ST. PETERSBURG — After avoiding the virus outbreak that forced the abrupt end of MLB general managers’ meetings in Arizona, Rays officials returned home after several days of discussions with a slightly better idea of trades and deals free agent deals that could be possible later in the offseason.
“Very, very preliminary,” president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Friday. “We have a good group of players, and that is something that has been reinforced by other teams. In terms of conversations with agents, we learned a little more about our position on certain players’ (preference) lists and what we might have to offer. It’s nice to see faces, connect a bit and catch up, but nothing drastically different at this point.
Neander, of course, didn’t want to discuss details.
Tyler Glasnow was certainly a primary subject of discussion, given the industry-wide demand for a starting pitcher and his $25 million salary for 2024. Outfielder Manuel Margot, signed for $10 million, and DH Harold Ramirez, who is expected to earn $4.4 million via arbitration, appear likely to be traded, with Ramirez possibly sooner given Friday’s tender deadline.
With starters Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen out until the second half of the season and Shane McClanahan out until 2025, adding pitchers appears to be a priority, and even more so if the Rays trade Glasnow.
“Maybe (we’re doing) a little balancing act with the roster with some of the injuries we have in terms of where we need to get to,” Neander said. “But this time of year, I think more than anything else, you’re just trying to understand the market.
“Understand other teams and their desires, make sure your communication with clubs and agents is strong, and try to develop the best possible idea of what possibilities might suit us.”
Of more current interest:
• Rays “have no immediate plans” to fill vacated general manager position when Peter Bendix was hired last week by the Marlins. The current trio of assistant general managers – Will Cousins, Chanda Lawdermilk and Carlos Rodriguez – will take on more responsibilities, alongside other senior officials, and there will be no outside search for a general manager. (It is worth noting that when Neander was promoted to general manager to president in September 2021, the Rays waited three months before promoting Bendix.)
Senior advisor Jon Daniels, who played a significant role in shaping the World Series champion Rangers’ roster before being fired in August 2022, is also likely to take a larger role and provide mentoring to the group.
• Claiming left-hander Tyler Alexander Friday filled out the 40-man roster, but more changes are coming soon, with two roster-building deadlines this week: 6 p.m. Tuesday to add prospects ahead of the Rule 5 draft, and 8 p.m. Friday to bid on contracts, particularly for the 12 eligible for arbitration.
Although infielder Junior Caminero and pitcher Jacob Lopez have already been called up (and catcher Blake Hunt and pitcher Michael Mercado have been traded), several other prospects are under consideration, such as outfielder infielder Austin Shenton and pitchers Anthony Molina and Cole Wilcox.
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• For the fifth time in six years, Kevin Cash is a finalist for AL Manager of the Year honors that will be announced Tuesday, with Baltimore’s Brandon Hyde considered the favorite. Bruce Bochy of Texas is the other finalist for the award based on regular season play.
“The three managers named are really good. » Rays Silver Slugger-winning first baseman Yandy Diaz said by phone, through team interpreter Manny Navarro. “In my opinion, Kevin Cash is the best and I hope he can win.”
Sean Casey of MLB Network praised Cash by comparing him to his mentor, Terry Francona. His colleague Greg Amsinger said: “If you did a power ranking of all the managers right now, he might be No. 1. … If they were all free agents, he would probably be the first manager signed. That’s how special Kevin Cash is.
The rays rumble
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XIX3QHACZ5BJDEWAMNH6TE6KOQ.JPG "Shawn Armstrong of the Rays was among 24 relievers (along with Pete Fairbanks) nominated for All-MLB team selection.")
Reliever Tony Watson, who spent 11 seasons with the Pirates, Dodgers, Giants and Angels before retiring in April 2022, was hired in a player development role, working with recently promoted Winston Doom pitching director. …The Rays’ stadium situation will be discussed at this week’s quarterly owners’ meeting, where the main event will be the vote on the A’s proposed move to Las Vegas. …A nice nod to Shawn Armstrong’s unheralded solid season was being among the 24 relievers (along with Pete Fairbanks) nominated for All-MLB team selection (by vote of fans and a panel of experts). Josh Lowe was (along with Randy Arozarena) among the 20 outfielders selected. …Robert Stephenson’s four strong months in the Rays bullpen could really pay off in free agency — mlbtraderumors.com predicts he will get a four-year, $36 million contract. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel suggests three years, $30 million. … Among the topics that will soon be discussed: How to replace Triple-A manager Michael Johns, who was promoted to big league first base coach and will handle field and base tasks. … The 12 eligible for arbitration include McClanahan and infielder Isaac Paredes, who qualified in Super 2 (the threshold was 2 years, 118 days of service) and are now eligible four times. …The Rays have the third best returning team (for now) by WAR calculations by fangraphs.combehind the Braves and Astros, and are fifth mlb.com initial team power rankings, behind the Braves, Rangers, Astros and Phillies. …Two cool Rays reunions in the latest wave of coaching hires: Miguel Cairo as Washington manager Davey Martinez’s bench coach, as they were the original Devil Rays and in the lineup for the whole thing first match; and Eckerd College product Craig Albernaz as the field coordinator for new Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt, as they were both catchers and played together in Tampa Bay’s minor league system. (And Vogt was at Albernaz’s wedding.) … Starter Taj Bradley finished 13th on mlb.com2023 rookie roster based on projected career value; infielder Curtis Mead is not on the 35-man roster. … Right-hander Dalton Mall, a 24-year-old who struck out 136 in 88⅓ innings at three colleges, signed a minor league deal. … Vogt, during his introductory news conference Friday, said his interest in management began in 2009 while playing for the Rays’ Class A Stone Crabs team. He was 24 years old, with an injured shoulder and an uncertain future, and asked then-manager Jim Morrison and player development executives Mitch Lukevics and Jim Hoff if he could stay in the dugout to learn more on training: “It really started then.”
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