For those of you opining because Tampa Bay left the 2013 MLB Winter Meetings without a first baseman, fret not: Mike Axisa of CBS Sports is reporting that James Loney and the Rays are on the verge of a three-year, $21MM contract, which includes a $5MM signing bonus. Yes, it’s another Thanksmas miracle! This is a somewhat surprising move by Andrew Friedman and company. After all, the Rays have famously walked away from players who had similar unexpectedly big seasons on one-year deals (cough, Casey Kotchman and Jeff Keppinger). Then again, Friedman hinted that the first base conundrum would come to a resolution sooner, rather than later.
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Hot-Stove: David Price and Other Winter Meetings Minutiae
Though David Price has been the topic of much speculation during the Winter Meeting’s, if one thing is evident, none of the trade rumors have carried much weight. In fact, Price went out of his way to crush the hopes of every Mariners’ fan Wednesday.
Hot-Stove: Let the Winter Meetings Commence (Updated)
Let the madness begin! For the better part of the next week, representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball organizations, and more than 160 minor league baseball teams, have descended upon Lake Buena Vista, Florida to make moves in what has been called the culmination of the Hot-Stove period of the off-season. As one writer put it, “A lot of things are going to be talked about this week—some of them will bear fruit and change the landscape of MLB in 2014, others will be a lot of hot air from agents trying to drive up prices or teams trying to pressure a player into taking their deal.”
Hot-Stove: More on the Hanigan-Bell Trade
I wrote earlier about the Ryan Hanigan, Heath Bell three-way trade which sent Rays Single-A pitcher, Justin Choate, to the Diamondbacks. I’d like to delve a bit closer into Hanigan and Bell.
Hot-Stove: Rays Acquire Ryan Hanigan, Heath Bell In Three-Way Trade
The Rays are again making moves. It’s being reported the Tampa Bay Rays have landed catcher Ryan Hanigan from Cincinatti, in a three-way trade with the Reds and an unnamed team. Hanigan will, reportedly, get a multi-year deal as part of the trade. Hanigan is expected to make $2.75MM in 2014, $3.5MM in 2015, $3.7MM in 2016, and $3.75MM in 2017, with an $800K buyout.