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Rays make official the one-year deal with Colby Rasmus

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Colby Rasmus can earn up to $2-million more in incentives in a deal first agreed to January 9. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

At long last, the Tampa Bay Rays made official the one-year, $5-Million contract with free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus. He has a chance to earn an additional $2-Million in incentives (details of which are below). To make room on the 40-man roster, the team released outfielder Jason Coats, who was recently acquired from the Chicago White Sox.

Rasmus slashed just .206 BA/.286 OBP/.355 SLG/.641 OPS/.257 BABIP/.282 wOBA last season for Houston, following a 2015 campaign in which he batted .238 with a .475 SLG with 25 home runs and 61 RBI and a 117 wRC+ in 137 games. He is coming off October surgeries for a cyst in his ear as well as hip and core muscle maladies — which tends to explain his offensive fall-off.

Though he is still recovering from the procedures mentioned above, Rasmus — who reportedly is doing well — has been cleared for running and baseball activities, although he plans to be cautious in Spring Training, with the possibility he may be sidelined in the early going, with an eye on making sure he is ready for the regular season opener.

Rays Vice President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom, told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) the team is “comfortable” with Rasmus’ rehab progress, and they  “are optimistic” he will be ready to start with season.

Rasmus presents another left-handed bat to the outfield along with Kevin Kiermaier and Corey Dickerson. Bloom said Rasmus will spend time in both left and right field, as well as get reps at DH, and in centerfield when Kevin Kiermaier needs a day off. It is his versatility that gives Rays manager Kevin Cash more options.

We know he has a lot of sock in his bat, said Bloom. He can change a game with his power. But he’s also a very good athlete, and he impacts a game defensively. And for us to get someone we see is a very good defensive outfielder, with the ability to play center field, and layer that on to how he can impact a game at the plate, that was a very attractive combination for us.

The Rays’ front office hopes for a bounce-back season, in the batter’s box, from Rasmus, the outfielder has drawn strong defensive reviews, especially last year when he posted a +20 DRS, and is known as a good base runner even though he doesn’t often attempt to steal.

Rasmus cited several factors that enticed him to sign with Tampa Bay, including the team’s proximity to his Alabama home, his familiarity with several Rays players, and a reunion with former Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Chad Mottola.

Rasmus attributes the work he put in with Mattola for his renaissance at the plate:

Motor helped me to see some things, Rasmus said. I developed some bad habits from my younger days coming up with the Cardinals. … He helped me fix those things. … And just helped me get comfortable in my own skin.

As for the terms of his contract, Rasmus is set to make a base salary of $5-Million. From there, he can earn up to $2-Million in incentives based on plate appearances:

400 pa: $100,000
425 pa: $100,000
450 pa: $100,000
475 pa: $100,000
500 pa: $200,000
525 pa: $400,000
500 pa: $500,000
575 pa: $500,000
Total:  $2,000,000

Also $250,000 each time he is traded.

Noteworthiness

— Citing Evan Grant (Dallas Morning News), Jeff Todd (MLB Trade Rumors) writes that the Rays have opened a dialogue with Texas about infielder Jurickson Profar:

It seems that the discussions are just preliminary at this point, but it does seem there’s a rather intriguing possible match on paper. Tampa Bay is in need of a second baseman after trading Logan Forsythe (and might also like the idea of having another player capable of playing short). For Texas, Profar is something of an underutilized asset; the Rays possess a variety of pitchers that might be of greater function. Of course, lining up on value and finding common ground isn’t as simple as finding mutual interest; it remains to be seen whether these talks will gain traction.

The teams were linked with one another at the 2016 trade deadline for either Profar and Joey Gallo, yet the Rays did business with the San Francisco Giants instead of the Rangers, trading LHP Matt Moore for SS/3B Matt Duffy.

