Archive for the 'Cliff Floyd' Category

Feb 26

Carl Crawford Is Lucky Cliff Floyd Is Not His Agent

Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd Cork Gaines 8 Comments »

Cliff Floydwent on SIRIUS/XM’s “MLB Home Plate” with Jim Duquette today and was asked about Carl Crawford’s future with the Rays…

“Well, my feeling is I think he will outprice himself in Tampa. Of course, it’s a win-win for CC. My advice to him would be to stay with Tampa because it makes him a ten-five guy and then he can pretty much pick anywhere he wants to go as opposed to being a free agent. But he’s a smart young man and I think the biggest thing he’s got going for himself is the game has changed right into his corner. Defense and stolen bases and batting average and things like that are definitely on his side. So he’s in a win-win. Hopefully he stays healthy and he makes the right decision. I think his decision will probably be that he outprices himself and becomes a free agent. And, of course, the Steinbrenners in New York will be banging at the door to get him.”

If Crawford re-signs with the Rays after the season, he would reach 10-and-5 status* sometime in 2012. Certainly this is good position to be in, but how is that any better than being a free agent? It’s not.

In both cases the players can pick his new club, but as a 10-and-5 he does not have the right to renegotiate his deal and he only gets to pick his new club if the current club decides they want to trade him. And once he is traded he would lose his 10-and-5 status just as he would signing with another team as a free agent. So why would Crawford stick with the Rays just so that he can have 10-and-5 status? The fact is, he wouldn’t.

you would think after playing for 7 teams in 17 years, that Floyd would have this free agency thing figured out.

* 10-and-5 players have at least 10 years of experience and at least the last 5 years with the same team. These players have the right to approve or reject any trade.

Feb 23

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Crawford’s Next Deal, Burrell’s Neck And Cliff’s New Gig

Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd, Hank Blalock, Pat Burrell, Randy Choate Cork Gaines 10 Comments »

Carl Crawford was asked yesterday if he would be willing to give the Rays a home-team discount. His answer was a less-than-emphatic “you never know,” in which he deferred to his agent.

Maybe more telling was this quote from the St. Pete Times in which CC was asked about his next contract and getting paid…

That’s what you go there for, to free agency. You go there to get paid like the guys who play against you. Pretty much, it speaks for itself.

Does that sound more like a guy that will give a home-team discount or a guy that is more concerned with a contract that shows respect and reflects his abilities? We have said this before, it is not about what a player can live with. For many of these guys it is about being shown respect and being paid as much or more than players they are clearly better than. And if that is important to Crawford, there will be no home-team discount.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Pat Burrell is saying all the right things heading into the 2010 season. He also revealed that he suffered from “some slight herniations” in his neck last year and that he did not treat them properly. [Tampa Tribune]
  • Jon Heyman writes that the Yankees “love” Carl Crawford and that he might have been the real reason the Yankees wouldn’t give Johnny Damon a two-year deal and maybe why they passed on Matt Holliday. [SI.com]
  • In the same piece, Jon Heyman writes that the Rays and Marlins “are believed to have some interest” in Hank Blalock. [SI.com]
  • Roger Mooney has some quotes from Carl Crawford on the distraction of his contract year, his future with the Rays and whether the Turf will be a factor in his next contract. [Rays Report]
  • Carl Crawford worked out with Scott Kazmir this winter. Crawford also refuses to reveal his new full-arm tattoo. [St. Pete Times]
  • Tony Fabrizio has some quotes from Randy Choate on Phil Jackson, football, Tommy Boy and his favorite minor league city. [Tampa Tribune]
  • Cliff Floyd has a neg gig, broadcaster, although it sounds like he hasn’t given up on his baseball career, or even a coaching career. [The Palm Beach Post]
  • Here is another “there is no money to build a stadium in Tampa” article. [St. Pete Times]
Feb 05

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Cal, Navi, Dr. Huxtable, Wade Davis And Hippos

Bobby Abreu, Cal Ripken, Cliff Floyd, Dioner Navarro Cork Gaines No Comments »

