Nov 10
Back in early August, the Rays added Chad Bradford from the Orioles for a Player To Be Named Later (PTBNL). It is two months later and the Rays have yet to send a player to the O’s to complete the deal. A couple of weeks ago, O’s GM Andy MacPhail was asked about the trade.
MacPhail also said the player to be named in the Chad Bradford deal will be announced between the end of the World Series and the start of the winter meetings. That’s quite a gap. But it’s hardly worth pacing the floor over…”I’ve done everything I can when asked to downgrade expectations,” he said, adding there won’t be any immediate benefits to the acquisition.
The winter meetings are to be held December 8-11.
Often in trades involving a PTBNL, the receiving team (in this case the O’s) is given a list of several players to choose from. This gives the receiving team a chance to scout the players on the list and decide which player they prefer.
With the seasons completed, this suggests that the Orioles are scouting one or more players in the Arizona Fall League. The AFL schedule ends on November 22, two weeks prior to the winter meetings. Rays prospects participating in the AFL include Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall, Matt Spring, Chris Mason, Ryan Reid, Wade Townsend, Mike Wlodarczyk and Desmond Jennings.
We have been unable to confirm, but there is some sentiment that if the teams cannot agree on a player, the Rays will send a predetermined amount of “cash considerations” to the O’s in order to complete the deal. There may also be a six month time limit on the deal.
MacPhail snippets [MASN]
Aug 23
Durham 6, Louisville 2. Ben Hendrickson won his 10th game, striking out 7 in 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk…Dan Johnson was 2-4 with 2 doubles and a walk…John Jaso finished 1-4 with a walk and an RBI…Jonny Gomes was 0-5 with a strike out.
Tennessee 1, Montgomery 0. Mike Prochaska allowed only 1 run in 8 innings on 7 hits and no walks. He struck out 3.
Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 1; ppd rain).
Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 2; ppd rain). The D-Rays have now had their last 6 games postponed or cancelled due to rain or a wet field.
Columbus 2, Charleston 0 (gm 1). Jesse Darcy pitched a 2-hit shutout improving to 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA. He did not strike out a batter and did not issue a walk…Maiko Loyola finished 2-3.
Columbus @ Charleston (gm 2; ppd rain)
Hudson Valley 10, Oneonta 1.
Princeton 7, Johnson City 0. Tim Beckham did not play.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- 5 of the Rays 6 Arizona Fall League participants will be from the Montgomery roster including James Houser, Ryan Reid, Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall and Matt Spring. Houser was originally scheduled to participate last fall, but was unable due to his on-going suspension. No word yet on who the 6th member will be, although it will likely be a pitcher. [Montgomery Advertiser]
- The Bulls’ magic number to clinch the South Division is now 4 with 10 games remaining on the schedule. [Durham Bulls]
- The Biscuits now trail Mississippi by 3.5 games with 10 to play. [Montgomery Advertiser]
Jun 13
Rochester 9, Durham 4. Mitch Talbot picked up his first loss since April, dropping to 6-4. He was 5-0 in his previous 8 starts. He gave up 7 runs (6 earned) in 5.1 innings…5 different Bulls had 2 hits apiece including Fernando Perez, who also stole his 18th base…Joel Guzman and Reid Brignac were each 1-4. Brignac had 2 errors, only his 6th and 7th on the year.
Montgomery 4, Mobile 2 (gm 1). Jake McGee struggled with his control, walking 5, throwing a wild pitch and giving up 5 hits in just 4.1 innings. He struck out 3 and allowed 2 runs…Ryan Reid, struck out 3 and walked 1 in 2 scoreless innings for his first AA save…Ronnie Merrill was 2-4 with his 10th double and 2 RBI and Matt Spring added 2 hits in 3 at bats.
Mobile 3, Montgomery 1 (gm 2). Mike Prochaska started, going 5 innings and giving up 3 runs (2 earned)…Rashad Eldridge went 2-4, accounting for half of the Biscuits hits.
Vero Beach @ Fort Myers (ppd.)
