Rays Spring Training Update, Day 36: Cash Readies Relievers for Consecutive Appearances

The Tampa Bay Rays took early batting practice at Jet Blue Park in Ft. Myers on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays took early batting practice at Jet Blue Park in Ft. Myers on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

South on 75 — the Tampa Bay Rays made their way to Ft, Myers to take on the Boston Red Sox for the second consecutive day. Brad Boxberger, Grant Balfour, Ernesto Frieri, Jordan Norberto, Kirby Yates and Jhan Marinez all took the mound in what was called a bullpen by committee game. Tampa Bay ultimately fell to the dreaded Red Sox by a 3-2 margin in extra innings, thanks to a one-run, two-out walk-off shot off the Faux Monster in left. They will get another shot at Boston Wednesday afternoon in their final meeting of the spring.

More important than the loss, however, Boxberger, Frieri, Jepsen and Yates will get the opportunity to make appearances in back-to-back games. Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke with Bill Chastain (MLB.com) before the contest, about the importance of having his relievers pitch in back-to-back games:

Just kind of a normal thing. If it works out where we can match up a little bit [in Sunday’s game] or [Monday], we’ll do that. Some guys will throw a full inning, some two-thirds of an inning, some guys will get four outs depending on how we line it up going forward.

The top relievers who saw time on the hill — Balfour included — posted solid outings.

Boxberger got the start and threw an easy, 11 pitch, 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout (looking) of a frustrated Dustin Pedroia. Balfour followed with a scoreless second, working around a two-out walk. Frieri kept the Red Sox at bay by working around a couple of walks in the third, while Yates and Norberto each pitched two innings, with only Norberto allowing a run.

Boxberger described the importance of throwing in back-to-back games in the Rays Radio clip below:

Kevin Jepsen also made an appearance Sunday, albeit in a minor league game.

The true test will be how well Boxberger, Frieri, Yates and Jepsen perform Monday against the Baltimore Orioles. Can they bounce back and have the same quality stuff as the previous day?

Boxberger spoke to some of the challenges a reliever may face in back-to-back outings, including how well the body can recover in a short amount of time:

…And being able to get going again [the next day]. Kind of take it and see how I can recover and being able to do it two or three times during the year and being able to go in April.

Cash noted that Balfour is not scheduled to pitch Monday.

Balfour, who missed a significant amount of camp while in Australia, allowed that making back-to-back appearances is nice, though it isn’t entirely necessary:

That year in Oakland, I think I had 27 for 27 saves and I didn’t go back-to-back [during Spring Training] and I had four [spring] games. So I guess I don’t have to do it. … You don’t really have to do it. But I mean it’s nice to do it and rebound from it and stuff like that. It’s something that you would typically do.

The New What Next

Matt Andriese will start for the Rays Monday afternoon against the Orioles. Andriese, has an impressive 1.10 ERA this spring.

Rays 3/30/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso LF
Guyer RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
DeJesus DH
Forsythe 2B
Casali C
Andriese SP

Noteworthiness

— Boxberger asked to start Sunday because he wanted to face Boston’s top hitters he would likely see during the regular season. I’d say he did well:

— The Rays have released OF Andrew Toles, their 2013 minor-league player of the year. Toles missed two-plus months in 2014 due to personal reasons. This move follows the release of SS Brandon Martin and OF James Harris, two supplemental first-round picks from the 2011 draft.

— Being an ardent Rays fan, I don’t often see parallels in the way Thomas Ricketts (by way of Theo Epstein) runs the Cubs with that of Stu Sternberg. Who knows, maybe there are an indefinite number similarities that I’ve turned a blind eye to. Whatever the case, Craig Goldstein (Vice Sports) wrote an excellent piece on the Chicago Cubs’ pending decision to carry Kris Bryant on their 25-man roster to open the Major League Baseball season. The point of contention is one we Rays’ fans know all to well: the teams desire to secure an entire extra year of contractual control over Bryant, thanks to service time. There is a glaring difference, however — the Cubs have the ability to open the coffers and pay a player at his market value, whereas smaller market teams like the Rays or Royals seemingly do not.

