2017 GM Meetings kick off in Orlando, Ken Hagan tries to shutdown citizen watchdogs

“We have some work to do,” Erik Neander told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “We are not one piece away from having rosters that I think on any given night can stand toe-to-toe with clubs like those that went deep in the postseason. We know that.” (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

The 2017 GM Meetings kicked off on Monday, as the 30 general managers, including Erik Neander of the Tampa Bay Rays gathered in Orlando. And while these meetings won’t produce the same buzz as next month’s Winter Meetings, that doesn’t mean this week’s event won’t help shape the Rays’ offseason.

Neander conceded that the Rays have some heavy lifting to do before pitchers and catchers report to camp in January, and that foundation will be laid this week:

You look at the strength of some of the rosters that were present throughout the playoffs, certainly (the Astros and Dodgers) in the World Series, and you see the high-end talent that those teams possess, you see the depth they have of high-end talent.

We have some work to do. We are not one piece away from having rosters that I think on any given night can stand toe-to-toe with clubs like those that went deep in the postseason. We know that. We recognize that.

Yet because of the extensive number of staff changes around Major League Baseball, trades are expected to be slow in developing this offseason. That is, don’t expect fireworks this week.

When the time is right to address their needs, the Rays will likely start by filling glaring openings at first base and in the bullpen and potentially upgrading elsewhere. Yet don’t expect the Rays to slip into fire-sale mode — ala the Cubs prior to 2014 and Astros prior to 2015 — this offseason.

You spend some time thinking about it, Rays GM Erik Neander said, because you’ve seen the recent outcomes of those clubs, and that’s something that shouldn’t be lost with this.

Although, he quickly added, probably not.

Instead Neander will be tasked with finding a less painful way to rebuild, limit costs, and remain competitive in the AL East. That probably includes trading higher-salaried players like Jake Odorizzi, Corey Dickerson, Brad Miller, and maybe Alex Colome, knowing full well that making deals creates more holes.

We believe in the core of players we have. Our farm system is as strong as it’s been in quite some time, with a lot of players I think are close to graduating, Neander said. So there is optimism for some of the players we have here and our chances to compete. But we’re not that close at the same time.

We need to be open and cognizant of that and try to do the best we can to provide opportunity to our young players, to provide the right opportunity to our veteran players and leaders of the club. But it could go in a lot of different directions in terms of how we ultimately find our way to get there.

“What about Archer?” you may be asking. It would appear that the staff ace is safe for now.

Neander told MLB Radio Network that while they will “hear teams out” on Archer, they are more inclined to “find a way to build around” the right-hander. The question begs, how much leeway will Stu Sternberg give Neander to make the necessary moves to make the Rays a competitive team five years after their last postseason appearance?

Historically speaking, the Rays have made some big trades around this point in the offseason. in November of 2014 the team traded away Jeremy Hellickson and Joel Peralta, and in November of 2015 Nathan Karns and CJ Riefenhauser to Seattle for Brad Miller and Logan Morrison.

Nevertheless it still seems like Neander and the Rays are firmly in wait-and-see mode at the moment.

Noteworthiness

— Forget what you may have heard, Topkin wrote that pitcher Alex Cobb has yet to decide whether to take the Rays’ one-year $17.4 million qualifying offer or decline it to get a better deal in free agency, with the Rays getting draft pick compensation. FanRag Sports had reported Monday he had decided to decline, which still seems most likely.

— Is it too early to call Ken Hagan a prick at best? First off, his lack of transparency is in the stadium saga is questionable at best. Then there is his glaring attempt to effect the St. Petersburg mayoral election by surprising seemingly everyone with his Ybor stadium site announcement. And now this, Hagan is expected to ask the county to spend more money so he can go after citizen watchdogs who filed ethics complaints against him. Hillsborough County citizens, how have you elected this man into office multiple times since 2002?

Longoria won the 2017 Gold Glove, Kriseman won the election, and Rays roster moves

On Tuesday, Evan Longoria became the first Ray to win three Gold Gloves. (Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)

The Tampa Bay area celebrated two big victories Tuesday night, as Evan Longoria won the 2017 Gold Glove at third base, and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was re-elected into office, handily defeating his opponent, Rick Baker, by three percentage points. The Tampa Bay Rays also announced a handful of Minor League roster moves Wednesday afternoon.

