Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs, Off of the Market and the Rays Radar

It was just announced that Anthony Rizzo, the recently displaced (by Yonder Alonso) Padres first baseman, has been acquired by the Cubs for RHP Andrew Cashner, and outfielder Kyung-Min Na. Josh Byrnes, the Padres GM was quoted as saying, “The acquisition of Yonder Alonso provided us the flexibility to make this trade and acquire a quality, young power arm in Andrew …

Hot-Stove: The Rays and Fernando Rodney, an Update

2:55 PM: The finalized terms of the Fernando Rodney, 34, contract have been released. Rodney will reportedly make $1.75 MM in 2012, with a $2.5 MM option in 2013. There is also $25o K buyout in his contract. My first thought? I’m not a huge fan of one year contracts, especially with players who, as one Angels …

Hot-Stove: Randomness and Other Unfocused Thoughts

Now that the excitement surrounding the Winter Meetings has faded away, we Rays fans find ourselves in a very familiar, yet rather irritating, place. That place? The annoying one between the Winter Meetings, and when Andrew Friedman seems to come alive, prior to the reporting of pitchers and catchers. We’ve seen it before, and we …

Hot-Stove: Rays Payroll, Kotchman

It’s been mentioned on a few occasions now, that the Rays will be raising their payroll from $42 MM, to somewhere in the range of $50-$55 MM, at least for the next couple of seasons. Interestingly enough, in a tweet from DRaysbay Andrew Friedman has suggested that the Rays “do not work on a hard …