Cantu sent down ...

The Devil Rays sent 2005 team MVP Jorge Cantu to Triple-A on Saturday. Cantu was optimistic he would return to his 2005 form after an injury shortened 2006 season, but lost his starting 2B job to B.J. Upton.

Cantu was obviously unhappy with the move. He said he asked the Rays ro trade him and said he didn't know if he would report to Triple-A Durham. "I'm not a minor-league player," he said.

Also, the Rays optioned catcher Shawn Riggans to Triple-A, an indication that starter Dioner Navarro and backup Josh Paul will be healthy enough to start the season.

And they reassigned to minor-league camp OF Dustan Mohr, C Raul Casanova and INF Jorge Velandia.

What they Rays had not decided as of early Saturday morning was how to replace Greg Norton, who will be sidelined with a right knee injury. Bringing back 1B Carlos Pena, who was sent down Friday, is a possbility.

The starting lineup for Saturday's exhibition may be what the Rays use for Monday's opener:
Carl Crawford, lf
Ben Zobrist, ss
Rocco Baldelli, dh
Ty Wigginton, 1b
Delmon Young, rf
Akinori Iwamura, 3b
Dioner Navarro, c
Elijah Dukes, cf
B.J. Upton, 2b

Comments

[jim]

When are you going to call this disgrace of a owner on his lack of committment to winning. The team is an embarrassment much like the bucs were under culverhouse and the lightning under that consortium from overseas. We need a press that will do its job, and hold these people accountable. The owner is a total disgrace. i won't go to a game again unless something changes.

[Shoop]

This is absolute bullcrap.

Cantu has EVERY RIGHT to be upset and demand for a trade.

1 year ago, at this time, he was the best thing this side of Chase Utley. He fouls a ball of his FOOT(which affects hitting AND defense), tries to play through pain numerous times, and his reward is coming to spring training "fighting for a roster spot".

How many 2B hit 25-30HR and knock in 100+ RBIs? They dont grow on trees.

He's a good defender. He's not a great one, but he's not BJ Upton either. Oh thats right, Upton is taking his job. Which means that defense isnt REALLY the issue, is it?

Meanwhile, Greg Norton(career highs of 17HR and 50RBI) is untouchable around here.

I'm the biggest Rays fan youll find, but I hope Cantu comes back with another team and shoves it up the Rays behind.

This is bullcrap.

[Kevin]

Great move....Send Cantu back to the minors that way he'll be tuned up in time for our push for the post season

[JD]

Calm down guys. We all love Jorge he is a great guy. But, lets look at this logically. Cantu is a terrible defensive 2B. He has no range and a weak arm. He was hurt last year, but he wasn't hurt this spring. He just didn't show the power he once had. Brendon Harris is a terrific utility player and is a great defender. BJ Upton looked pretty good at 2B this spring and he out hit Cantu. Upton is going to provide range at 2B like we have never seen. He can run too. Wiggington can play 2B in a pinch. It is just a #'s game. Hopefully Cantu can go down to AAA and regain his stroke. If there is an injury, then he is just a phone call away. Heck maybe he can learn to play 1B down there. But, the decision came down to him and Gomes. Gomes has too much raw power that we can use as a pinch hitter off the bench. Cantu is a great guy who came out of no-where in 2005. But, he hasn't been that guy in over a year now. Maybe it was the injury or maybe it was the new steiroid policy that went into effect last year.

[John]

Jorge Cantu is Jeff Kent four years earlier than Jeff Kent became Jeff Kent. Terrible move. You can cut him a little slack for the shoulder, but, mark my words, pitchers have figured out Gomes; he's a dead fastball hitter and thats it. Look forward to another .214 or so out of him as he waves at sliders off the plate. They should have put Cantu at first and moved Wiggington to second. I agree with another post; I hope they trade Cantu and he haunts them for years. Joe Maddon is an idiot.

[Ron]

The Devil Rays lose 100 games again this year with or without Cantu. I think his one good year and all of the attention lavished on him in Mexico has gone to his head. If he is really a major league player, then shup up, go to Durham and prove it. So far, all he's shown is one year as a good hitter on a bad team.

[Winston Butsteel]

We suck. How about Jim Mora for a manager? At least the post game press conferences will be entertaining. We will get the "playoffs" speech in April.

[steve ashworth]

Perhaps you'd like Mr. Naimoli back?

[zippy]

Jorge who ? That's everyone will say in another season or two. Bye bye .
"Not a minor league player". Ha ha ha.
Guess your back to being a Rancher.

[Steve]

Our future is looking brighter and brighter all the time.