Congratulations Evan Longoria

Congratulations to Evan Longoria are in order after he took home the Gold Glove Award for the third time in his career Tuesday night. Longoria previously won the award in 2009 and 2010.

Longoria told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) that he takes pride in his defense was pleased to win the award this season:

The Gold Glove is one of the awards when I first started playing that I always wanted to win, so to win a third one is really cool, said Longoria. I definitely take pride in my defense. …It feels good to win it, and it feels good to win it in front of some really good players and some guys who put together good years.

This season Longoria ranked second Defensive Runs Saved (11) — his most since 2013 (12) — and third in fielding percentage (.968), total chances (375), putouts (96) and assists (267). The Rays captain also played a career-best 47 consecutive error-free games between July 5 and August 28.

Longoria now is the 18th third baseman to win three or more Gold Glove Awards — the first Ray to win the award three times — and only the third active third baseman with three or more, joining Adrian Beltre (5) and Nolan Arenado (4, entering Tuesday night).

Longoria snared the eighth Gold Glove Award in franchise history; centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier (2015, 2016), right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (2012), left fielder Carl Crawford (2010) and first baseman Carlos Peña (2008) had also won Gold Glove Awards.

Right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb was a Gold Glove Award finalist this season as well.

Congratulations Mayor Kriseman

Incumbent Rick Kriseman defeated challenger, and former mayor, Rick Baker to remain St. Petersburg mayor Tuesday night. Kriseman amassed 51.4 percent of the vote (33,854 votes), compared to 48.6 percent of the vote (31,815 votes) by Baker.

The mayor overcame many challenges en route to his victory:

– Ken Hagan (Hillsborough County Commission) tried to tip the election in Rick Baker’s favor with his surprise Rays  announcement two weeks before the votes were cast.

– Rick Baker went low with his advertisements, including an attempt to ruin someone’s life and livelihood.

– Rick Baker attempted to use Alt-Right tactics to score with his base.

– St. Petersburg voters voted in favor of a flawed candidate, in his handling of the waste water crisis.

– The editors of the Tampa Bay Times did all they could to put Rick Baker in office with their barrages of one-sided editorials, yet Kriseman still won.

Goddamn its great to be alive in lil old progressive St. Petersburg!

As it relates to the stadium saga… Moving forward, and as Noah Pransky (Shadow of the Stadium blog, WTSP) noted, with the election in the books, it would seem the next domino to fall in the Stadium Saga would belong to the Rays, who could call a press conference to discuss their next move (seeking money) as soon as this week. But that may not prove to be a pleasant — or brief — chapter in this saga.

Minor League matters

LHP Vidal Nuno, who elected free agency from Baltimore in October, inked a Minor League deal with the Rays. It was an interesting move for Tampa Bay, as Nuno has the ability to pitch in multiple innings. The southpaw has spent time with the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Mariners and Orioles, compiling a 5-21 record, and a 4.29 ERA mark in 138 games. The acquisition creates more depth.

The Rays agreed to terms with LHP Adam Kolarek on a Minor League deal. Kolarek pitched in 12 games in 2017 — his first big league action. According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) the team is talking with some other of their minor-league free agents as they attempt to rebuild the roster.

Finally, 18 Ray farmhands became free agents this week, including three players from the top of the 2011 draft class in which Tampa Bay had 10 of the top 60 picks: INF Jake Hager, RHP Jeff Ames, and LHP Grayson Garvin.

The entire list is below (where they ended the 2017 season is in parentheses).

Right Handed Pitchers:

Hunter Adkins (AA)
Jeff Ames (AAA)
Fernando Baez (A)
Mike Broadway (AAA)
Jairo Munoz (A)
Kyle Winkler (AA)

Left Handed Pitchers:

Logan Darnell (AA)
Grayson Garvin (AA)
Michael Roth (AAA)
Jonny Venters (AAA)

Catchers:

Curt Casali (AAA)
Michael McKenry (AAA)
Justin O’Conner (AAA)

2B:

Ryan Brett (AAA)

3B:

Patrick Leonard (AAA)

SS:

Jake Hager (AAA)

Outfielders:

Granden Goetzman (A)
Cesar Puello (AAA)

Topkin wrote about the roster moves at length on Wednesday.