Rays expected to pursue Welington Castillo; tender 11 arbitration eligible players

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After being non-tendered by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Rays are expected to pursue catcher Wellington Castillo. (Photo credit: Matt Kartozian/USA Today Sports)

After being non-tendered by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Rays are expected to pursue catcher Welington Castillo. (Photo credit: Matt Kartozian/USA Today Sports)

The non-tender deadline passed Friday night without much fanfare on the part of the Tampa Bay Rays — the team tendered contracts to all of their 11 arbitration-eligible players. Unexpectedly, however, the Arizona Diamondbacks chose not to tender the contract of catcher Welington Castillo, putting the Rays in a position to acquire the backstop and fill one of their main offseason needs.

Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Rays have definite interest and are expected to aggressively pursue Castillo, who slashed .264 BA/.322 OBP/.423 SLG/.745 OPS/.319 wOBA with 14 homers and 68 RBI in 113 games last season. Castillo, considered a passable defender (7.4 zBall%/-24 oStr%/-0.23 PerGame calls/-3.2 RAA in 2016), is an above average hitting catcher who was projected to make $5.9-million entering his final year of arbitration eligibility.

The Rays created room on the 40-man roster — should they pick up Castillo, or acquire another player — by non-tendering former top prospect INF Ryan Brett, who missed 2016 due to injury.

All told, the 11 arbitration eligibles are projected to make around $35-million. Topkin also wrote that includes three who qualified under the Super 2 provision based on service time: Gold Glove winning centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier, reliever Danny Farquhar and infielder Tim Beckham.

Kiermaier, whose two years and 131 days service was believed to be right at the cutoff, will make an additional $2 million, with a projected salary of $2.5 million to $3 million rather than the $540,000 or so he was in line for.

Also, Kiermaier, Faquahar and Beckham get to be eligible for arbitration four times rather than the standard three.

The full list, including projected salaries (Credit: Tim Dierkes/MLB Trade Rumors):

Alex Cobb – $4.0MM
Drew Smyly – $6.9MM
Erasmo Ramirez – $3.5MM
Brad Boxberger – $1.5MM
Corey Dickerson – $3.4MM
Brad Miller – $3.8MM
Xavier Cedeno – $1.2MM
Jake Odorizzi – $4.6MM
Danny Farquhar – $1.1MM
Kevin Kiermaier – $2.1MM
Beckham – $1.15MM

Noteworthiness

— Former Rays infielder Cole Figueroa will join the Rays front office as a baseball development assistant. His assorted duties and responsibilities will include bridging the analytical/onfield information gap, among others.

Figueroa told the Tampa Bay Times he is excited by the prospect of his new job:

It’s something I’ve always been interested in and I got the opportunity to do that so I jumped at it. I think I’ll end up touching a lot of different areas initially.

— The Rays front office isn’t too happy with the collective bargaining agreement struck by the MLBPA and Major League Baseball this week.

Disappointed in what we’ve seen so far, Rays baseball operations president Matt Silverman said in a press conference. I’m not optimistic about the CBA in terms of helping us as a lower-revenue club.

Silverman continued,

Lower revenue clubs face a lot of obstacles, especially when it comes to talent acquisition. We can’t go out and spend like other clubs, so we need to find other avenues to be able to acquire that talent. We’ve looked for additional access on the amateur side, on the international side, and there haven’t been any major changes in the last 10 years. And, in fact, the revenue disparity between clubs has grown by an immense amount.

Then again, they could spend more money, and/or do a better job with the picks they have had.

At the same time, as Topkin wrote Thursday, the Rays are looking at spending around $70 million, so even if they were to “go for it,” they might push $90 million or $100 million for a year, still around half their top foes. That’s not going to solve the problem.

— It appears the Atlanta Braves are still interested in Rays ace Chris Archer.

Steve Geltz claimed by Milwaukee, who also acquired Erik Thames; Jim Bowden’s odd trade suggestion

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Designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays last week, RHP Steve Geltz has been claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers. (Photo Credit: (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays last week, RHP Steve Geltz has been claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers. (Photo Credit: (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

All still is quiet on the acquisition front for the Tampa Bay Rays, though a couple players connected to the ball club in some capacity have found new homes in the National League.