Or maybe every MLB owner has the ability to pay a player what he is worth, and I’m again turning a blind eye.

— Only one week and counting until our co-Opening Day party with Green Bench Brewing Company!

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Rays Spring Training Update, Day 35: Rays Fall 9-6 to Boston, Injured Pitchers, Etc

Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Matt Moore got in some rehab work in Port Charlotte Saturday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

I’ve frequented the idea that win or lose, this is only Spring Training and these games are meaningless in the scheme of things. However, maintaining that perspective takes a little more effort in certain instances. Case in point, Saturday’s 9-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Under no circumstances do I find a loss to the dreaded Red Sox acceptable. I know, I know — this was a meaningless Spring Training game. Yet the Red Sox are composed of some pretty unlikable players — I’m looking at you Mike Napoli and David Ortiz — and there is nothing I like more than watching them fail, regardless of when. Oh well, at least Tampa Bay will get another shot at the worst team in the AL East, circa 2014, on Sunday.

Nathan Karns wasn’t nearly as impressive Saturday as he’d been all spring. Karns, who will begin the season as the Rays number three starter, allowed six runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three in four innings (72 pitches, 40 strikes, 56% K/BB). Calling it “a bad day at the office,” Karns told the media that two factors effected his overall line,

My command was a little bit off. I fell behind a lot and these guys took advantage of that when I was really trying to make pitches. They were able to have the count in their favor.

Meanwhile the offense was silent until the fourth inning when Tampa Bay finally got to knuckleballer Steven Wright (no, not that Steven Wright). It all started when Xander Bogaerts booted Desmond Jennings’ grounder that should have been the third out. Brandon Guyer, Logan Forsythe and Curt Casali followed with RBI singles.

Steven Souza Jr. singled home a pair to cut the lead to 6-5.

A one run difference was as close as the Rays would get. Jemile Weeks hit an RBI double Brandon Gomes in the sixth giving  the Red Sox a 7-5 lead. Gomes hadn’t allowed a run in his previous seven outings of the spring.

Boston added two more runs in the ninth inning on a pair of RBI doubles by Jeff Bianchi and Quintin Berry.

The New What Next

Rays manager Kevin Cash plans to empty out the bullpen Sunday afternoon when the Rays head south to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. Brad Boxberger is scheduled to start and will be followed by Grant Balfour, Ernesto Frieri, Jordan Norberto and Kirby Yates.

Rays 3/29/15 Starting Lineup

Souza RF
Rivera C
Forsythe 1B
Longoria 3B
Butler LF
Beckham 2B
Francisco DH
Kiermaier CF
Elmore SS
Boxberger P

Noteworthiness

— While Karns threw at Charlotte Sports Park, Jake Odorizzi tossed seven innings on the minor league fields, throwing 100 pitches (69 strikes, 69% K/BB). Odorizzi allowed two unearned runs on three hits, while walking one and striking out eight, calling it a pretty good overall performance:

— Chris Archer also threw in a minor league game Saturday, throwing 105 pitches (65 strikes, 62% K/BB) in 6-2/3 innings of work. Archer blanked the opposition, while fanning eight and allowing only three hits and two walks. At the request of Archer, Rene Rivera caught the Opening Day starter — the first time they worked together for more than two innings at a time. Following the outing, the righty spoke about the importance of working with Rivera:

— Alex Colome, who was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to the March 27th, threw a 40-pitch bullpen.  Colome is recovering from pneumonia.

— Drew Smyly will throw another bullpen session on Sunday. If all goes as planned, Smyly could throw live batting practice in his next session on the mound. Smyly told Topkin he expects to be pitching in majors in April, “there would have to be a setback not to be.”

— Alex Cobb told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) his throwing session with Ron Porterfield went well, it’s “square one but I don’t think there’s as many squares.” He expected to pitch for the Rays at some point in the month of April. Cobb said he feels good a day removed from that. After an off-day Sunday (handling Grand Prix duties in St. Petersburg), the Rays ace will play catch again Monday.

— Brad Boxberger told Topkin he asked to start Sunday because he wanted to face the Red Sox’s top hitters he will likely see during the regular season.

