689 replies to this topic

[Oriole85]

Really.

I want the O's to beat them, but there's nothing about TB to hate... except maybe their lame fanbase... I want them to finish behind the O's, but I don't want them to fall apart or have anything terrible happen to them...

Don't hate them like I do the Yanks and Red Sox, but would like the rest of their road this year as difficult as possible. Their fanbase is one of the worst in sports -- it's a real shame considering it's such a well-run organization!

[BobPhelan]

I think I'd rather play the Yankees in a potential playoff series so I'm fine if they keep losing.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baseball Analytics: Price's pitch for Cy Young
http://www.baseballa...for-the-cy.html

[You Play to Win the Game]

Normally, this time of year, I wish the Rays well vs. the big bad boys like the MFY's or Red Sux. I respect their organization for doing what they do on a consistent basis with limited resources and a limited fan base.

Right now, they're annoying as hell. #JustLoseAGameAlready

[Oriole85]

Normally, this time of year, I wish the Rays well vs. the big bad boys like the MFY's or Red Sux. I respect their organization for doing what they do on a consistent basis with limited resources and a limited fan base.

Right now, they're annoying as hell. #JustLoseAGameAlready

I expect that to happen, probably atleast twice against the White Sox in Chicago now that the WSox are a game behind Detroit.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Tampa Bay Times: Retail, real estate experts mixed on whether proposed Rays complex in Carillon is viable
http://www.tampabay....icle1256747.ece

[Oriole85]

Tampa Bay Online: St. Pete mayor rejects Rays' request to explore Hillsborough

http://www2.tbo.com/...hill-ar-545516/

[FlavaDave10]

MLB Trade Rumors: Rays To Exercise 2013 Option For James Shields
http://www.mlbtrader...es-shields.html

No surprise there. I think he's worth pursuing in a trade if the Orioles can get a window to negotiate an extension.

[Oriole85]

MLB Trade Rumors: Rays To Exercise 2013 Option For James Shields
http://www.mlbtrader...es-shields.html

No surprise there. I think he's worth pursuing in a trade if the Orioles can get a window to negotiate an extension.

Also, Rodney and Jose Molina options picked up (http://espn.go.com/m... ... -picked-up)

[BSLChrisStoner]

Hardball Times: Trading Jeremy Hellickson
http://www.hardballt...emy-hellickson/

[Oriole85]

Hardball Times: Trading Jeremy Hellickson
http://www.hardballt...emy-hellickson/

I would be extremely hesistant to trade him if I were TB in the near future, given that he's making close to nothing next year and under team control until 2016. Sure I'd listen to offers. But TB needs all the young pitching it can get, given their situation.

[DJ MC]

http://www.baseballp...tus.com/a/18896

[BSLChrisStoner]

FanGraphs: Rays extend Longoria again
http://www.fangraphs...longoria-again/

[DJ MC]

FanGraphs: Rays extend Longoria again
http://www.fangraphs...longoria-again/

On the one hand, it's really nice to see this deal. We need more players who stick with a team their entire career, and while Longoria is getting a lot of money he doesn't see the need to get ALL of the money.

On the other hand, as I've seen pointed out already, he's missed a lot of games (almost 120) over the past two seasons, and the extension doesn't start until he is 32.

I support the deal, but it could turn out very bad for Tampa Bay.

[SportsGuy]

http://www.rotoworld...2/evan-longoria

[SportsGuy]

My post from the other thread:

"On the one hand, it's really nice to see this deal. We need more players who stick with a team their entire career, and while Longoria is getting a lot of money he doesn't see the need to get ALL of the money.

On the other hand, as I've seen pointed out already, he's missed a lot of games (almost 120) over the past two seasons, and the extension doesn't start until he is 32.

I support the deal, but it could turn out very bad for Tampa Bay."

If he was a FA right now and would sign with us for a 9/136 deal, would you do it?

[Mackus]

Another great deal for the Rays, and smart unless he suffers some sort of catastrophic injury, and this may be an even better example of their foresight than when they signed him to begin with.

They already had him inked for the next four seasons for only $36M total.

The extension will cover from 2017 thru 2022, which will be his Age 31 thru Age 36 seasons at roughly $17M per year. I think it's highly plausible that he's still worth much more than that for the early parts of the extension. They wanted to take care of it now when that still seems really far away and he's not thinking about what FA players will get come that time. It's certainly risky on their end if he suffers some major injury, but he only has to be about a 3-4 WAR player to be worth that contract in his 30's. Maybe less if free agent rates keep going up.

I can't imagine what a 31 year-old Evan Longoria would have gotten on the free agent market in four years. 8 years and $25M per year at an absolute minimum. The Rays will get him for about two thirds of that annually and not have to commit to him for his late 30's. This could hurt them if he fades to just a good player (and really hurt if he suffers something major, unless they've insured it), but it's a bargain if he's a star, even if he's only a star through his age 34 season.

[mweb08]

If he was a FA right now and would sign with us for a 9/136 deal, would you do it?

Yes, without question.

[SportsGuy]

Yes, without question.

3 wins a year is all he would have to average for that deal to be worth it.

[mweb08]

3 wins a year is all he would have to average for that deal to be worth it.

I tend to think that putting up one WAR for each 4.5 or so million earned is too low of a requirement to truly be worth it, but I do think he will likely exceed that type of production per dollar by a good amount.