Going, going, Geltz

The much maligned RHP Steve Geltz, who was designated for assignment by the Rays last week to make room on the 40-man roster, has been claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Geltz put together a forgettable 2016 campaign, however, he offered the Rays two solid seasons previously.

Annyeong Erik Thames

The Brewers also made waves by signing free-agent OF/1B Erik Thames to a three-year, $16-million deal, with a team option for a fourth season, and a $1-million buyout. The deal is noteworthy because Thames, who played the last three seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization, was targeted as a platoon option at first base by the Rays.

To make room for Thames on the Brewers’ roster, National League home run co-leader, Chris Carter, was non-tendered and later designated for assignment by Milwaukee. The right-handed hitting Carter hit 41 home runs in 2016, and made $2.5-million with Milwaukee — an amount that would be a steal for Tampa Bay. However, as Bob Nightengale (USA Today Sports) was quick to point out, the arbitration eligible first baseman could earn more than $9-million next season, putting him well out of the reach of the Rays.

Jim Bowden, what in God’s name were you thinking?!

Finally, former GM and current ESPN baseball insider, Jim Bowden, again proved why he truly isn’t one of the more respected analysts in the game on Tuesday, when he wrote about trades he would like to see before the Winter Meetings. Bowden’s blockbuster deal would take place between the Rays and the Cubs, and Tampa Bay would receive OF Alex Almora, OF/2B Ian Happ, OF Jorge Soler, and RHP Carl Edwards for RHP Chris Archer, OF Kevin Kiermaier, and RHP Alex Colome.

Bowden’s reasoning is somewhat baffling:

The Rays get three everyday players who are all non-arbitration-eligible. They get a long-term solution at second base with Happ, who is a high-OBP hitter with the potential to hit 15-18 homers and steal bases. Soler would get the opportunity to play every day, and if he does, he’ll be projected to hit 20-25 home runs. Almora would take over center field as a plus-plus defender while Edwards can replace Alex Colome as the Rays’ closer. The deal will also save the Rays approximately $50 million in future salaries for both players during their control years, which is extremely important — at least until they get a new stadium.

I’m inclined to side with Jared Ward (DRaysBay), who broke down the proposed deal, that would give the Rays little in return. First off, Archer isn’t arbitration eligible, due to the contract he signed in 2014 which bought out his arbitration years, and a couple of free agent seasons. What’s more, Kiermaier could make his first trip through arbitration this offseason, where he is projected to earn $2.1-million by MLB Trade Rumors — a minor dent in the Rays’ payroll. And if he doesn’t go through arbitration, The Outlaw would make approximately $500-thousand next season.

Among other reasons, if the Rays are “hellbent” on being competitive in 2017, why in God’s name would they trade three key players, who combined for an 8 fWAR in 2016 (a cumulative 29.5 fWAR), for four players — of whom just one could possibly be depended upon as an everyday player at the Major League level? If the Rays were to trade some variation of Bowden’s fabulous three, they likely would do better trading each individually.

I’ve said it before but I will again, if Tampa Bay is going to trade anyone, it is more plausible for Senior VP of Baseball Operations, and General Manager, Erik Neander to deal LHP Drew Smyly, who is projected to earn $6.9-million through arbitration this offseason.

Hot-Stove: Rays, Smyly had arbitration hearing on Wednesday; Smyly wins hearing Thursday

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Drew Smyly talks with media before a game in 2014. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

Drew Smyly talks with media before a game in 2014. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Tampa Bay Rays Rays and LHP Drew Smyly had an arbitration hearing on Wednesday. Another hearing is expected to come Thursday, at which time an arbitration panel will award the lefty either a $3.75-million salary for the 2016 season ― the figure Smyly initially sought going into the off-season, or $3.2-million ― the figure submitted by the Rays.

Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors) wrote about the arbitration hearing:

The 26-year-old Smyly came to the Rays by way of 2014’s three-team David Price blockbuster. Smyly had a dominant finish to that 2014 campaign following the trade — 1.70 ERA across seven starts — but lost a significant portion of his first full season with the Rays due to shoulder problems. After opening the year on the DL due to shoulder tendinitis, Smyly was activated in late April and made three starts before being diagnosed a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. Smyly elected not to undergo surgery, which allowed him to pitch again i 2015 but also required a three-month stay on the disabled list. He returned in strong fashion, though, posting a 3.24 ERA with a 56-to-17 K/BB ratio in 50 innings across his final nine starts.

This will be Smyly’s second trip through the arbitration process. As a Super Two player, he landed a $2.65MM salary last offseason and will be eligible for arbitration twice more before qualifying for free agency. Because his future salaries will be based off of his 2016 salary, the outcome of the hearing carries much farther-reaching ramifications than the $550K that the two sides are presently debating.

The sum in question may seem trivial to some, although as several Major League executives explained to MLBTR last year at this time, teams feel a responsibility to manage a market that is shared by all 30 clubs. Because all arbitration cases are built on recent historical comparables, the slight increases would eventually compound and become more significant were every team simply to give in to what appear, on the surface, to be relatively trivial amounts.

Smyly is one of 16 arbitration cases around the league that remains unresolved, as MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker shows. While some of those will be resolved prior to a hearing, it does appear that there will be a handful of cases settled via hearing in 2016.

February 4, 2016 update:

Drew Smyly won his arbitration case over the Tampa Bay Rays. Smyly will make $3.75-million in 2016; the team offered the lefty $3.2-million. The difference between Smyly and the team was only $550,000, however, the case went to hearing (per team policy) once figures were exchanged.

Previous to Thursday, Tampa Bay had been 6-0 in arbitration hearings.

Sources confirm, mutual interest between Ian Desmond and Rays

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ian-desmond-mlb-washington-nationals-atlanta-braves-850x560

The likelihood of Desmond signing with Rays may have increased after the acquisition of Corey Dickerson.

After the recent addition of Rockies OF Corey Dickerson, it seems that the Tampa Bay Rays are not done making moves this off-season.

We’ve speculated that the Rays were looking to move either James Loney or perhaps Desmond Jennings; and given the current status of their 40 man roster, moving one or both of these players now seems imperative. If the Rays could move Loney, who is slotted to make 8 million in 2016, it would free up some payroll for the Rays to make a serious play for free agent SS and Sarasota native Ian Desmond. Desmond has expressed interest in signing with the Rays, he is good friends with Rays OF Steven Souza and is represented by Sports One Athlete Management, the same agency that represents Rays manager Kevin Cash.

The cost of signing Desmond to a 1 year deal means the Rays would have to give up the #13 pick in the 2016 draft. Most MLB clubs, including the Rays, highly covet draft picks. Are Stu Sternberg and Matt Silverman willing to roll the dice and go against the grain on 30 year old Desmond looking to bounce back from a substandard ’15 season? Why not? The Rays have most of their young starting pitchers locked up for the foreseeable future with the exception of Alex Cobb and Drew Smyly (free agents in ’18), as well as a plethora of young pitching prospects in their farm system. Signing a player with Desmond’s athletic upside could make the Rays serious contenders in the A.L. East this year. He would also bridge the gap for the incumbent David Robertson, who most believe is just a year away from being “big league ready”. Acquiring Desmond would of course relegate recently acquired INF Brad Miller (.258 11HR and 46RBI in 144 games in ’15) back to his usual “super utility” role.

Either way, the clock is ticking for the Rays to make a play on Ian Desmond. The Chicago White Sox are reportedly highly interested in Desmond as well, since losing their shortstop to the free agent market (Alexei Ramirez to Padres 1yr 4million). Whether Desmond is in the Rays future plans or not, there is one thing clear: There is definitely something in the works for the Rays as we approach Spring Training. As always we’ll keep you posted as this story develops.