— Per Charlie Wolmoth (MLB Trade Rumors), former Twins starting pitcher and free agent Scott Diamond threw for the Rays yesterday (Friday), 1500ESPN’s Darren Wolfson tweets. The Rays have a number of injuries in their rotation and are known to be hunting for starting pitching depth to stash at Triple-A Durham. Diamond last appeared in the big leagues in 2013. He spent last season pitching at Triple-A Rochester and Louisville, where he posted a combined 6.57 ERA, 4.8 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 123 1/3 innings.

— Tampa Bay has released SS Brandon Martin and OF James Harris, two supplemental first-round picks from the 2011 draft.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 34: Front Three Starters Announced, Namoli Set to Throw, Stadium News, Etc

It was a hot, humid and cloudy Friday in Sarasota, FL. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)
It was a hot, humid and cloudy Friday in Sarasota, FL. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

There really isn’t much to say about the Tampa Bay Rays/Baltimore Orioles contest Friday afternoon. It wasn’t televised or on the radio, and it was ultimately rained out. If it wasn’t for a handful of tweets suggesting otherwise, you’d never have known there was a game in the first place. In lieu of a formal summary, listed below are a few notes from the “game” as well as other noteworthy things.

— Though Everett Teaford got taken deep to left field on the very first pitch of the game, he settled down and coaxed a pair of poppers, and fanned Adam Jones to end the inning. Teaford now has surrendered at least one hit in five of his six spring appearances, and at least one earned run in three of those stints. His final line: 2 IP/1 H/1 ER/0 BB/1 K/1 HR on  21 pitches (15 strikes, 71% K/BB).

— Rene Rivera responded with his very own first pitch blast in the third inning, crushing his third homer of the spring to deep center field.

— In a twist of irony, Vince Naimoli, former Devil Rays managing general partner, will throw out the first pitch before the Rays season opener. Naimoli was chosen to acknowledge the 20-year anniversary of the franchise being awarded. Stu Sternberg discussed the decision with Marc Topkin, (Tampa Bay Times),

We are glad to have Vince Naimoli throw out the first pitch as we recognize 20 years since Tampa Bay was awarded a major league franchise. Vince led the effort to bring baseball here and has continued to enrich the community with his charitable giving.

— Rays manager Kevin Cash confirmed that Nathan Karns and Jake Odorizzi will start the second and third games of the regular season against the Orioles, however, he hasn’t determined the order he will use the two right-handers.

— Rick Kriseman and the City of St. Petersburg released its new deal with the Tampa Bay Rays (and a fancy infographic to boot).

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Changes to the previous Memorandum of Understanding include:

  1. 100% redevelop rights (up from 50%) to the city anytime after the team announces it is leaving Tropicana Field for a site in Pinellas or Hillsborough.
  2. Payments that would be due for every year that the team does not play at the Trop. The payments start at $4 million and stair-step down to $2 million for 2023-2026 — totaling up to $36 million.
  3. A call for the Rays to supply the city with a “process and criteria” document within 60 days of council’s approval of the deal.

You can read the MOU in its entirety here: Updated Memorandum of Understanding.

Don’t expect this to be voted upon by Opening Day, Mayor Kriseman’s de facto deadline. Council member Karl Nurse wants a chance to persuade opponents by way of scheduling a workshop on the revised agreement at next Thursday’s meeting. Read Noah Pransky’s (Shadow of the Stadium blog) take on the negotiations.

The New What Next

The Rays return to action Saturday when they host the Boston Red. Nathan Karns, who earned a spot in the Rays’ starting rotation, will take the hill against Boston knuckleballer Steven Wright. Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi are scheduled to pitch in minor league games in Port Charlotte as well. Both will each start in their respective game and throw seven innings.

Rays 3/28/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso DH
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings LF
Guyer CF
Forsythe 2B
Casali C
Karns P

Noteworthiness

  • Alex Cobb was cleared to play catch today. Cobb, who is reportedly very excited, will play catch at a distance of 60-75 feet, planning 30 throws with head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield.
  • Rene Rivera will catch Archer (per his request) in today’s minor-league game. He is also scheduled to catch in Sunday’s game against the Red Sox.
  • Don’t forget, we’re hosting an Opening Day party and you’re invited!

