Rays Appear Set for Position Players
Now that Rocco Baldelli appears headed to the Red Sox, there should be little mystery as to the composition of the Rays' roster headed into Spring Training -- at least where position players are concerned.
Based on what the Rays had on their 25-man roster at the start of the 2008 season -- six infielders, five outfielders and two catchers -- there is little wiggle room to accommodate anybody else barring injury, which is likely a contributing factor for not bringing back Baldelli and will make it unlikely that the Rays bring back either Cliff Floyd or Eric Hinske.
Locks for outfield spots are: Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Gabe Gross, and Pat Burrell (who will be the team's DH), leaving Fernando Perez and Matt Joyce to vie for the final spot.
The infield will be: Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura, and Carlos Pena, with Ben Zobrist as the backup shortstop sharing utility duties with Willy Aybar.
Catching duties will go to Dioner Navarro and Shawn Riggans.
That's 13 players and a pretty solid 13 at that.
--Bill Chastain
I think the Rays have done nicely this offseason by signing Burrell was huge. Couple that with David Price becoming a starter, and they still may be the favorites even with the Yanks and Red Soxs move.
Tom
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I agree with your list, but still hope that something can be done to maybe bring back Floyd in some capacity. The guy was a monster in the club house bringing together a young club that just needed some veteran pushing towards the right direction.
But you are right, Joyce will fight for that last spot on the roster, but you never know..............he might beat out Gross and make Gross expendable before the first series in Boston.
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Do you really think Griffey Jr would end up in Tampa?
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I dont think Griffey will end up in Tampa. There saying he's headed home to Seattle but thats still up in the air w/ the direction the new gm wants to go in, but it will be good for baseball and Seattle so its def more of a possablility than him going to teh Rays.
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I secretly wanted him to play for the Rays, but he is probably headed to Seattle again..........Jay Bruhner, Alvin Davis, Dave Niehaus and Edgar Martinez are publicly calling for the team to consider it.
All 4 of the current Mariner's Hall of Famers think it would be special to the city and to Griffey Jr. to maybe play out his last days where he found his best joys playing the game of baseball.
I would hope he does get back into that uniform since he is one of the guys who fought hard to get that beautiful stadium a reality for the Seattle fans. And Safeco Field is my favorite stadium in the country.
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Signing Pat Burrell really made this team good. He is the big bat they were looking for this off season. Tampa Bay already had a great team and the addition of Burrell will just make the race in the AL East that much better.
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I'm worried about the lineup's ability to make contact. Several hitters racked up big SO numbers: Aki, BJ, Pena, the new guy Burrell, and Evan--maybe more. I think each of those struck out 100+ or 120+ more last season. We might have needed power, but we also need some discipline.
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You think Burrell is such a great signing HIs career against the AL isn't all that 202 avg in 461 at bats 63 runs 93 hits 18 hr 71 rbi 85 bb 151 k's He will stike out 180 times over full season plus he has significant ab against the Sox AND the O"s and the Jays and his numbers are dismal!He will kill alot of ralltys for you plus who ever hits in front of him will get **** to swing at He was only 1for 14 against the Rays in the WS That would have made a lght bulb go off in my head In playoffs he only hit 227 with 8rbi I think he will hurt the team not help it
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