Death Rays?

Is anyone crying for the Tampa Bay Rays?

The rumors of their death have been slightly exaggerated.  You don’t have to worry about them at all, as they are merely reloading for 2012 and beyond.

Desmond Jennings is the new Carl Crawford – 5 years younger and millions less expensive. He is s superb defensive outfielder and will be in the mix for leading the American League in stolen bases soon enough.

Dan Johnson is the new Carlos Pena, albeit with much better contact. Saying a hitter will have better contact than Carlos Pena is like saying it’s going to be cold in Vermont mid-January. Johnson’s defense wont be as good, but he’ll hit .240 and a few less homers than Pena, but not many.

I said "many," not Manny. I think Ramirez slots in to DH in the evening, and stay in his bat cave by day. Johnny Damon will get a lot of at bats, as the Rays aren’t going to pay him $5 MM plus to platoon, so he’ll DH and play a little outfield – more if Tampa trades BJ Upton.

Jason Bartlett moves to the left coast, but Reid Brignac stands by to take over at short. It may be his last shot, and if he stumbles, the former second round pick in the ’04 draft could be replaced by Ben Zobrist. I expect that anyway, as Brignac has shown little ability to hit lefties so far. That would open up more at bats for Manny and Johnny.

Matt Garza goes to the Cubs, which on the surface looks like a bad trade for Tampa, but how can that be so if they traded him to the Cubs? The Cubs never get any of these trades right, do they? Seriously, Garza has been on the cusp of super stardom, and I look for him to put up very nice numbers in the National League this year. Compared to the AL East, it’s going to have to feel like he’s pitching against AAA hitters.

The poor and bereft Rays rotation has David Price, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson, and Jeff Niemann! Arguably, a top 5 group in all of MLB, and there are stud arms waiting in the wings named Matt Moore, Jake McGee, Alex Torres, and Chris Archer, the lone righty of the group, who was one of 4 prospects acquired from the Cubs in the Garza deal.

The bullpen was definitely decimated, with 4 guys leaving through free agency. The Yanks gave Rafael Soriano, Tampa’s 2010 closer, an obscene amount of cash to back up Mariano Rivera – I’m now hearing more than $33 MM for 3-years…unbelievable, even for New York. Dan Wheeler is giving up Corona for Sam Adams and taking his thing to Boston. Billy Beane is playing a more expensive version of Moneyball these days, giving Grant Balfour some big bucks, and Joaquin Benoit, a non-roster invitee last season with the Rays, is going to Detroit for 3-years, and more than $16 MM.

All of those guys in the prior paragraph will have a shot to help out, and expect one or two to emerge. It’s also probable that Tampa will pick up a veteran arm or two to help out Kyle Farnsworth, who right now sits as the closer on their depth chart. That’s a bit scary.

For better or worse the Rays play in the AL East, and going into 2011 it’s not a good bet that they make the playoffs. If they were in any other division in baseball, I would seriously consider them as favorite, or co-favorite with the Phillies, to win. The Rays are still that good.

So, when the summer begins to roll in, and the Rays are languishing in third place 10 games behind Boston, and 5 behind NY, don’t shed any tears for Tampa Bay. In June of this year they’ll have 12 picks in the first two rounds of a ‘talent loaded’ amateur class of ball players, and all the money they’ll need to sign each one.