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Rays Spring Training Update, Day 33: Rays Win 6-5, Archer Named Starter, Etc

The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the dreaded New York Yankees in Port Charlotte, Thursday. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays walked away with their 11th win of the spring Thursday, edging out the New York Yankees by a score of 6-5. The game had everything one could ever want in a game: solo homers by Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, quality base running by Kevin Kiermaier, timely hitting but the likes of Asdrubal Cabrera and Brandon Guyer, and so much bullpen action that the only reasonable question left in the wake should be, “How much bullpen can you take?”

Bask in the glory of video highlights:

Evan Longoria put the Rays on the board in the second inning on a blast to left center — his second of the spring. Note the backspin…oh, so much backspin:

Down by one in the fifth inning, Asdrubal Cabrera hit an opposite field double to the left-center wall, driving in a run in the process:

In the sixth inning, Desmond Jennings gave the Rays a 4-3 lead when he drove a thigh high fastball on the inside third of the plate to left field:

Also in the sixth inning, Kevin Kiermaier singled to left and followed with a steal of second base then third, and subsequently scored on a wild pitch:

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred made his way into the booth and had a lively conversation about the pace of play (among other things) with TK and BA. More on Manfred in a moment:

In off the field action, Rays manager Kevin Cash tapped Chris Archer as the Opening Day starter. Archer downplayed the move,

For me, nothing changes. It doesn’t change anything that we discussed whenever we talked about me pitching April 7. I specifically said my mindset is going to remain the same because I knew that anything could happen. …Maybe that’s why I wouldn’t treat it differently. Because it’s just a baseball game. It’s the first one of the year, but the first one’s no more or less important than the last one.

Cash elaborated with Bill Chastain (MLB.com) the reasons why Archer was his obvious choice,

His year [last season], the effort, the work he’s put in. You don’t want to take anything away from Cobb. It was his. He’d earned that. But we’re extremely comfortable with having that guy now be Arch. …He really cares. He cares about what he’s doing, and he cares about the people around him, too. We had lunch and we didn’t talk about him at all. We talked about his teammates and some different things he brought up over the course of his couple of years here. Impressions he’s seen and stuff like that. He’s got a very team-first approach.

In other roster moves, Cash whittled the spring roster to 44 by reassigning pitchers Ronald Belisario, Andrew Bellatti and Bryce Stowell, and infielder Eugenio Velez. More moves are expected Friday, so the team can start placing players on the disabled list which would allow for other players to be recalled.

The New What Next

Everett Teaford will get the start against the Orioles Friday afternoon. The LHP remains in the hunt to land a spot in the Rays starting rotation. Mike Montgomery, who is also a contender for a rotation spot, is  expected to see action as well. .

Rays 3/27/15 Starting Lineup

DeJesus RF
Rivera DH
Jaso LF
Francisco 1B
Souza CF
Casilla 3B
Beckham 2B
Elmore SS
Wilson C
Teaford P

Noteworthiness

  • Make that seven relievers and 13 strikeouts on the day. Jordan Norberto and Ernesto Frieri combined for eight of those strikeouts.
  • I noted previously, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with the team about the stadium situation (among other things) between the City of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays. Manfred also participated in an interview with WDAE Thursday morning, however, he didn’t really say anything new or enlightening as it relates to the stadium saga. You can hear the 16 minute interview in its entirety below. On a related side note, Noah Pransky (Shadow of the Stadium blog) gave Manfred credit for his transparency in admitting Bud Selig’s Boogeymen are quite the asset in threatening local governments into offering stadium subsidies:

    Asked in general about the other viable markets seeking a team, Manfred said, “obviously having a market that wants baseball, that could support a team, provides leverage to a team that’s trying to get something done somewhere.”

Kriseman wouldn’t have to make a last-ditch effort before anything if he hadn’t set a (second) arbitrary deadline of Opening Day in the first place.