Lots o’ linkety goodness today, so let’s get to it.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Cal Ripken Jr., co-founder of the Ripken Group, which owns the Charlotte Stone Crabs, will be in attendance on opening night (April 9) for the Stone Crabs inaugural season. No word yet if he will further distance himself from his Orioles roots by wearing a Stone Crabs jersey, only months after donning a Rays jersey at The Trop.
  • We can’t remember the last member of the Rays who had an agent that talked as much as the agent for Dioner Navarro. Yesterday, Kendall Almerico stirred the pot a bit when negotiations for a long-term contract reached an impasse. Almerico warned that Navarro’s future with the Rays may depend on how the Rays treat Navi during next week’s arbitration hearing. [The Heater]
  • Cliff Floyd has agreed to a one-year deal with the Padres. And no, the Padres did not switch to the AL this off-season, which means Dr. Huxtable will somehow attempt to play the outfield, something he hasn’t done since 2007. [MLB Trade Rumors]
  • According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, before the Rays landed Pat Burrell with a two-year, $16 million deal, the Rays had offered Bobby Abreu a one-year, $7.5 million contract (thanks Joe). [ESPN]
  • Drays Bay is the latest to express their “dislike” for those trying to project which team will be “The Next Rays.” Then Drays Bay proceeds to tell us that the Pirates will be the next Rays…What’s the word for that? Hippocampus? Hippopotamus? [Drays Bay]
  • A year ago we would have projected this for Jake McGee, but Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus wonders if Wade Davis might play the same role that David Price played down the stretch and in the playoffs last season (thanks TP). [Baseball Prospectus]

[The Rays] found lightning in a bottle twice last year in filling their closer role, beginning the year with Troy Percival there, and then finishing it with power lefty David Price, the best pitching prospect in the game, getting key outs in the post-season. With Price likely moving to the rotation in 2009, the Rays might try to strike gold again with another electric arm in their warehouse of top-flight prospects, as righty Wade Davis has mid-90s heat and a nasty power curveball, leaving many scout to wonder if the current starting pitcher prospect could just flat-out dominate in shorter bullpen stints.

  • This picture of Derek Rodriguez is stock and it has always bothered us. His face is too close to the camera. It feels like his nose it poking us in the eye. And by the way, Bill Chastain says one of the more interesting subplots of Spring Training will be to see how good Rodriguez truly is. [MLB]
  • The Rays are 12/1 to win the World Series in 2009.  The Yankees are the favorites at 5/2 with the Cubs and Mets at 7/1 and the Red Sox at 15/2. For those not familiar with betting lines, these odds are not necessarily based on who Vegas thinks will win. Rather, the odds are more a reflection of who they think the gamblers will bet on. And in bets like World Series and Super Bowl odds, a gambler is most likely to bet on their favorite team. So unless they are not even considered a contender, the teams with the most fans will always have the shortest odds. [The Spread]
  • The Rays Party is counting down their top 20 prospects. Today is #17, Kyle Lobstein. [The Rays Party]
Jan 08

[THE HANGOVER] Cliff Floyd Wants To Return To Rays; May Have To Hire Jeff Gillooly

Andy Sonnanstine, Ben Grieve, Ben Zobrist, Cliff Floyd, Jason Giambi, Pat Burrell, Roberto Hernandez Cork Gaines No Comments »

Just the links today, Jason Giambi’s birthday. We don’t think David Chalk will be sending any gifts. Also, on this day 7 years ago, the [Devil] Rays were involved in a three-team swap that sent Roberto Hernandez to the Royals. The Rays received Ben Grieve from Oakland and the A’s received Johnny Damon from the Royals.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • In a strange twist, Jayson Stark is reporting that Cliff Floyd’s agents continue to have discussions with the Rays about returning, and that returning to the Rays is his first choice…Not sure if there is enough ice in the state of Florida for both of Floyd’s knees and we have no idea where the Rays would fit Floyd’s bat. [MLB Trade Rumors]
  • The Rays Party of America wonders if Ben Zobrist is an infielder or an outfielder. [Rays Party of America]
  • Another look at how undervalued Andy Sonnanstine is. [Drays Bay]
  • Pat Burrell is just the fifth player since 1970 to play on a World Series team and then play for the opposing team the next season. [St. Pete Times]

