LATEST STORIES FROM RAYS REPORT
Niemann fourth in AL rookie voting
6 days ago by
Rays Report
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Right-handed pitcher Jeff Niemann, the Rays’ most pleasant surprise in 2009, finished fourth in the Baseball Writers Association American League Rookie of the Year voting announced today. Niemann, who won the fifth starter’s job on the last day of spring training, went...
Zaun files; Hernandez moves on
10 days ago by
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As expected when the Rays declined the $2 million option on his contract for 2010 earlier this week, catcher Gregg Zaun has filed for free agency. The 38-year-old veteran did a nice job for the Rays after they acquired him from Baltimore in early August. Used mainly in a…
Surgery for Navarro, Perez
13 days ago by
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Catcher Dioner Navarro and outfielder Fernando Perez each off-season underwent surgery recently and should be ready for Spring Training. Navarro had the ulnar nerve in his left (non-throwing) elbow stabilized by Dr. Koco Eaton in St. Petersburg, and Perez underwent a repair of the...
Rays pick up Crawford’s option
13 days ago by
Rays Report
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The Rays took one of their most expected steps of the offseason today, exercising the $10 million option on left fielder Carl Crawford’s contract for 2010. The club also made decisions on left-handed pitcher Brian Shouse and catcher Greg Zaun, declining $2 million options on...
Moves bolster minor league operations
17 days ago by
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Veteran baseball man Bill Evers is moving back to the field as co-minor league field coordinator with Jim Hoff in one of several minor league staff moves the Rays announced Thursday. Evers has spent 14 years in the Rays organization, including eight (1998-2005) as the manager at Triple...
Aki traded for reliever Chavez
19 days ago by
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The Rays have traded second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for reliever Jesse Chavez, the club announced tonight. Iwamura, a three-time all-star in Japan, played three seasons in Tampa Bay, batting .281 with a .354 on-base percentage and 104 RBIs. An excellent defensive player...
Aki trade to Pirates may be close
19 days ago by
Rays Report
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According to reports out of Pittsburgh, the Rays are close to announcing a trade sending second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for relief pitcher Jesse Chavez. Chavez, a 26-year-old righthander, was 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 73 appearances for the Pirates last season. Overall...
Aki trade in works?
19 days ago by
Rays Report
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It sounds like there will be some news from the Rays tonight, and it may involve second baseman Akinori Iwamura. The Rays aren’t saying anything, but their most pressing concern is a $4.85 million option on Iwamura’s contract. They must decide by the day after the World...
Rays tab hitting coach
October 21, 2009 by
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Derek Shelton, who lost his job with the Indians earlier this month when manager Eric Wedge was fired, is the Rays’ new hitting coach. The Tampa resident replaces Steve Henderson, whose contract the Rays didn’t renew. “I believe he is the kind of coach who can create...
Spring training schedule set
October 16, 2009 by
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ST. PETERSBURG—If you’re planing to catch any Rays’ spring training games next year, you now have enough information to make some plans. The Rays announced their Grapefruit League schedule today, along with ticket prices for their second spring training at Charlotte...
Bidding farewell on getaway day
October 04, 2009 by
Rays Report
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The last Sunday of baseball’s regular season is for goodbyes, and it’s always kind of a strange thing. Those like me who cover the teams on what amounts to a daily basis spend so much time in the presence of the same few dozen people—players, coaches, staff, reporters...
Rays line it up for season finale
October 04, 2009 by
Rays Report
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Good morning from the Trop, where the Yankees are in the midst of an enthusiastic round of stretching before taking batting practice, something they also did yesterday while the Rays cooled their heels in the clubhouse. That tells you all you need to know about what lies ahead for these…
Zobrist leads year-end award-winners
October 03, 2009 by
Rays Report
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Prior to tonight’s game, the local chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America announced the winners of its annual awards. In voting conducted by chapter members, Ben Zobrist was named the 2009 Rays Most Valuable Player, Jeff Niemann was the Outstanding Rookie and...
Zobrist back at 1st vs. Pettitte
October 03, 2009 by
Rays Report
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Coming off last night’s triumph, the Rays look to keep it going this evening against another lefty, the venerable Andy Pettitte. Ben Zobrist gets another look at first base tonight, and Akinori Iwamura is back in there at second. We’ll see how B.J. Upton fares after his...
Closing in on the finish
October 02, 2009 by
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ST. PETERSBURG—The Rays are down to their final 27 innings of 2009, assuming the three games in this weekend’s series with the Yankees are played in regulation. The games mean nothing to either team, since the Yankees have already been crowned the AL East champions and...
Night off for CC in O’s finale
October 01, 2009 by
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Good afternoon from the Trop, where the Rays and Orioles will bid a fond farewell to one another tonight. Matt Garza gets the ball for the final time in 2009 tonight as the Rays try to finish off a four-game sweep. Carl Crawford gets the night off, with do-it-all Ben…
Crawford open to long-term deal
September 30, 2009 by
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The Rays almost certainly will pick up Carl Crawford’s 2010 option following the season, but the outfielder would be open to extending his relationship with the team beyond next year. Crawford said today that he would be open to a long-term deal with the Rays this winter and said he…
Riggans, Brignac get the call
September 30, 2009 by
Rays Report
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Good afternoon from the Trop, where the Rays and O’s will continue their scintillating four-game series tonight as James Shields makes his final start in a frustrating season. Shawn Riggans is back behind the plate for the Rays for the second time in three days, and Reid Brignac is…
Upton bats lead-off
September 29, 2009 by
Rays Report
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ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays are down to six games remaining in 2009, and they’ll need to win two of them to finish above .500. Rookie Wade Davis, who pitched a four-hit shutout against the Orioles on Sept. 17 in Baltimore, will face them again tonight. Baltimore has lost 11…
Zobrist gets start at first base
September 28, 2009 by
Rays Report
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ST. PETERSBURG—When the Rays begin their final week of the season in a few hours, Ben Zobrist will be starting at first base. Zobrist, the club’s super utility man, has played at every other position except pitcher and catcher this year. Here’s the full lineup for...
Rays gear up for road finale
September 27, 2009 by
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ARLINGTON—Good morning from deep in the heart of Texas, where we’ll have the usual blistering heat we expect here after it has been lacking the last couple of days. It’s supposed to hit 95 this afternoon, giving the Rays a proper Rangers experience before they had...
Garza looks for some love
September 26, 2009 by
Rays Report
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ARLINGTON—We interrupt your college football programming to squeeze in the lineups from Rangers Ballpark, where the Rays are just as locked in to the action on the gridiron as the rest of the populace. Va Tech-Miami is on the big screen in the clubhouse and Ohio State-Illinois is on…
Rays shut down weary Howell
September 25, 2009 by
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ARLINGTON—The Rays already had backed off significantly in J.P. Howell’s usage out of the bullpen in recent weeks, and now they’ve officially pulled the plug on the reliever. Manager Joe Maddon informed Howell on Wednesday that he wouldn’t pitch in the final...
Rays open final road trip
September 25, 2009 by
Rays Report
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ARLINGTON—Good afternoon from the shadow of Cowboys Stadium, where here in the humble baseball park down the street the Rays (whose season is finished) and the Rangers (whose isn’t quite, but might as well be) will ply their trade this weekend. The Rays lug a 31-47 road...
Burrell sits as Rays face M’s
September 23, 2009 by
Rays Report
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Good afternoon from the Trop, where the Rays and Mariners will wrap up a now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t two-game extravaganza in a few hours. Little tweak in the Rays’ lineup, with Pat Burrell on the bench, Jason Bartlett at DH and Reid Brignac getting a start in the field...
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