Rays extend offer to Alex Cobb; trim roster to 32 players

As expected, the Tampa Bay Rays extended a $17.4-Million qualifying offer to free-agent Alex Cobb this afternoon.

As expected, the Tampa Bay Rays extended a $17.4-Million qualifying offer to 30 year-old free-agent right-hander Alex Cobb this afternoon. We first wrote about the likelihood of this move Sunday evening. The team, however, did not make a qualifying offer to 1B Logan Morrison. They also made a bevy of roster moves to clear up space on the 40-man roster ahead of the 2017 Rule-5 Draft.

Cobb is a free agent this offseason after spending his first six big league seasons with the Rays. In his second season removed from Tommy John Surgery, the right-hander made 29 starts and went 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA/4.16 FIP (4.24 xFIP) with 128 strikeouts over 179-1/3 innings. He was good at inducing ground balls (47.8% GB%) — something that is highly coveted by most teams league wide — and limiting walks (2.21 BB/9), although he lagged in the strikeout department last season, culling a 6.42 K/9 which was down from his career 7.33 K/9. The drop in Cobb’s strikeout rate is largely attributed to the absence of his much ballyhooed changeup which he had a hard time regaining the feel for after undergoing the knife in 2015. He made up for the loss with his curveball, as well as a two-seam fastball that he mixed in every now and then.

The qualifying offer is a one-year deal worth $17.4-Million for 2018, the average salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid players. If Cobb turns it down and signs elsewhere, Tampa Bay would receive a 2018 draft pick as compensation.

However, there is a caveat. As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) explained, the Rays, as a revenue sharing recipient, would get a compensation pick after the first round of the 2018 draft if Cobb signs for $50-Million plus, a pick after the second round if less. Cobb and his agent have until November 16 to decide whether to take the qualifying offer and stay with the Rays for one more season (thus becoming a free agent following 2018) or test the free agent market now.

Cobb told the Times that he was humbled by the Rays’ decision to extend the offer:

It’s extremely humbling and I’m very honored to receive such an offer from the Rays. Obviously I get the business side of it and reasons behind making the offer, but obviously there’s still a lot of confidence in me that they made that offer. I look forward to talking to my agents and figuring out what will be the best route going forward.

Rays General Manager Erik Neander also spoke about their decision to make the offer:

Alex is a winning player, and with what he has demonstrated throughout his time here, in terms of on-field talent and leadership, he is every bit deserving of this offer. Alex has the next decision in this process and we’re prepared for the potential outcomes that come with it.

Coming off a breakout 38-homer season, it was somewhat surprising that the Rays didn’t also extend a qualifying offer to Morrison. Yet the cost-conscious team couldn’t stomach paying a combined $35-Million for the pair in the event that both accepted the deal. LoMo will enter free agency — along with six other free-agents — freed of the burden of a compensatory draft pick.

The Rays also cleared four roster spots Monday afternoon by outrighting C Curt Casali, OF Cesar Puello, and RHP Shawn Tolleson — each of whom are now minor league free agents. Meanwhile, Taylor Gurrieri was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays on a waiver claim.

Casali was a September call up for Tampa Bay, going 3-for-9 with a homer. In short, while Casali was the primary catcher in 2016, the team parted ways with him as he became expendable with the platoon of Wilson Ramos/Jesus Sucre behind the plate. Puello was acquired from the Angels off waivers on August 19th, although he went just 6-for-30 over 16 games. Tolleson underwent Tommy John surgery on May 17th, and he did not throw a pitch for the Rays this past season.

Guerrieri was slated to be the next big thing for the Rays when he was drafted in 2011, however, his loss further weakens return of that particular draft class, when they had 10 of first 60 picks (also including Blake Snell).

The Rays had high hopes for Guerrieri in 2011 when he was selected in the first round, writes Neil Solondz (Rays Radio). Guerrieri, who turns 25 in December, has had a tough time staying healthy.

Guerrieri surpassed 100 innings just once in the last six seasons. He threw only 9.1 innings last year due to arm issues, and spent most of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Guerrieri made his Triple-A debut last year, he has just one option remaining. When healthy, Guerrieri was effective, going 25–13 with a 2.51 ERA, but he threw only 361.2 innings, or just over 60 per year.