Dec 04

[HOT STOVE] Friedman Provides Some Clues To Off-Season Plans

Cliff Floyd, David Price, Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann, Rocco Baldelli Cork Gaines 4 Comments »

Andrew Friedman met with the media today prior to heading to the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Marc Topkin gives us a few of the more interesting tidbits…

* Their “two biggest focal points” of the off-season are improving their offense and strenghtening their bullpen.

Nothing new here.

* Though they’d like to add a regular rightfielder and a DH, Friedman said realistically they are only likely to acquire one “impact” player.

This goes to what we commented on this morning. The market seems to be bringing the price of more players into the range of the Rays’ budget. Again, it would not surprise us if the Rays are able to land one of the bigger named players with a one year deal. These players may choose to play for one year at below what they would normally seek in a salary, with sights set on reentering the free agent market a year from now when conditions may be more favorable for a long-term deal.

This could be win-win for the Rays. They may be able to sign an impact bat without having to commit big dollars beyond the 2009 season. If the Rays are not in contention, they could trade the bat in July or they can keep the player and take the draft picks at the end of the year. So, while the Rays may not normally be looking to sign $8+ million players, this year it could come with prospects (acquired in July) or extra draft picks in 2010.

* He said they remain open to talking with their three remaining free agents – OFs Rocco Baldelli and Eric Hinske and DH Cliff Floyd, who is rehabbing a shoulder injury rather than having surgery.

This is new news on the Cliff Floyd front. Floyd originally stated that he would opt for retirement if he required surgery. A healthy Floyd can still be a masher although he would seem like a long shot for the Rays.

As for Rocco Baldelli, it appears as though the Rays are taking a “wait and see” approach, and Rocco may be their fall-back plan.

* Whereas in the past the Rays were more likely to look to the trade market rather than free agency, they are now about 50-50.

Again, the market is playing right into the hands of the Rays.

* Though all of baseball seems to be affected by the economy, he said the Rays were proceeding with their plans and are trying – thus far unsuccessfully – to be aggressive in signing players.

This is probably more of an indictment of the players. The agents and the players may still be a little shell-shocked at what is being offered, and more importantly, what is not being offered. It may be a state of denial. Or it may be a case of waiting and hoping for things to start and shake-out a bit. Either way, we expect a number of free agents to sign in the next couple of weeks as players tried to avoid the new president’s tax plan by receiving their signing bonuses in 2008.

* Though the Rays appear to have an abundance of starting pitchers, they do not feel the need to make a trade, and younger pitchers such as Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann, who will be out of options and can’t be sent to the minors, will get a chance to be in the bullpen.

Certainly there are options to keep some of these pitchers, but this may be posturing by Friedman, as other teams may think the Rays have to trade some of their pitching. But, by our count, there are 13 pitchers for 12 spots and the Rays say they want to add at least one more relief pitcher. Without enough chairs, somebody has to be traded before the music stops, unless…

* David Price is not guaranteed a spot in the opening day rotation which means he could open the season in the minors.

This is something we have mentioned as a possibility in the past. Keep in mind that David Price only has 20 professional starts and only 5 of those are above double-A. And if Price begins the year in triple-A, it gives the Rays time to work out who they want to keep and who they want to move.

It seems as though Edwin Jackson, Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel are competing for one spot in the bullpen. If Price starts in the minors, Jackson can stay in the rotation and give the Rays an opportunity to see if Niemann can handle a bullpen role. Of course, the Rays risk deflating the value of Jackson and Niemann. If Jackson struggles in April, people may look to his 2008 season as a fluke. If Niemann struggles in the bullpen, it could hurt his prospect status also.

