2012 Tampa Bay Rays

[Al Bundy]

Rany is great, and I have changed my mind about this trade from a Royals perspective. I like it. The Royals need to show the fanbase they care about winning.

[Escobar06]

The Rays need to use the money gained from dealing Shields/Davis to land another bat. No sense in pretending it can go towards a new Price deal, because it's but a drop in the bucket compared to what he's going to get on the open market. Laroche isn't amazing but the Rays don't need to add elite offensive talent, he'd be a pretty nice addition if Loney can get back to his 90 rbi form and Myers works out the way everyone hopes he will.

[Bucsfan4life323]

The Rays are close to signing free agent RHP Roberto Hernandez, previously with Cleveland and formerly known as Fausto Carmona. Hernandez, 32, would provide depth for the rotation after the trades of James Shields and Wade Davis, or could end up in the bullpen.

(And, no, not the Roberto Hernandez who pitched for the Rays in 1998-2000 and is now 48.)

Hernandez is looking to re-establish his career and his value. He missed most of last season due to visa issues in his native Dominican Republic after being caught falsifying his identity and didn't make his debut for the Indians until Aug. 12, going 0-3, 7.53 then being shut down with an ankle injury. The Indians declined a $6-million option.

Hernandez could give the Rays depth for the rotation after the trades of James Shields and Wade Davis, and a possible long man in the bullpen.

He was 13-14, 3.77 in 2010 and an AL All-Star, then dropped to 7-15, 5.25 in 2011.

When Hernandez is going well, he is primarily a ground ball pitcher, which could play well in front of the Rays defense.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-close-to-signing-pitcher-roberto-hernandez/1265802

[Biggs3535]

I'd like to see him in the 'pen if signed, which is were I'd imagine he'd go.  He doesn't need to be in the rotation.

[-ts]

I would have to guess he is going to the pen as a long relief candidate.

A typical AF signing. Buy low and reap the rewards of having a great coaching staff.

[Bucsfan4life323]

I see him as a groundball specialist/longman

[Detrimental]

They stalling out for a DH trying pinch every penny. Need to save that $10m for D Price; if the Price is right.

[Bootz2004]

Unless there's a new stadium getting thrown up in about 2-3 years, Price is playing with the Rays on borrowed time. Perhaps he's the one we should have traded. His salary this year will more than likely exceed what Shields is getting. As a Cy Young winner, he could go to arbitration, name his price and win easily.

[Detrimental]

Price said he taking a home town discount. I talked to him on twitter the other day.

[olafberserker]

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/david-price-likely-to-become-too-costly-for-rays-to-keep/1265339

"Although it would break his heart to ever have to leave the Rays," McKinnis said, "he also recognizes that the economics have to come into play at some point."

[Biggs3535]

Unless there's a new stadium getting thrown up in about 2-3 years, Price is playing with the Rays on borrowed time. Perhaps he's the one we should have traded. His salary this year will more than likely exceed what Shields is getting. As a Cy Young winner, he could go to arbitration, name his price and win easily.

Price isn't a Free Agent until 2016.  There is plenty of time to trade him if they need to.

[Bootz2004]

Unless there's a new stadium getting thrown up in about 2-3 years, Price is playing with the Rays on borrowed time. Perhaps he's the one we should have traded. His salary this year will more than likely exceed what Shields is getting. As a Cy Young winner, he could go to arbitration, name his price and win easily.

Price isn't a Free Agent until 2016.  There is plenty of time to trade him if they need to.

His salary this season will likely exceed $10 million. Next season we are talking $15 million+ if they're lucky because if he has another season like he did this year a 100% increase is not out of the question. Rays can't afford that now which is why unless there's a deal in place for a stadium this could be his last season with the Rays. And if God forbid we don't contend this season wouldn't surprise me if he's dealt before the All Star break.

[Biggs3535]

Unless there's a new stadium getting thrown up in about 2-3 years, Price is playing with the Rays on borrowed time. Perhaps he's the one we should have traded. His salary this year will more than likely exceed what Shields is getting. As a Cy Young winner, he could go to arbitration, name his price and win easily.

Price isn't a Free Agent until 2016.  There is plenty of time to trade him if they need to.

His salary this season will likely exceed $10 million. Next season we are talking $15 million+ if they're lucky because if he has another season like he did this year a 100% increase is not out of the question. Rays can't afford that now which is why unless there's a deal in place for a stadium this could be his last season with the Rays. And if God forbid we don't contend this season wouldn't surprise me if he's dealt before the All Star break.

Sure the Rays can afford it.  That's part of the reason they just traded Shields and Davis, which clears close to $20M this season alone.

[Bootz2004]

Unless there's a new stadium getting thrown up in about 2-3 years, Price is playing with the Rays on borrowed time. Perhaps he's the one we should have traded. His salary this year will more than likely exceed what Shields is getting. As a Cy Young winner, he could go to arbitration, name his price and win easily.

Price isn't a Free Agent until 2016.  There is plenty of time to trade him if they need to.

His salary this season will likely exceed $10 million. Next season we are talking $15 million+ if they're lucky because if he has another season like he did this year a 100% increase is not out of the question. Rays can't afford that now which is why unless there's a deal in place for a stadium this could be his last season with the Rays. And if God forbid we don't contend this season wouldn't surprise me if he's dealt before the All Star break.

Sure the Rays can afford it.  That's part of the reason they just traded Shields and Davis, which clears close to $20M this season alone.

This season, yes. Next season not so much so. If he gets more than $10 million this year there's no telling what his salary will be next year. BTW clearing Shields and Davis saved only about $12 million, not $20 million. And seeing as shields contract isn't even guaranteed, they didn't exactly "save" there.

[Biggs3535]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8732913/assessing-myers-shields-trade-royals-side-aint-pretty

Myers will be making the major league minimum, more or less, for the next three years. Shields will get paid $10.5 million in 2013, and the Royals have an option for him at $12 million in 2014.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6276687

Under the new deal, Davis gets $1 million this year, $1.5 million in 2012, $2.8 million in 2013 and $4.8 million in 2014. The Rays hold a $7 million option for 2015 with a $2.5 million buyout.

The trade clears around $13M in 2013 and $16.5M in 2014, and probably $7M in 2015.  The Rays can afford Price.