Savannah 2, Columbus 1. Austin Hinkle gave up a walk and 2 straight singles with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, the last of which drove in the winning run…Alex Cobb started, striking out 6 and walking just 1 in 6 innings. He gave up 1 run on 4 hits…The Catfish managed only 3 hits, all singles.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- ESPN has a feature article on Durham Bulls’ manager Charlie Montoyo and his families struggles with the health of their 8-month old son Alex. [ESPN]
- Chris Richard of the Bulls and Ryan Reid, recently promoted to the Biscuits, were named player and pitcher of the month for the Rays minor league system. [St. Pete Times]
Jun 07
Durham 10, Richmond 2. For the 4th time in his last 7 starts, Mitch Talbot did not allow a run. This one may have been the most impressive with 7 shutout innings on only 2 hits and no walks. He struck out 7…Dan Johnson was 2-3 with his 9th home run…Elliot Johnson was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI…Reid Brignac was 0-2 with 2 walks. Brignac has 8 walks in his last 9 games after only having 7 in his first 48 games.
Montgomery 6, Birmingham 3. Jake McGee picked up his 6th win, but did allow 3 runs in 6 innings, on 4 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 2…Ryan Reid continues his domination after his promotion to AA, with 2 perfect innings in relief with 3 strike outs.
Sarasota 12, Vero Beach 3. Ryna Morse gave up 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings…Desmond Jennings was 3-3 with a double and a walk.
Columbus 11, Rome 1. Brian Flores made only his 9th start, but made it a good one, throwing 7 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and no walks…Henry Wrigley had 4 hits in 5 at bats and drove in 2…Quinn Stewart added 3 hits in 4 at bats and 2 RBI…Chase Fontaine was 2-3 with 2 walks and scored 2 runs.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Jeremy Hellickson who pitched 5 perfect innings on Thursday was removed because of a blister. [St. Pete Times]
- You can find all of the Rays draft pics here. [MLB]
May 30
Durham 10, Norfolk 7. Jon Weber tied the game with a 2-out single in the top of the 9th, and the Dan Johnson put the Bulls ahead for good with a 3-run home run, 2 batters later. Johnson finished 3-6. Weber was 5-6 with 2 RBI…Ben Hendrickson started and gave up 6 runs in 4 innings…Justin Ruggiano was 3-5 and Reid Brignac did not play.
Chattanooga 4, Montgomery 2. James Houser struck out 5 in 5 shutout innings. He was touched for 2 hits and 3 walks…Rhyne Hughes was 3-4 while Gabby Martinez and Chris Nowak were each 1-4 with an RBI.
Vero Beach 6, St. Lucie 4. Joey Callender tied the game with a 2-run single in the 9th with no outs. Garrett Groce put the D-Rays up with a 1-out RBI single and Neil Walton would stretch the lead to 2 with a ground ball to short…Heath Rollins allowed only a single unearned run in 7 innings. He gave up 3 hits and no walks. He struck out 4, but picked up the no-decision…Ryan Reid pitched the final 5 outs allowing only 1 hit and no walks. He struck out 3 and now has 45 strikeouts to 3 walks on the season.
Greenville 7, Columbus 5 (10). Glenn Gibson started and gave up 4 runs in 5.2 innings…Shawn O’Malley had 2 of the Catfish’ 3 hits. 4 of Columbus’ 5 runs were unearned.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Seven members of the Vero Beach Devil Rays have been voted to the FSL All-Star game, including Jeremy Hellickson, Heath Rollins and Ryan Reid. [MiLB]
- With 1 week until the draft, nothing has changed as far as the Rays are concerned. According to RJ Harrison the Rays are still considering 5 players for the top pick…Let’s hope this is a negotiating tactic, because there is little reason to not have narrowed their choice down to at least 2 or 3 at this point. Nobody is drafting ahead of the Rays so there is no need to play games. But certainly they have a plethora of scouting reports on all 5 kids and have in their mind 1 or 2 that are at least a head better than the rest. [Rays Report]
- MiLB interviews the GM of the Vero Beach Devil Rays in their weekly profiles on minor league clubs. [MiLB]
