits from Marc Topkin is the note that Eduardo Perez could be the Rays next hitting coach. [St. Pete Times]
- Tim McCarver doesn’t know his Manny Aybars from his Willy Aybars. [Bugs and Cranks]
- The Bowling Green Hot Rods were voted as having the best minor league promotion from 2009. [MiLB]
- Another post making the case for the Most Valuableness of Ben Zobrist. [Baseball Reflections]
Oct 19
[Update] This projection has been updated to reflect the re-signing of Gabe Kapler. We have to assume that he will now be platooning in right field, and that will most likely be with Matt Joyce. This move bumps Fernando Perez back to the minors.
25-Man Roster Projection and Lineup (notes and explanations on the projection can be found following the roster)…
Notes on the 25-man roster projection…
- LINEUP: The questions here are catcher, second base and right field. And most of the answers are in-house. Dioner Navarro could be non-tendered if the Rays want to save a few bucks, but more likely he will be back as either the most-days catcher or part of a platoon. Ben Zobrist could start at both second (v lefties) and in right field (v righties). That would open the door for both Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce to get regular playing time (Rodriguez at 2B v LHP; Joyce in RF v RHP). The Rays may want both of those guys to be everyday players eventually, it just won’t be out of the gate in 2010. There are also slim chances of trades that would ship Carl Crawford, BJ Upton or Pat Burrell out of town.
- BENCH: Willy Aybar is in. After that are three question marks. The Rays need a backup catcher and they could bring back Gregg Zaun, but only at a cheaper rate than his $2.0 million option. The other two spots depend on how the Rays want to handle 2B and RF. Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce could be part-time starters. That leaves one spot for a fourth outfielder. That could be Gabe Gross, Gabe Kapler or Fernando Perez. We give the edge to Perez because he is cheaper and gives the Rays speed off the bench, something they lacked in 2009. And if Joyce is on the team, Gross would be redundant.
- ROTATION: The first four are set with James Shields, Matt Garza, David Price and Jeff Niemann. The final spot will almost certainly go to Wade Davis, unless the Rays pursue a veteran starting pitcher and want Big Dub to get a little more seasoning in triple-A.
- BULLPEN: This is where the Rays are most likely to add from outside the organization, just don’t look for that to be a high-priced closer. We looked at who was in and out last week. JP Howell, Grant Balfour and Dan Wheeler are locks. We think Andy Sonnanstine is in. Lance Cormier may be also, but do the Rays need him and Sonny? Randy Choate will be the lefty-specialist over Brian Shouse unless the Rays can find a league-minimum alternative. Jeff Bennett provides something that is lacking outside of Balfour: a power fastball. At best, Bennett will compete for a job in spring training. The most likely scenario has the Rays adding two or three cheap relief pitchers via trade or free agency to come in and compete with Bennett, Cormier and Choate for the final bullpen spots.
- WHO’S OUT: Joe Nelson, Michel Hernandez and Joe Dillon have already been declared free agents. Dillon and Hernandez could be back on minor league deals. Troy Percival, Chad Bradford, Gabe Kapler and Jason Isringhausen will be free agents, and only Kapler has an outside shot at being back. The Rays are likely to decline the options on Aki Iwamura, Brian Shouse and Gregg Zaun, although they could bring Zaun back at a cheaper rate. Gabe Gross is arbitration-eligible and could be back, but we suspect he will be non-tendered, unless Joyce is not ready to make the jump.
Oct 19
One year ago on Rays Index we celebrated the Rays American League Championship after a game 7 victory over the Red Sox. We presented the Pink Hat Nation with a parting gift.
Tampa Bay Rays: 2008 AL Champions [Rays Index]
Oct 19
Just a few links today as we pop the bubbly to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Rays 3-1, game 7 victory over the Boston Red Sox and their first American League Championship
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Last week we told you that Gabe Gross was participating in a “celebrity” home run derby back at Auburn. Well, he won the contest. BUT, he used an aluminum bat. Legit? [Biscuit Crumbs]
- What is the toughest position the Tampa Bay Rays will try to fill this off-season? Season ticket salesperson of course. Good luck to ever takes that job. [Baseball Jobs]
- Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News interviewed Jason Collette from Dock of the Rays. [NY Daily News]
- From a sports perspective…Who “runs” the Bay Area? ESPN.com says it is Evan Longoria. Probably right, although we would have placed Derrick Brooks ahead of Martin St. Louis. [ESPN]
- Handing out the “Rays Golden Donut Awards.” [Rays Roundup]
Oct 18
One year ago on Rays Index we were trying to figure out why The Rayshead Army was unable to watch the beginning of Game 6 of the ALCS as TBS was airing “The Steve Harvey Show.”
