Huff dealt for two more prospects, Upton moved to third

The Devil Rays made another big deal, trading veteran third baseman Aubrey Huff to the Houston Astros on Wednesday for two minor-leaguers.

They also took a big step toward replacing Huff by announcing later that top prospect B.J. Upton would move to third base at Triple-A Durham and would be promoted when he is comfortable there.

The Rays also included about $1.6-million cash in the deal to cover just less than  half of what remained on Huff's $6.75-million salary.

The prospects they got back were both playing for Double-A Corpus Christi: right-handed starter Mitch Talbot, 22, the Astros' second-round pick in 2002, was 6-4 with a 3.39 ERA, eighth best in the Texas League, with 29 walks and 98 strikeouts; and  shortshop Ben Zobrist, 25, a sixth-round pick in 2004, was hitting .328 with 25 doubles, three homers and 30 RBI and was a Texas League All-Star. Both will join the Rays' Double-A team in Montgomery, Ala.

With Huff traded, Ty Wigginton is likely to get most of the playing time at third until Upton, who has been playing shortstop, is ready.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Really hoping the Rays would build on the foundation we have now and keep Aubrey. We can overtake the O's this season and maybe Toronto and the Yankees next season! If the ownership would keep a couple of established hitters/stars along with our excellent young players we could develop and really challenge. The atmosphere at the Trop has been improving, and will only continue to do so as we build a winning tradition. Last Sunday's game was amazing. We'd have more days like that if Aubrey was still batting cleanup and play a good hot corner.Good luck to you in your hometown Aubrey and thank you. Come back to your adopted hometown--you'll be missed here.

[MiamiRaysFan]

Huff was a good player but is in the final year of his contract and has declined the last three years. While this could have to do with the atmosphere that he has been in I think getting a couple of solid prospects to build on was the right thing to do

[Anonymous]

you have got to be kidding me...we get double-A prospects for a proven starter...SIGH!The Rays continue to disappoint.

[Anonymous]

We're not going to be real contenders in the division for at least a couple of years, so trading a 30-year-old guy who's in decline and doesn't really want to be here for two young guys who could be major league starters by then seems okay to me...

[Anonymous]

Maybe it won't be Ground Hog's Day for Aubrey anymore. Another good player who gone because they won't raise the payroll.

[Anonymous]

Aubrey Huff has meant a lot to the DRays, and I hope he contributes a lot to the Astros. Would love to see them catch and pass the Cards and take the Central, get to the LCS at least.We've sent another Texan home. Better be careful with Carl, Kaz and Niemann?Here's hoping the young RH can turn into a big leaguer for us, as a starter or in the pen. Another very good change-up is a good sign. Maybe he is learning to pitch and is not just another hard thrower.But the sleeper is Zobrist -- a SS, and apparently a good one since he has been an All Star all three seasons he has been a pro. His arrival would seem to signal the departure, for sure, for Julio Lugo, and it seems to send a message to B.J. Upton, doesn't it? What does it do for Reid Brignac?Might the plan be to move either Zobrist or Upton to second, Cantu to either 1B or 3B?And does the trade of Hendrickson, Hall, now Huff mean the Rays front office is engaging in a stealth mini-Marlins rebuilding? The Marlins did not do too badly last winter. It certainly seems that the Rays are not doing too badly, so far, during this season. If we've drafted a Ryan Zimmerman quality third baseman and now traded for a potential Hanley Ramirez quality shortstop, and added a few good young pitching prospects, we're doing pretty well. So far.And lest we forget/overlook another factor, remember that both Andy Friedman and Gerry Hunsicker have Houston history, and know and trust the Astros scouts and talent development abilities.I do like this trade.

[Kazz]

I like the trade. Aubrey Huff was leaving at the end of the season anyway. It was inevitable.The Rays get a shortstop (hello B.J. time to move) and a starting pitcher prospect, I can't complain.In the short term, Ty Wiggington moves to third. Might we see Russ Branyon move to first and Delmon Young come up to play right?

[Anonymous]

this is a good trade on several levels:1) with the collective bargaining agreement ending this season, who knows what the rays would have gotten if huff left? under the current agreement, the rays would have received a draft pick of some sort.2) huff didn't want to be here, he was gone after this season, trade or not.3) given his inability to hit in the first two months of the season, his stock is not that great. seems like the rays got a lot for him.4) hunsicker must know something about these guys: he drafted them.i think this sends more than a message about upton. i think acquiring a shortstop suggests either upton is going to the outfield or going to be traded. and i also think that if the rays keep lugo, and upton moves to the outfield, that there's going to be some trading happening between now and february.if upton moves to the outfield, that means the rays have five talented young outfielers (baldelli, crawford, dukes, upton and young) with only three spots available.