Solondz also noted that reducing the roster to 32 doesn’t mean the Rays will protect eight minor league players on November 20th, although there are certainly numerous qualified candidates. Protecting less than that number would cushion and maneuverability for trades or free agent signings.

Noteworthiness

— Tuesday is the mayoral election in St. Petersburg. Your choices are progressive candidate whose record has been smudged by a waste water crisis not of his making (Rick Kriseman), or a regressive contender whose record had been spotty in his first turns as the mayor in the early aughts (Rick Baker).

I feel as though I previously made a pretty good argument for why you shouldn’t vote for Baker.

Opinion Piece: I will not be voting for Rick Baker, and neither should you

Rays extend qualifying offer to Alex Cobb; again, I won’t be voting for Rick Baker

The choice is yours, do what thou wilt.

Rays extend qualifying offer to Alex Cobb; again, I won’t be voting for Rick Baker

The Tampa Bay Rays extended a $17.4-Million qualifying offer to RHP Alex Cobb before the 5:00 PM Monday deadline. (Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)

According to Jon Heyman (FanRag) the Tampa Bay Rays Rays will extend a $17.4-Million qualifying offer to right-hander Alex Cobb.

Cobb, 30, is a free agent this offseason after spending his first six big league seasons with the Rays. In his second season removed from Tommy John Surgery, the right-hander made 29 starts and went 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA/4.16 FIP (4.24 xFIP) with 128 strikeouts over 179-1/3 innings. He was good at inducing ground balls (47.8% GB%) — something that is highly coveted by most teams league wide — and limiting walks (2.21 BB/9), although he lagged in the strikeout department last season, culling a 6.42 K/9 which was down from his career 7.33 K/9. The drop in Cobb’s strikeout rate is largely attributed to the absence of his much ballyhooed changeup which he had a hard time regaining the feel for after undergoing the knife in 2015. He made up for the loss with his curveball, as well as a two-seam fastball that he mixed in every now and then.

The qualifying offer is a one-year deal worth $17.4-Million for 2018, the average salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid players. If Cobb turns it down and signs elsewhere, Tampa Bay would receive a 2018 draft pick as compensation.

However, there is a caveat. As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) explained, the Rays, as a revenue sharing recipient, would get a compensation pick after the first round of the 2018 draft if Cobb signs for $50-Million plus, a pick after the second round if less. Cobb and his agent have until November 16 to decide whether to take the qualifying offer and stay with the Rays for one more season (thus becoming a free agent following 2018) or test the free agent market now.

Topkin also listed some key dates/deadlines to look forward to:

Monday, 5 PM: Free agents can sign with new teams, qualifying offers made
November 16: Decisions due on qualifying offers
November 20: Additions made to 40-man roster to protect players from Rule 5 draft; several Rays prospects in play, led by 1B/OF Jake Bauers, RHP Brent Honeywell
December 1: Nontender decisions on arbitration eligible players

The St. Petersburg mayoral election is Tuesday

For those of us tired of the muckraking associated with a long mayoral campaign cycle, fret not, we’ve only got two more days to deal with the Tampa Bay Times‘ one-sided reporting in favor of Rick Baker. Personally, I cannot wait to not be bombarded by campaign advertisements dealing with the release of partially treated sewage, among other things. Not that release of partially treated sewage didn’t happen (it did) and not that it wasn’t dealt with improperly by the Kriseman administration (it wasn’t)  — which the Mayor fessed up to on multiple occasions. More so, however, I am highly skeptical that Mr. Baker can move us forward, especially taking into consideration how he ran the city in the early aughts.

I wrote about that very subject a week back:

Opinion Piece: I will not be voting for Rick Baker, and neither should you

But, I left out one huge reason not to vote for Mr. Baker … one that relates directly to this blog and the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium search.

As Noah Pransky (Shadow of the Stadium blog, WTSP News) wrote back in August, St. Pete’s next mayor will help determine if the city will be the long-term home to a major league baseball team or a major league soccer team. In short, Mayor Kriseman is the best bet for keeping the Rays in St. Petersburg.

Pransky went into the nuts and bolts on how the mayoral election could effect the stadium saga both here and here. Learn up on the issues and cast your ballot wisely on Tuesday, I already know who I won’t be voting for (cough, Rick Baker).