Game Not On TBS; TBS Won’t Tell Us Why [Rays Index]
Oct 16
Two years ago on Rays Index we posted what is probably the only video footage that exists of Evan Longoria wearing the green uniforms of the Devil Rays.
The Green Uniforms Have Not Yet Been Retired [Rays Index]
Oct 16
Before we jump into the 25-man and 40-man roster projections next week, let’s take a look at the one area where we can expect the most change, the bullpen. But before we start thinking about who the Rays may add to the mix, let’s take a look at who might be back in 2010…
WHO’S IN?
- JP Howell, Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour and Andy Sonnanstine look to us like the only sure-things. We suppose the Rays could dangle Sonny and see if anybody still thinks he can be a big league starting pitcher, but we have a feeling that the Rays see Sonnanstine as worth more in their bullpen than on the trade market. And it wouldn’t surprise us if the Rays feel Sonny can grow into the relief role the same way Howell did.
WHO’S OUT?
- We don’t see the Rays re-signing any of their free agents (Chad Bradford, Russ Springer, Troy Percival, Jason Isringhausen).
- The Rays do not need both Brian Shouse and Randy Choate as lefty-specialists. Choate was nearly unhittable against lefties and will be a lot cheaper, so the Rays will decline Shouse’s 2010 option.
THE MAYBES
- Randy Choate is a very effective lefty-specialist, but he is also arbitration-eligible. Might the Rays find somebody even cheaper for league-minimum?
- Lance Cormier gave Joe Maddon good depth in the bullpen all season. He is arbitration-eligible. While he won’t make a ton of money next year, Andy Sonnanstine will be cheaper and figures to be able to do the same job.
- Jeff Bennett brings something to the table that none of these other “Maybes” can do…a mid-90s fastball…something that is lacking in the bullpen outside of Grant Balfour. And keep in mind that his numbers were inflated by one outing at Texas in which he gave up 5 runs without recording an out. Our gut says Bennett is more “IN” than “OUT” but may have to win a job in the Spring.
- Dale Thayer is a bit of an enigma. He is young in terms of experience, but he is not young. He seems suited to be the “Down 12-3″ mop-up reliever. But more likely he will start the season in Durham as the Rays 8th relief pitcher (waiting for somebody to go on DL).
If we assume that the Rays will indeed bring back all 4 of the “Ins”, that would leave 3 open spots. Bennett might have the inside-track on one of those openings. That would leave 2 spots to be filled via free agency or trade.
Oct 16
Just a few links this morning as we celebrate the 3rd anniversary of Lou Piniella becoming the manager of the Chicago Cubs.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- In the quest for a new Rays stadium, we have seen The Good (original proposal by the Rays), The Bad (no new stadium in the near future) and as we get closer to the St. Pete mayoral election, we are now seeing The Ugly. Yesterday we read some comments from candidate Kathleen Ford. Today we get an editorial response in the St. Pete Times. [St. Pete Times]
- When you think of “celebrities” and “home runs,” the first name that comes to mind is Gabe Gross. Right? Well, he apparently qualifies for both at Auburn’s Baseball Celebrity Home Run Derby. [Columbus Ledger-Enquirer]
- The New York Post looks at how Rick Peterson helped Scott Kazmir rediscover his dominance. [New York Post]
- The Rays sister franchise, Florida Tuskers of the UFL, won their first game, giving them more wins than the Bucs. The Tuskers play a 6-game schedule. Any chance the Bucs will finish with more wins? We didn’t think so. [Orlando Sentinel]
- Rays the Stakes makes the case for Jeff Niemann as Rookie of the Year. [Rays the Stakes]
- They don’t give out MVP awards for the LDS but if they did Sully Baseball thinks Aki Iwamura would have won it for the Rays last year. [Sully Baseball]
