Hot-Stove: Rays DFA Jerry Sands, Sign Four Players to Minor League Contracts

I wrote the other day of the acquisition of LHPR Pedro Figueroa from the Oakland Athletics. In that piece, I speculated over who the Rays might designate in order to make room for Figueroa on the 40-man roster. It turns out the recently acquired 1B/OF Jerry Sands became the DFA candidate of choice. Sands could still be an asset to the Rays if no one claims him by January 17th.

Hot-Stove: James Loney Officially Re-Signs, Rays Pick-up Pedro Figueroa, Etc

Loney is slated to make $1MM in 2014, $7MM in 2015, and $8MM in 2016, and has received a $5MM signing bonus. For the 29 year-old first baseman, this represents a significant rise in salary and offers him some job security — after all, he signed a one-year, $2MM prior to the 2013 season.

Hot-Stove: Rays Release Leslie Anderson, On Jerry Sands, Etc.

The Jerry Sands acquisition makes a little more sense now. The question begs: Who is Jerry Sands? Furthermore, what can he offer the Rays?

Hot-Stove: Balfour – A Ray Once More?

The Rays intensified their interest in re-signing Grant Balfour days after the Baltimore Orioles walked away from a two-year, $15MM deal with reliever because they had concerns with his throwing shoulder. That interest only increased following the results of a second opinion from Rays team doctor, Koco Eaton.