[javboy82]

From ABC in Texas on may 22nd:CORPUS CHRISTI - The Hooks are blessed with a number of hot major league prospects, one of which is Ben Zobrist. While Hunter Pence, J.R. House and Josh Anderson get much of the attention, Zobrist quietly goes about his business, and thriving along the way.Ben Zobrist ascent as a major league prospect appears to be non-stop. Two years ago he was rookie of the year in the New York Penn League. Last year he batted .304 at Lexington, and .333 at Salem. This year he's batting .319 for the Hooks. Zobrist can flat out hit. "There's been times where I didn't hit. I remember those times, but my goal when I get up to the plate is to find a way to get on base. Any way I can help the team is the way I'll do it," said Zobrist. Years ago the common thinking was that you had to be short to play shortstop. Well, Cal Ripken destroyed that myth, and now Ben Zobrist has proven that at 6'3" he can handle the position."It's something I think I have to continue to work on, because those smaller, speedy guys get to some balls a little bit easier and get down to them. It's something that I think I can do, play shortstop, and I know a lot of guys when the same height and same build have been able to do. So, I try not to put any limits on it."Zobrist is a spiritually minded man, a man of patience. He realizes the Astros have a logjam of young shortstops right now, Adam Everett, Eric Brauntlett, Chris Burke, but he has not thoughts about being squeezed out. In due time, he says, his chance will come."You know, I try to block out any thoughts of anybody besides my time, where I'm playing. You know, I'm not guaranteed tomorrow anyway. I'm not guaranteed next year or any of that. So, my goal is to get out here and work as hard as I can every day, and try to glorify God with that."If the 25-year-old Zobrist keeps his torrid pace, he could get called up to Round Rock later this season. But for now, he's one of the main cogs in the Hooks line-up, and one big reason why the Hooks are in first place.

[javboy82]

from cbs sportsline:Talbot, 22, is in his fourth professional season after being selected by Houston in the second round of the June 2002 draft. He is 6-4 with a 3.39 ERA (34 ER in 90 1/3 innings) in 18 appearances (17 starts) for Double-A Corpus Christi this season. He ranks seventh in the Texas League in ERA and third with 96 strikeouts. Talbot is a decent long-term keeper pitching prospect who could be a late-season call-up for the Devil Rays. They really need developing young arms to saddle up with their depth of young hitting talent. (Updated 07/12/2006).

[javboy82]

I like the trade once again. the guy before saying we should not have traded huff because we should build around the core of young stars we have? that's what we are doing! Huff is not the core of the future just because he's been here for awhile. The core are the guys locked up: Kaz/rocco/carl/cantu, i will even throw shields/corc/navarro if they can have strong 2nd halves.

[ElGuapo]

Too bad they can't find somebody to take Travis Lee off their hands...

[Anonymous]

Too bad they can't find somebody to take Travis Lee off their hands... why is he even on the roster?i'd give him away for a bucket of used balls.

[Anonymous]

I've been trying to get excited about the Rays for a long time. I was particularly excited about the changes made when new ownership took over before this season. But that excitement is fading,...and not because we just traded Aubrey Huff. Bear with me for a minute please.Anyone who knows baseball knows the Rays are loaded with outfielders - both at the major league and minor league levels. All during spring training we kept hearing rumors about how Joey Gathwright was going to be traded for pitching help. Well, he never was dealt - despite our glut of outfielders - and then he proceeded to hit about .190 for much of the year. Finally they dealt him for what? A stick of gum? They waited too long to make the deal. In the case of Huff, I think they pulled the trigger too soon. With all the teams still alive in the playoff hunt,...the push for one of these teams to pick up a lefthanded bat before the July 31 trading deadling should have been enormous. Had they waited maybe a week or so longer,...would one of said teams become a little more desperate then offering two fringe minor league prospects? Maybe the team wqs convinced this was the best they could do,...but it seems like a lot of teams do pretty crazy things as the trading deadline nears. (anyone remember Heathcliff Slocumb? I'm sure Red Sox fans know what I'm talking about.) The past regime wouldn't make deals period - so on one hand I applaud trades of any kind. I just hope the current regime has a better handle on the market than it might appear.

[Anonymous]

Same old Rays. They got rid of him to keep from paying him a salary he earned. Give it a few years when Kazmir should make the $12-15 million and then they will start another 5 year plan. As long as we have kids on the roster everything in Devil Ray land will prosper. When we have to pay them, they will become extinct. Same old Devil Rays, same old stench.

[Anonymous]

I would not be upset at picking up Zobrist. I watched him play in a Wisconsin summer league and he can flat out fly and hit. He also is a 1st class person having watched him interact with children at baseball camps in the area. As an Astros fan I hate to see a high quality person of this caliber leave the organization for a rental player in Huff. Nice trade TB

[Anonymous]

The Rays didn't get enough in the trade. Zorbist will be good, but instead of the pitcher they should've got Hunter Pence, if he was available (or even Pence - who will be a great player - straight up for Huff). This would've opened up a lot of possibilities for future trades and position moves, and by the end of next year the Rays would've had the best outfield in baseball

[Anonymous]

bout time. nuff said. get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who thinks we messed up by trading Huff has a very short memory. Less than a month ago he was hitting less than .200He was the highest paid player on the roster and has a bad habit of not earning his keep until July. Also am I the only person here who hated to see him jog to 1st base on a ground out ??? Hopefully we take the cash we are saving and re-invest it.

[Anonymous]

Why doesn't anyone seem to think Kevin Witt is worth a shot? The guy has demonstrated he can dominate at the AAA level, and has good left handed power. For what we would need to pay him, why not give a guy like Witt a chance to prove himself for the rest of the year.A power hitting first baseman can last into his late thirties, so he has plenty of good years left, and he wouldn't need the big salary. Save the money, get Witt a shot at getting some at bats, and spend some money in other spots. Just my two cents

[Anonymous]

"'Bout time," Huff said. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

re: witt.how can the rays justify keeping this guy in durham and continue to run out travesty lee to first base?

[Anonymous]

Does anybody think Mark Hendrickson or Aubrey could be back next year. I think not to make an offer for Hendrickson this offseason would be foolish. as for Huff, I think the Yankees will outbid us.

[Anonymous]

tampa bay devil rays?who really cares!