More Ybor stadium site drama; eight Rays players become free-agents

Ken Hagan’s proposed stadium site in Ybor City. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Business Journal)

If there is one thing we’ve come to expect in the Tampa Bay Rays stadium saga, it’s that flows of progress are often met with ebbs in momentum. From the previous attempts to build a new stadium in Pinellas County — either at the Al Lang Stadium site or in Carillon — to Tampa and St. Petersburg‘s recent stadium site announcements, stops and starts are to be as expected as, well … death and taxes. This week brought more of the same.

It was thought that with Hillsborough’s announcement, the stadium search had been narrowed down to 11 — 10 sites in Pinellas County, including the Trop and Derby Lane, and one in Hillsborough — allowing the Rays to finally get to the brass tacks in assessing the potential stadium sites. However, it appears that Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan’s surprise announcement has thrown a wrench in the gears; a complication to the process.

As it turns, Hagan’s announcement not only was a surprise to the Rays and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, it was also was reported that the announced location “may not have been our choice given all other considerations,” county administrator Mike Merrill told county commissioners at a Wednesday board meeting. What was thought to be a collaborative decision between Hillsborough County officials and the team now appears to be one between the Rays and Hagan himself.

Hagan went as far as to claim the “Ybor site became both the team’s and our preferred site” after “discussing the benefits and challenges” of every option. This in spite of the team’s distant relationship from the selection process. The front office has repeatedly said they were waiting for Hillsborough County to present a site that the team could evaluate against the other 10 proposed sites.

Merrill indicated that when becoming privy to a number of sites east of the bay, the Rays chose the Ybor site:

This was the Rays’ choice. It was the only choice. We showed them a number of sites. This was not Ken Hagan’s choice. This wasn’t this board’s choice. It wasn’t my choice. At this point we are still at the mercy of the Rays with respect to selection because they’re the ones that have to play there.

It was not correct the way the media has represented that this was a county or even county board choice,” he said. “It was the Rays choice of land after showing them a number of parcels. The next part of this will be to see if we can make this work from a financial point of view.

In other words, Hagan seems to have jumped the shark.

Moreover, after making many questionable decisions in the site search — from transparency issues (or lack thereof) with taxpayers, to what appears to be a politically motivated decision in the timing of the announcement, favoring Rick Baker’s mayoral campaign — it would seem that Hagan has poisoned the waters with his methodology.

After Hillsborough County’s self-appointed stadium negotiator left the board meeting, his six colleagues discussed whether it was time to change the strategy on Rays negotiations. Board Chairperson Stacy White pondered whether Hagan’s lead had come to an end:

Does that delegated authority need to continue on at this point or should it be moved over into staff’s hands? White asked.

That does not appear to be the rumination of someone in lockstep with Hagan on the matter.

When put into context it becomes abundantly clear that the proposed Ybor site probably likely isn’t any better than where the Rays currently call home, especially when you consider the following that:

— Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa are hurting for stadium funding.

— The proposed site’s 14-acres will only fit a stadium, without the potential ancillary development outside the stadium footprint.

— Fans from outside the general vicinity of the stadium likely won’t be willing to spend 45 minutes to one hour getting to the stadium during rush hour traffic, only to find that surface parking could be more than a walk from the stadium.

But hey, look at the bright side:

Eight Rays players now officially are free-agents

With the culmination of the 2017 baseball season Wednesday night, eight players who aren’t under contract for 2018 are now officially free agents.

Alex Cobb and Logan Morrison top the free-agent list for Tampa Bay, joining six others: Steve Cishek, Tommy Hunter, Sergio Romo, Lucas Duda, Trevor Plouffe, and Peter Borjous.

The team now has a five day window to exclusively negotiate with them in order to potentially bring them back in 2018, including a $17.4-Million qualifying offer to Cobb.

With the eight free-agents coming off the 40-man, the roster now stands at 36.

The Rays not only picked up Nathan Eovaldi’s option for 2018, they also reinstated him 60-day DL along with Matt Duffy, Taylor Guerrieri and Shawn Tolleson.

Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) Eovaldi’s option was part of the deal when the Rays signed him going into the 2017 season, in which they paid him $2-Million to rehab.
The right-hander can earn up to an additional $3.5-Million based on innings and games started. (He has a similar package on incentives based on relief innings, appearances and games finished.)