Feb 07
According to Marc Topkin, Evan Longoria will report to camp “10-15 pounds leaner and considerably looser, emphasizing flexibility over strength.” The goal is to avoid injuries that have limited Longoria’s playing time in previous years.
Over course, every year dozens of players show up to camp in the best shape of their lives, or with more muscle, or less muscle. And sometimes it makes a difference and sometimes it doesn’t. So we will just have to wait and see.
Then again, five of those pounds Longoria lost probably came when he lost his mullet in favor of a shaved head.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Evan Longoria will be signing autographs on Sunday night at a mall in Garden City, NY. Seems like he did this last year also, but we couldn’t find the report.
- Former Rays outfielder Justin Ruggiano has signed a minor league deal with the Astros.
- Johnny Damon remains on the Yankees radar. [ESPN]
- Jason Bartlett might end up back in the AL East. [MLBTR]
- Could the Bucs land one of the Giants’ Super Bowl heroes? [JoeBucsFan]
Jan 24
- Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
We are back from our little mini-vacation and find that John Sickels of Minor League Ball ranks the Rays farm system as just the seventh-best in baseball...
Impact depth behind Matt Moore has slipped but this is still a robust organization.
Although, we would point out that Moore is pretty damn good. And depending on who you talk to, is probably the best prospect in baseball.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- The Tigers are interested in Johnny Damon. [MLBTR]
- But according to Joel Sherman, Johnny Damon “badly” wants to sign with the Yankees. Of course, Damon had zero interest in the Yankees two weeks ago when he thought he still had a shot with the Rays. [@Joelsherman1]
- The A’s are “very interested” in signing Manny Ramirez. But it is unclear if that interest has changed with the A’s signing another former Rays player, Johnny Gomes. [MLBTR]
- Joe Maddon donated Read the rest of this entry »
Jan 17
- Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
The Rays 2011 All-Stars, David Price, James Shields, and Matt Joyce, have been named the grand marshalls for the 2012 Gasparilla parade on January 28.
Speaking of Shields…Does anybody in baseball have a more intimidating ass? If we were on first base when Shields went into his stretch, we’d be scared.
Just sayin’.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- The A’s are the latest team to show interest in Johnny Damon. [MLBTR]
- Dioner Navarro has signed a minor league deal with the Reds.
- USA Today says the Yankees rotation “not necessarily beast of AL East.” Maybe we are biased, but we think they didn’t need the word “necessarily.” [USA Today]
Jan 16
- Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
Another former Rays player may be heading to a division rival. This time it is Johnny Damon. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Yankees have spoken with Damon about being their DH.
It is interesting that Damon wasn’t even good enough to get an offer from the Rays but now he could end up with the Yankees. But it is even more telling that the Yankees newfound payroll constraints are limiting is forcing them to now look at a DH that even the Rays wouldn’t take.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Rays FanFest will be held on February 18.
- Andrew Friedman said the Rays are still looking for a bat, but that player doesn’t necessarily have to play first base. [TampaBay.com]
- Marc Topkin says an extension for Joe Maddon may not happen until the end of January because the skipper just left for a European vacation. [TampaBay.com]
- The Yankees are also reportedly interested in Read the rest of this entry »
Jan 12
Luke Scott can play first base, so there was still the possibility that Johnny Damon could have been brought back to DH if another first baseman wasn’t available. That is, until Damon spoke with Marc Topkin.
“It’s an unhappy day…Didn’t realize the DH and 1B brought the offense down. Thought we would’ve had an offer…Obviously, I love playing there, but for some reason they’re looking for a DH and a first baseman…And I thought Kotchman and I were probably the two more consistent guys in the lineup last year. I know they want to upgrade the offense, but the offense is going to be fine as long as there’s some production from the catching spot and shortstop…”
We should point out that these were just part of Damon’s comments (you can read the rest at TampaBay.com). And all of the comments were delivered via text. Now, this is just speculation, but we’d say Damon is kinda pissed off. It takes a lot of energy to send that many texts. Unless of course Damon had Siri send them, but we digress.