Ultimately, we still see the Rays trading one or two of their starters prior to the season, but by no means are they in a position where they have to.

Rays looking for offense in Vegas [St. Pete Times]

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 04

[THE HANGOVER] Friedman Takes Home Top Executive Honor

Andrew Friedman, Cliff Floyd, David Price, George Hendrick, Joe Maddon, Nick Punto, Pat Burrell Cork Gaines No Comments »

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • The Sporting News has named Andrew Friedman their Executive of the Year for 2008…So let this be a warning to all. If you are about to join a fantasy baseball league and one of the teams is named “World B. Friedmans”, don’t do it. He’ll kick your arse. [MLB]
  • MLB Trade Rumors has their list of the top 50 free agents and where they are projected to land. With the Rays declining Cliff Floyd’s option and lopping $5 million off of the roster, Pat Burrell could fill the need at DH and right-handed power bat. Also, Nick Punto is the kind of player that Joe Maddon covets, a switch-hitter with lots of positional flexibility and excellent baseball skills. Is he a difference maker? No. Can he be a highly effective part-time player? Yes. He could come to the Rays and fill a bench spot and still get 2-3 starts a week. The question is whether another team still sees him as an everyday player. [MLB Trade Rumors]
  • David Price has been selected by ESPN the Magazine as one of their “Next” athletes. [ESPN]
  • This story is a bit stale, but for those of you, like us, that loathe the long pajama pants worn by most players and long for the day of short baggy pants and stirrups, we can *thank* the Rays’ very own George Hendrick. [Sports By Brooks]
  • The Rays have extended their partnership with the Princeton Rays through the 2010 season. [Rays Prospects]
Nov 03

[RAYS HOT STOVE] Rays Decline Options On Floyd And Miller

Cliff Floyd, David Price, Edwin Jackson, Jeff Niemann, JP Howell, Trever Miller Cork Gaines 5 Comments »

In one somewhat surprising move and one not-so-surprising move, the Rays have declined the 2009 options on both Cliff Floyd and Trever Miller.

The Floyd move is not surprising as we recently learned that he could be headed for retirement. Even if Floyd chooses to play again in 2009, $2.75 million is a stiff price for a player that is a part-time DH and a part-time DL player. In 2008, Floyd appeared in only 80 games (72 starts), hitting .268/.349/.455 with 11 home runs.

Declining Miller’s option was a bit more surprising as $2 million is a fair price for a lefty specialist. The loss of Miller leaves the Rays with JP Howell as the only left-hander in the bullpen.

The Rays do project to have more pitchers than spots in 2009 with the potential additions of David Price and Jeff Niemann. Niemann will be out of minor league options next season. If Price moves to the rotation, Niemann can expect to compete with Edwin Jackson for one of the final bullpen spots unless one or both are traded.

Floyd’s buyout cost the Rays $250K while Miller’s was $400K.

Rays Decline Options On Floyd, Miller [MLB Trade Rumors]

Oct 28

[CLIFF FLOYD] Cliff Floyd’s Injury Could Lead To Retirement

Cliff Floyd, Joe Maddon, Troy Percival, Willy Aybar Cork Gaines 8 Comments »

Cliff Floyd was removed from the World Series roster with a suspected tear of the labrum in his right shoulder. Now Floyd says the injury could end his career.

“If I have any more surgeries, my career’s a wrap,” Floyd said. “If it’s something I can rehab from, we’ll see what happens.”

Floyd hinted early in the season that 2008 could be his last. Then, in September, Floyd said he was having second-thoughts, noting that this Rays squad had made baseball “so fun.” However, even then, Floyd admitted that “going through all the surgeries…has taken it’s toll.”

The Rays have a 2009 team option on Floyd that would pay him $2.75 million. The buyout is only $250K.

The Rays, who could already be in the market for a right-handed hitting right fielder, may now also need a left-handed hitting DH. Willy Aybar, a switch-hitter, could take over as the most-days DH. However, Joe Maddon may prefer another player in the role as he will likely continue to use Aybar as a backup at several positions.

