Rays make a deal ...
MIAMI - The Devil Rays completed a trade Tuesday they feel will make them younger and better at two positions – acquiring catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Jae Seo from the Dodgers for Toby Hall and lefthanded starter Mark Hendrickson.
The Rays also will send $1-million to the Dodgers and will get back a minor-league player to be named later. The deal is expected to be announced at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Navarro, 22, was the Dodgers' opening-day starter and was hitting .280 through 25 games. But he went on the disabled list in May after being struck on the wrist by a foul ball. When he was healthy again, Navarro was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. The switch hitter is batting .175 in 11 games.
Navarro, who is 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds and nicknamed Little Pudge in reference to Tigers star Ivan “Pudge’ Rodriguez, was considered the top prospect in the Yankees organization in 2004 before being traded to Los Angeles by way of Arizona. He is expected to join the Rays Wednesday in Miami and is considered to have the offensive and defensive skills to be a top-notch starter.
Seo, 29, has been working out of the Dodgers bullpen after being bumped from their rotation and is 2-4 with a 5.78 ERA. The Korean born-righthander, who was signed by the Mets and traded to the Dodgers in January, is expected to replace Hendrickson in the Rays rotation. Seo was 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA for the Mets last season with 16 walks and 59 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings. (His name is pronounced Jay Sew.)
The trade continues the Rays’ strategy of stockpiling promising young players whom they can control for several years. The Rays have Navarro for five more seasons and Seo, who will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season, for another three.
Hall, 30, has been the Rays primary starter since 2002. He had a hot start this season but is now hitting .231 with eight homers and 22 RBIs. He is making $2.25-million this season and would be eligible for free agency after the 2007 season. He is likely to share backup duties in Los Angeles with veteran Sandy Alomar Jr.
Hendrickson, 32, has been one of the Rays' most consistent starters, though a lack of run support has left him with a 4-8 record despite a 3.81 ERA. He is making $1.95-million this season and would be in line for a raise to about $4-million next season.
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I'm wondering who the "PTBNL" is...Hopefully it's one of the Blakes....
Posted by: Jake | June 27, 2006 at 02:48 PM
So much for contending next year... I very much doubt Seo is going anywhere but out of baseball.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 27, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Yes, anonymous....Lurch has been so much of a clutch pitcher for the Rays, thus far.Think before you speak, jabroni.
Posted by: Jake | June 27, 2006 at 04:12 PM
Shouldn't the first sentence have read:"The Devil Rays completed a trade Tuesday they feel will make them younger and better at catcher . . ."Seo isn't going to be an improvement over Hendrickson
Posted by: Anonymous | June 27, 2006 at 04:39 PM
seems like we could get more for hendrickson. he/e pitched very well with any kind of support he could be 8-4 easily
Posted by: Anonymous | June 27, 2006 at 05:31 PM
Just when it seemed safe to become a Rays fan they trade a starter with a 3-something ERA and one of the most popular players and good defensive catcher for an unproven catcher, as well as a pitcher with an ERA near 6, who didn't have to face DH's. Plus, the Rays gave the Dodgers $1M! I thought Chuck LaMar was gone. This trade stinks unless the PTBNL will be a prized young player like Joel Guzman, Blake DeWitt or Scott Elbert.
Posted by: mitchman | June 27, 2006 at 06:12 PM
I guess we learned there is no such thing as free parking. The salary differentials should cover those revenue losses. Plus the city doesn't get a cut of the money saved. Good move Culverhouse.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 27, 2006 at 07:26 PM
to bad toby hall was hot.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 27, 2006 at 08:53 PM
I don't know what you guys are thinking but this was a good move, a top prospect catcher at a low salary and if seo shows any of what he did last year it will be an improvement for us. Personally I like Hall as a community member but I was getting a little tired of his boring on the field presence. And maybe Navarro has a better sense for calling games. Remember this guy was supposed to be taking over for Posada in NY next year, but they wanted to be the ones that got Randy Johnson and they gave up Navarro to get him.The cash is just to make up some of the salary differences. I will take a young pitcher as the ptbnl.
Posted by: javboy82 | June 27, 2006 at 09:51 PM
TWO NEW FACES : NAVARRO // SOELITTLE PUDGE.. NOT REALLY AS IT APPEARS HE DOES NOT HAVE THE ARM WITH [ 0 FOR 16 ] AT THROWING OUT RUNNERS. OTHERWISE HE IS OK ! SO GIVE ME RIGGINS THE 25 YR OLD CATCHER AT DURHAM. HE IS HITTING .304 & 7 HOMERS. IF SOE CAN PITCH LIKE HE DID FOR THE METS WE HAVE A TRUE STARTER.A CATCHER HAS TO THROW OUT A FEW RUNNERS OR WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.SO WE WILL BE PATIENT !
Posted by: RICHIE RICARDO | June 28, 2006 at 02:03 PM
I think this could be a good deal. Really, I dont see how the Rays could lose in this deal. Hall and Hendrickson have both reached their peak as far as potential goes. Seo was unhittable in the 2nd half of last year and Navarro is widely regarded as a very good catching prospect. So we at the very LEAST break even, with the potential to improve in both areas......AND both guys come cheaper.I really dont see how this could ever be conceived as a BAD deal. At the very least, the Rays end up status quo.
Posted by: Shoop | June 28, 2006 at 03:46 PM