But the big take-home point here is that Damon is saying Read the rest of this entry »
Jan 11
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Rays have reached an agreement with free agent Luke Scott on a 1-year deal with a 2013 option.
Scott can play both corner outfield positions and first base. However, it would seem that he is more like to be the most-days DH. And if Scott is the DH, Johnny Damon’s tenure with the Rays is now likely to be over.
Scott hit .220 with 9 home runs and a .307 wOBA in 64 games last year with the Orioles. His season was cut short by a shoulder injury that required surgery.
His best year came in 2010 when Scott hit .284 with 27 home runs and a .387 wOBA.
Scott became a free agent last month after he was non-tendered by Baltimore.
Jan 09
When asked about upgrading the offense, Andrew Friedman sounds confident that something will get done, and it could get done soon (via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times)…
“We’re having a lot of conversations on both the trade front and also with free agents,” he said. “I’m confident that we’re going to end up with two hitters that will complement our existing offense and fit in very well. It’s very difficult to handicap the timing but I wouldn’t be surprised if something happened in the next couple weeks.”
Two possibilities are the return of Johnny Damon and/or Casey Kotchman. But as Topkin notes, bringing back both would not be the upgrade the team is seeking.
…realistically if the Rays are going to improve they’d have to upgrade at at least one of those positions, so at most only one would return.
That is fine by us. But at what cost and what type of Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 08
Super-Duper Agent Scott Boras met with the media yesterday to talk about a number of his clients. One of those is former Rays DH Johnny Damon.
When asked about Damon, Boras said Damon played “very well” in 2011.
Of course, Damon did not play “very well” in 2011, with Rays DHs playing well below-average in most offensive categories. Damon is considered a positive presence in the clubhouse. And hey, that’s great. But if that is all he is going to bring to the team, then the Rays are better off hiring somebody like Cliff Floyd to be a coach. It would be a hell of a lot cheaper.
But then Boras may have accused the Rays of being stingy and suggested they could spend more money if they wanted to. But was he joking?
Boras half-jokingly suggested the Rays “have lots of money” despite their perennially low payrolls.
It is always Boras’ position that a team can Read the rest of this entry »
Nov 16
Tampa Bay Rays designated hitters ranked tenth in OPS in the American League this past season. But according to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, that may not keep the Rays from re-signing Johnny Damon for the 2012 season (via Twitter).
The Rays haven’t ruled out a return of free-agent DH Johnny Damon. Liked his offense, loved his personality.
The key words here are the proper usage of “liked” and “loved.” But do the Rays “like” his offense enough? And at what price? Damon made $5.25 million in 2011, and if he truly wants to come back (as he has stated) it will have to be at significant reduction in salary.
That’s not to say his clubhouse presence isn’t important. We love having one or two Johnny Damons around. But if his personality and experience are the only benefits, just go out and sign Cliff Floyd to be a coach. He would be a lot cheaper.
Oct 17
- Off-Season (click image for random Wikipedia page)
Even prior to Stuart Sternberg’s “vaporize” comments following the Rays elimination from the playoffs, he was already beating the relocation drum.
Prior to game three, Jon Paul Morosi asked Stuart Sternberg if the Rays would be playing elsewhere in ten years if there is not a new stadium by then.
“Ten years?”…He thought for a moment…“I would assume so,” he continued, nodding his head. “I would assume so.”
We have always said this situation would get uglier before it gets better. And the Rays are certainly not the first team to threaten relocation (although they might be the first to threaten vaporization, but we digress). And there are teams that have come very close to moving before getting 11th hour deals on a new stadium.
Should we worry? Yes. Should we panic? Not yet.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
According to Marc Topkin, Evan Longoria will report to camp “10-15 pounds leaner and considerably looser, emphasizing flexibility over strength.” The goal is to avoid injuries that have limited Longoria’s playing time in previous years.