[Derek]

I bet money that Sweet Lou and the Cubs contact the Rays about Cantu. He's a Utility player with a Major League Bat and Piniella already knows what Cantu can do with the Bat. Stupid stupid Move that was all about Money and the Rays felt they HAD to play Upton because of his Salary. Simple case of overpaid Draft picks that can't live up to their potential who are kicking out the low salaried players that actually have the Potential

[Tony]

I know this was a tough decision, but the part I can't get over is that there was never a question about cutting Norton instead of Cantu. Not only is Norton practically a career minor leaguer, but he didn't do any better than Cantu this spring (or Pena for that matter). Why wouldn't we keep someone who still has some potential? It's not like we're going to compete for a playoff spot this year, so I am sick of hearing about how we need veteran's like Norton and Paul. Sending down Riggans was also a bad move. From what I can tell, he's the best catcher we have right now. He's even been better than Navarro so far.

Cantu does a legitimate gripe, because he really wasn't given a chance to prove himself with a sufficient number of at bats. However, the attitude he displayed leading up to the cut and afterwards sure won't make him any easier to trade.

[Kenny]

i like how we commit to the young guys, its all about building for the future right? cantu hit 27 hrs and knocked in 118 runs when he was 23 years old. hes only 25 and were cutting him for some nobody named norton? thats really building for the future, cut cantu for a 35 year old minor leaguer. good job joe. smart thinking there. way to guarentee that we can say were building for the future next year too. ive grown up in st. pete and this is the only team ive known, there is no way other teams build winners like this is there? is this how the tigers did it? by cutting a top 7 or 8 second baseman in baseball for greg norton?

[Tyler]

Who is calling Greg Norton a career minor leaguer? He has averaged over 100 games per year from 1998 - 2003, prior to some injuries.

He hit very well for the Rays last year.

Cantu is widely known as the worst-fielding 2B in MLB. He's kind of slow, too.

Why not have a young guy in Upton who has an upside and can run?

It cannot get any worse than last year...or the year before that...or the year before that...

[Derek]

Everybody's calling Cantu a Horrible Fielder.. has anyone ever seen Upton try and field a ball? yeah he made some good plays in the field last year but even a blind squirrel finds a nut here and there, He's very shaky sometimes on just routine grounders. so anyone trying to blame this on Cantu's fielding has gotta be smoking something vicious.

[Lee]

Way to stick by YOUR GUYS Rays! Jorge plays sensational two seasons ago, and played through a series of serious injuries last seaso--the guy was never healthy.

The team thanks him by sending him down. Brilliant.
That'll really make vets want to play here if management ever opens their purses.

[Amanda]

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Jorge Cantu, and think he'll once again be a fabulous player. However, I think this might have been the right move for him. He put up those stellar numbers in 2005, then hurt his foot in 2006, and his numbers nose-dived accordingly. However, his foot has long since healed, and the numbers haven't climbed back up accordingly. Which really leaves me with one conclusion; we know he has the talent, so if it's not a physical injury anymore, then it could all be in his head. Maybe a trip down to Durham is just what the doctor ordered. Give him a little R&R, comparatively. Take away the pressures of the big leagues and let him get back to where he needs to be, mentally.
Best of luck, Cantu. Can't wait to see you back when you get your game together again!

[Robert Walker]

Most of the previous comments suggest that, to paraphrase the old joke, the Rays management is so bad that, finally, even the Rays fans are beginning to notice. Management's personnel decisions can be summed up nicely by citing those regarding Hamilton and Cantu. Management seems guided mainly by their trying to avoid embarrassment, so BJ stays and Cantu goes. Upton will NEVER have the power numbers Cantu put up two years ago and how the Rays managed to ruin this fine young player is beyond me. It started when, after he had looked very good at season's end 2004, they traded for another 2nd baseman, Green of the Braves, and made Cantu earn his job a second time. I think Cantu is wise to try to force a trade: ABTB (Anywhere But Tampa Bay).

[josh]

This is kinda off topic, but does anyone know what tv station will be carrying Rays games in Orlando? Haven't been able to find any info on the web....

[Abel Hernandez]

I had puchased tickets for opening day at the trop. My friends and me are hispanics and we were wishing to see our favorite devil ray (Jorge Cantu) play. Now we have another reason not go to the game or any game this season. What this team needs are franchise players who the community identifies with. Gorge was one of them. No wonder why every baseball fan in this town pulls for another team. I don't belive this move was a good business decision. You can keep your tank of sting rays and your free parking. I rather watch good baseball on tv. Go cubs!

[JAGT]

Cantu is one of the best players this team has ever seen...Hope he gets traded to a good team that really appreciates talent. This team is an embaresment with very poor managment decisons, and keeps getting worst and worst. Hope he goes to a good team..

[Hector Garza]

This is total bullshit. I cant believe sending Cantu is going to benefit this team in the long run.This guy can flat out hit the ball. I just hope the Rays get smart and get him back up here.

[Skeals]

Cantu didn't win the job. He didn't play all that well in spring. I hope you rebounds from this and shows us all how good he can be.

Good Luck Jorge!