Archive for the 'BJ Upton' Category

Feb 06

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Dealing Upton, Lobaton’s Shoulder, And CC’s Ex-Friend

BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, Jose Lobaton, Manny Ramirez Cork Gaines No Comments »

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Nationals have “cooled on BJ Upton,” noting that they have other options.

There has been speculation in the past that the Nationals will just wait until the off-season when Upton is a free agent.

At this point, Upton could still be dealt at the trade deadline, but that will only happen if he is having a big season with the bat and a contender feels he can be a difference-maker down the stretch. That might be asking a lot.

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Jose Lobaton’s shoulder is progressing nicely and is expected to be 100 percent by spring training. [@TBTimes_Rays]
  • Josh Hamilton confirmed that he did indeed have a relapse from his recovery for alcohol addiction. [ESPN]
  • A few weeks ago it looked like the Rays and Indians were competing for Carlos Pena and Casey Kotchman, with Kotch as the consolation prize. After Pena signed with the Rays, the Indians did indeed sign Kotchman to a 1-year, $3 million deal. [ESPN]
  • Carl Crawford is accused of swindling a lot of money from Read the rest of this entry »
Jan 17

Rays Avoid Arbitration With Price, Upton, Badenhop

BJ Upton, Burke Badenhop, David Price Cork Gaines 10 Comments »

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (still weird typing that), the Rays have successfully avoided arbitration with one-year deals for David Price, BJ Upton, and Burke Badenhop. No deal was reached with Jeff Niemann, who will now have his 2012 salary determined by an arbitrator.

Price’s 2012 salary will be $4.35 million. He made $1.25 million in 2011 as the fifth year of the six-year deal he signed after being drafted. However, Price had the option to opt-out of the final year of that deal as a result of being arbitration eligible.

Upton’s 2012 salary will be $7 million. He made $4.8 million in 2011.

Badenhop, who was recently acquired from the Marlins in a trade earlier this off-season, will make $1.075 million.

This is good news for the Rays. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Price was projected to make $7.8 million in arbitration and Upton was projected at $7.6 million.

 

Jan 17

The 2012 Payroll Is Approaching $60 Million

40-man Roster, BJ Upton, Burke Badenhop, David Price, Elliot Johnson, Jose Lobaton, Justin Ruggiano Cork Gaines 6 Comments »

Last year, the Rays payroll went from $71.9 million in 2010 to $41.1 million this past season, a drop of more than 40 percent.

If the season started today, the 2012 payroll would be approximately $56.9 million, an increase of 38.4 percent over last season. This is based on raises already built into existing contracts, and projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players and players in their first three seasons.

Here is the breakdown of the projected payroll. Notes on the table, and additional thoughts can be found below…

Notes on the projected 40-man roster and payroll…

  • The Rays currently have 40 players on the 40-man roster. However, Justin Ruggiano is out of minor league options and we don’t see spots for him on the opening day roster unless somebody gets hurt.
  • Other key players Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 28

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 4 (Four All-Stars)

12 Days of Raysmas, BJ Upton, Desmond Jennings, Matt Joyce Cork Gaines 25 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 based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

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. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the fourth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, FOUR ALL-STARS…

OK. Asking for four all-stars is a lot. But if the Rays are going to be in the race in July, they need at least four players that are at least worthy of all-star consideration. That means Evan Longoria needs to be healthy. And it means James Shields and David Price need to be pitching well.

Those three guys should be Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 26

The 12 Days Of Raysmas: Day 2 (Two Players With 40 Stolen Bases)

12 Days of Raysmas, BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, Desmond Jennings Cork Gaines 15 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 based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.”

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. Looking back at last year’s 12 Days of Raysmas, we see that many of our wishes came true. Many did not. If we can get a couple of more this year, the Rays might just win it all.

Without further ado…

On the second day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, TWO PLAYERS WITH 40 STOLEN BASES…

The Rays did a lot of things right in 2011. But make no mistake, the inability of the Red Sox to even be mediocre in September covered up a lot of problems, especially on the offensive side of the ball. And one of those problems was speed.