In addition, we have stated previously that it would not surprise us if Troy Percival retires after the season. The numerous trips to the DL, as well as his decision to not be with the team during the playoffs leave us wondering if Percy still has a desire to play.

Floyd only appeared in 80 games this season hitting .268/.349/.455 with 11 home runs.

Maddon skeptical of explanation of Blanton’s cap stain [St. Pete Times]
Floyd To Retire After Season; Griffey To The Rays? [Rays Index]
Floyd Has Mixed Feelings About Retirement [Tampa Tribune]

Oct 23

[HAPPY HOUR] Rocco Baldelli Will Start Game 2 In Right Field

Cliff Floyd, Cole Hamels, Davey Lopes, Derryl Cousins, Evan Longoria, Jayson Werth, Joe Maddon, Rocco Baldelli, Scott Kazmir, Willy Aybar Cork Gaines 5 Comments »

Because the best cure for a bad “Hangover” is a good “Happy Hour”.

That cute little Rayhawked, bespectacled fella is part of the new logo over “The Heater“, Marc Topkin’s blog at the St. Pete Times.

He sure is cute. But he looks a little familiar. Hmmm? Where have we seen him before? What could it be? Is it that he has a more famous cousin?

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Rocco Baldelli will start in right field tonight, while Cliff Floyd will be back at his customary DH slot. [Rays Report]
  • Badsnap wonders if Derryl Cousins would be working the World Series if Boston had won the ALCS, noting that Cousins collarbone is only bruised and not broken. [Badsnap]
  • Joe Maddon was named the Manager of the Year by the Sporting News. [The Heater]
  • Some quotes from the Phillies suggest that Scott Kazmir was tipping his pickoff move. [Yahoo! Sports] [via Fanhouse]

“We saw some things…We can put some pressure on teams if they give us something to key off of.” Davey Lopes

“I don’t want to say too much because we have games left…I will say with Davey, we’re an aggressive baserunning team.” Jayson Werth

  • On a side note: For the younger crowd that are not familiar with Davey Lopes, just look at his career numbers to get a clear indication as to how differently the game is played these days on the basepaths. The dude once stole 77 bases and was 47 of 51 at the age of 40! Amazing. And having watched Lopes (at least towards the end of his career) he was not that fast. [Baseball-Reference]
  • Jon Heyman: “But for one night, in the biggest game of their lives, the 97-win Rays reverted to their previously sour history in their 3-2 Game 1 defeat to the Phillies.” Huh-wha?!? Jon does know this is baseball right? Sometimes, even good teams lose a game. Or is this going to be the Heyman’s mantra for the rest of time. Anytime the Rays lose a game, they will have “reverted to their previously sour history”. Jesus Jon! They lost by 1 run to a one of the best lefties in baseball. The old Devil Rays would have lost that game 10-1. (thanks Charles) [SI.com]
  • It seems a bit strange to use alcohol as the vehicle to celebrate the success of any athlete, but it is even more strange when the New York Times uses champagne and beer as a vehicle in a story about Willy Aybar, who once spent three months in alcohol rehabilitation. [New York Times]

Four drained bottles of booze in the locker of a recovering alcoholic would be cause for concern in most workplaces. In the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse, the empty Champagne and wine containers in Willy Aybar’s cubicle are considered 100 percent proof of a rebirth, not a relapse.

  • Ratings from game 1 were down 14% from last year but are comparable to the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and Astros. [Bloomberg]
  • Hidden behind the “Insider” curtain, Buster Olney looks closer at Evan Longoria’s at bats last night to see how Cole Hamels was able to dominate the Rays. [ESPN]

The first pitch that Evan Longoria saw from Cole Hamels, in Longoria’s first at-bat of the World Series, was a changeup. And with a 1-1 count, Longoria saw another changeup, and then another, and he struck out swinging. Three changeups among the first four pitches, but what Longoria could not have known, as he walked back to the dugout, was that he would not see a changeup thrown by Hamels in his next at-bat at all.

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