I’ve previously written how the mayor’s self-imposed deadlines only serve to reduce his negotiating power with the Rays.  There’s nothing to gain; deadlines could only make him – not the Rays –  look bad if they’re missed.  In fact, it may have led to the unpopular deal the mayor couldn’t get through city council in December (ahead of his first self-imposed deadline, Dec 31).

We’ll see what happens when Mayor Kriseman introduces his new memorandum of understanding to the city council today.

Rays Spring Training Update, Day 32: Andriese Solid, Forsythe Named Second Baseman, Updated Stadium Deal, Etc

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) hit .315 with two home runs, five RBI and an .814 OPS in 54 June plate appearances last season. (Photo courtesy of Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)
Logan Forsythe hit .315 with two home runs, five RBI and an .814 OPS in 54 plate appearances last June. (Photo courtesy of Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

The Tampa Bay Rays capped their Grapefruit League season series against the Minnesota Twins, with a 2-1 win Wednesday. Not only did they take the Knutson Cup last Thursday, the Rays posted a perfect 5-0 record against Paul Molitor’s boys. Dukes Knutson would be proud.

Matt Andriese got the start for the Rays and put in five dominating innings of work, allowing no runs and just three hits, and a walk, while fanning six on 75 pitches (48 strikes, 64% K/BB).

The contender for an Opening Day starting rotation spot focused on commanding the strike zone, noting that he was pleased with his fastball, sinker, change-up and cutter on both sides of the plate. Half of Andriese’s strikeouts came with runners in scoring position, and he seemed particularly pleased by his ability to stifle Minnesota when it mattered the most — and rightly so:

With runners on base, you just try to grind through it a little bit, Andriese told the press following his outing. You’re never going to get a whole quick inning every time out, but it was good to work out of the stretch and build off of that and get through the inning.

The results of any given Spring Training game aren’t nearly as important as the way a player handles himself in those most crucial moments. For Andriese, a player who is fighting for a spot in the rotation with Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly and Alex Colome sidelined, his composure with runners in scoring position put him in the favor of manager Kevin Cash,

I thought Matt Andriese was outstanding, said Cash. The change-up seemed to be really good for him. You just didn’t see many good, strong swings against him. He kept guys off balance…

While Tampa Bay’s offense was quiet most of the day, catcher Rene Rivera returned to the lineup — after a few days rest due to left calf tightness — and crushed a massive 407 foot solo shot to center field, giving the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Rivera also had good things to say about Andriese’s dominant start:

The Rays took the lead in a top of the ninth rally, then Steve Geltz came into the game in the bottom of the frame and shut the door on the Twins.

Of note, Brandon Guyer and Logan Forsythe each got six at-bats in a minor league game (while the big league squad faced Minnesota) and each had extra-base hits. Collecting more reps in the field and trips to the plate just gained an extra level of importance for Forsythe since Cash named the middle infielder as the primary second baseman, while Nick Franklin mends from a “severe” left oblique strain.

We’re very happen with the way his spring is going, Cash told Andrew Astleford (Fox Sports Florida). Him and Shelty (hitting coach Derek Shelton) have had a lot of discussions on some of the adjustments. They seem to have paid off. He has barreled a lot of balls this spring.

However, Cash was also quick to note there will be no one-man show at second base:

The one thing about our lineup — five years ago, you had your nine position players and then your backups. I don’t really view us as having bench players. Our players are all going to play. And we’re going to utilize them throughout games, throughout series. Some are going to be in there more than others. But we utilize our bench quite a bit.

Looking back on things, it almost seems like Forsythe was foreshadowing things,

With more opportunity, said the infielder earlier in the spring, there’s more likelihood that there might be more consistency. So we’ll see what happens.

Or maybe he was referring to his June campaign when he hit .315 with two home runs, five RBI and an .814 OPS in 54 plate appearances last season. Whatever the case, it will still be interesting to see who of Tim Beckham, Jake Elmore, and Alexi Casilla makes the 25-man roster.

If anything, Cash’s decision won’t be easy,

With Beck and Elmore, there’s definitely confidence. I think Elmore, said Cash, you look at him as being very solid. Beckham, you could argue he’s as good as anybody in the infield defensively. There’s a little bit of an unknown with Beck offensively, but we said from Day One that we don’t put too much weight on spring training.