After losing Carl Crawford to free agency, the Rays speed numbers took a significant dip in 2011…

If we look at the Rays stolen bases and their Speed Total (doubles + triples*2 + steals – double plays),  the Rays had their lowest totals since 2008, when Crawford was limited by an injury.

BJ Upton led the 2011 Rays with just Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 14

Kilgore: Rays Appear Unlikely To Trade Upton

BJ Upton Cork Gaines 11 Comments »

If the Rays are going to trade BJ Upton, the most likely trade partner is the Washington Nationals. But Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post is now reporting that talks between the two sides may have stalled.

After engaging in occasional trade discussions involving B.J. Upton for about a year, the Nationals and Rays have seemingly reached a point where talks have stagnated. Barring a blow-them-away offer from the Nationals, the Rays appear content to begin the 2012 season with Upton in their outfield.

Kilgore also spoke with “one person familiar with the Rays” that said “there’s not a whole lot of motivation at this point to try and move him,” noting that the team won with Upton last year, “why not try it again?”

Now, be careful with that last quote. Read it quickly, and it sounds like insider knowledge. But generally, “person familiar with” is just code for “I emailed one of the Rays’ beat writers.”

Kilgore goes on to write that the market for center fielders is Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 07

Are The Rays And Nationals Getting Closer To A Deal For BJ Upton?

BJ Upton Cork Gaines 8 Comments »

On the surface it would look like the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays are in the same spot as they were back in July. That is, the Nationals want BJ Upton, but are firm in what they are willing to give up. And the Rays are willing to give up Upton, but they are firm in what they want for him (shortstop Ian Desmond).

But Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wonders if the game has changed a little since since July. And maybe now, both sides may be willing to loosen their stances a little. Speaking with Nationals GM Mike Rizzo seemed to suggest that is what is happening…

“What would be different from previous conversations would be whether there was a change in their scenario or a change in our scenario,” Rizzo said. “Injuries sometimes can cause that. A breakout season from a prospect at that position, now it becomes a position of depth. Those are the kind of things that would change the landscape of the trade discussions from the end of the season until now.”

Kilgore goes on to note that the Nationals are now high on Read the rest of this entry »

Dec 06

Danny Knobler Looks At Who The Rays Are Willing To Trade

BJ Upton, James Shields, Jeff Niemann, Reid Brignac, Wade Davis Cork Gaines No Comments »

Will the Rays be willing to trade some of their players? Sure. But which ones. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com weighs in…

  • Jeff Niemann? Yes
  • Wade Davis? Yes
  • James Shields? Rays will only listen to “overwhelming offers”
  • Reid Brignac? Would like to trade Briggy
  • BJ Upton? “Willing to talk about”

Not really anything we didn’t already know. But it is a nice scorecard moving foreward. So there’s that.

Dec 06

Sounds Like The Rays Are Unlikely To Trade Upton

BJ Upton Cork Gaines 4 Comments »

When the off-season began, we expected to hear James Shields’ and BJ Upton’s names most often associated with trade rumors. But the Rays have made it clear they have little interest in trading one of their starting pitchers. And now it seems that other teams have little interest in trading for Upton.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, interest in Upton is being described as “mild,” and that there are not a lot of teams that need a center field and are willing to spend for one.

Buster Olney adds that the Rays would have to be “overwhelmed” by another team in order to trade Upton. Of course, that doesn’t mean as much as the Morosi report. The Rays say the same thing about all of their players.

Well, almost all. They probably wouldn’t have said that about Dioner Navarro or Pat Burrell.

 

Dec 05

Rays Are Making A ‘Serious Run’ At A’s Outfielder

BJ Upton, Josh Willingham, Matt Joyce Cork Gaines 7 Comments »

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Rays are showing strong interest in signing Josh Willingham of the Oakland A’s…

The Tampa Bay Rays are making a serious run at free agent OF Josh Willingham, BB source says

Willingham is not a new name on the Rays radar. He was targeted by the Rays at this year’s trade deadline, and at the trade deadline in 2010. But both times they were unable to make a deal.

However, acquiring Willingham certainly adds an interesting twist. It would seem Read the rest of this entry »

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