The New What Next

The Rays will have a “bullpen day” on Thursday with  Jordan Norberto getting the start against the Yankees. Also expected to pitch are fellow relievers Ernesto Frieri, Brad Boxberger, Kevin Jepsen, and Kirby Yates.

Rays 3/26/15 Starting Lineup

DeJesus DH
Guyer RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings LF
Kiermaier CF
Forsythe 2B
Casali C
Norberto P

Noteworthiness

— Alex Cobb got a good report from team orthopedic Dr. Koco Eaton on Monday. “I think it was pretty standard, but I think we’re all excited about the progress,” said manager Kevin Cash. “So a couple of more days, see where we’re at.” Cobb is tentatively scheduled to throw over the weekend, but as Cash  added, “I wouldn’t count on that for sure.”

— Drew Smyly threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Monday, and is scheduled to throw another (his third) session Thursday. “The thought with Smyly was three to five bullpens or live BP combo, how that would work in,” Cash said. A caveat: Smyly probably won’t be ready for game action in time to pitch in a Spring Training game. “Unless something changes, I think it would be a long shot for him to pitch in a Spring Training game,” said the Rays skipper.

— St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman will unveil a revised agreement to let the Tampa Bay Rays explore new stadium sites across Tampa Bay this week. The amended agreement would reportedly guarantee the city 100 percent of any proceeds from developing the Tropicana Field site should the Rays announce plans to move out of the city. The current contract gives the Rays 50 percent of development rights while they play there, a sticking point for some of the St. Petersburg City Council members who feared the Rays would profit by moving to Tampa.

The plan: send a revised agreement to the council drafted as a memorandum of understanding by Friday. However, it may not be enough to win over the council members who questioned whether the Rays are required to pay enough to break their current contract.

Under the deal, the Rays would be required to pay the city $4 million for every season it does not play at the Trop through 2018. Payments would then drop to $3 million through to 2023 and then to $2 million for the remainder of the original contract. Yet it would take at least until 2020 to plan and build a new stadium — assuming a decision was to be made today — and that would mean the compensation would be about $17 million for losing a major league franchise for the final seven or eight years the team is under contract.

There seems to be another driving opinion, some council members would like to see the completion of an economic study before a decision is made. Christopher O’Donnell (Tampa Tribune) wrote about that:

(Council member) Kennedy, one of the nay votes on council, said he wants to see the economic study completed so council members have the information they need to make a decision on the stadium’s future. Redevelopment of the site could still be done in conjunction with a new stadium there, he said.

It is uncertain when the new memorandum of understanding will be voted upon.

— On a related note, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred visited with the Rays Thursday morning and said the “good news” on the stadium front, for Tampa Bay fans, is that Sternberg “remains committed to idea” that the team should stay in the area. However, he also mentioned the onus is upon local government to provide “assistance,” saying, “we’re hoping Stuart gets that kind of help” to get a new Rays stadium.

Much like his predecessor Bud Selig, Menfred is not planning to create a timetable for any action, rather he will continue to let Sternberg dictate a plan. But as he pointed out, “it’s in everyone’s best interest to have 30 strong franchises,” and the markets need to “participate” in order to have top stadiums/facilities. Manfred called the Athletics and Rays stadium issues, “1 and 1-A,” though, “they’re a single entry in my mind.”

With all of the success the Rays have had on field, said Manfred, “you have to conclude that the stadium issue is the key issue” in low revenues.

I’m not doubting that low revenues are a key sticking point in the team’s wanton desire for a new stadium. However, unless Sternberg is willing to open the coffers to show a financial need for a new facility, he cannot expect Pinellas or Hillsborough County’s citizens to foot the half-billion dollars it would take to build a new stadium.

Forbes coincidentally released their MLB team valuations this week. The Rays increased in value from $485 million in 2014, to $625 million in the here and now — a net increase of $140 million. Meanwhile, revenues also increased modestly, from $181 million in 2014 to $188 million currently.

— Don’t forget about our Opening Day Celebration! The countdown begins.