Another OF

The Rays claimed OF Chris Snelling off waivers from Oakland and released RHP Jay Witasick. Snelling missed most of last season with a knee injury. He could provide depth and a lefthanded bat off the bench if healthy.

Comments

[StefPox]

Maybe adding outfield depth for a possible Carl Crawford trade?

[Steve]

They better not be thinking about trading Crawford, unless it was for an outstanding young starting pitcher such as a Matt Cain or Felix Hernandez.

[Bob R.]

Good low-risk move with possibly good returns. The best teams often discover gems in this way, and all teams troll the wires to find players like Snelling. It likely has nothing at all to do with Crawford, although it could make Ruggiano or Gomes more available if the right deal arises.

It makes little sense to speculate that the Rays are going to trade Crawford-except for "can't turn it down" value. This administration has never done any such thing-not once-and to the contrary has extended its stars, not dealt them.

[***]

Are you guys insane? This guy is damaged goods. He appeals to skinflint Sternberg because he cost all of $20,000. Crawford a future Hall of Famer with any franchise but this cheapskate one. And, by the way, now that the stars know Sternberg's lack of committment to spending $$$, none will re-up with the Rays.

[weezy]

In 3 parts:

The braindead goobers running this club are laughable. A lifetime .240 hitter at the only position on the team that's loaded. Rays need a catcher, 2b, and SS and there are none of the above in the entire Rays system. They have two good starters and an erratic closer. That's their staff period.

They have three pitchers in the minors who may or may not turn out to be major league material. Outside of Pena and Aki (and he'll be playing an unfamiliar position in '08), no one else that came and went--about 30 others--was even serviceable.

[weezy2]

They have a once-promising outfielder who has spent more than half his career on the disabled list simply because he's too lazy to undergo a conditioning program.

[weezy3]

They need veteran leadership in the clubhouse. They need a good manager, not a n a l-retentive "Clueless Joe."
They hired a well-credentialed GM from Houston but when was the last time you saw his name in print? At least 95 percent of the dwindling fan base can't even name the guy.

The local press corps is too cozy with this franchise, the laughingstock of the Majors. But, then again, the SPT was instrumental in the corruption involved in the location of Tropicana Field. The tight-fisted owner needs to spend some real dough. Since the official end of the regular season, we've heard them shovel the f e c e s about uniforms, parking, same day tickets, blah, blah, blah. They play in the crappiest facility in the majors. Ray is one of the best mascots but you can bet he's underpaid and probably will become a free agent. I hear he's in line to replace the Philly Phanatic as his retirement looms.

[wseezy]

The braindead goobers running this club are laughable. A lifetime .240 hitter at the only position on the team that's loaded. Rays need a catcher, 2b, and SS and there are none of the above in the entire Rays system. They have two good starters and an erratic closer. That's their staff period. They have three pitchers in the minors who may or may not turn out to be major league material. Outside of Pena and Aki (and he'll be playing an unfamiliar position in '08), no one else that came and went--about 30 others--was even serviceable. They have a once-promising outfielder who has spent more than half his career on the disabled list simply because he's too lazy to undergo a conditioning program. They need veteran leadership in the clubhouse. They need a good manager, not a n a l-retentive "Clueless Joe."
They hired a well-credentialed GM from Houston but when was the last time you saw his name in print? At least 95 percent of the dwindling fan base can't even name the guy. The buttoned-down, tight-a s s e d Wall Street gang who are finding the world of Major League Baseball totally baffling need to find jobs more suitable to their training. The local press corps is too cozy with this franchise, the laughingstock of the Majors. But, then again, the SPT was instrumental in the corruption involved in the location of Tropicana Field. The tight-fisted owner needs to spend some real dough. Since the official end of the regular season, we've heard them shovel the f e c e s about uniforms, parking, same day tickets, blah, blah, blah. They play in the c r a p p i e s t facility in the majors. Ray is one of the best mascots but you can bet he's underpaid and probably will become a free agent. I hear he's in line to replace the Philly Phanatic as his retirement looms.

[jr]

Since Marc Topkin and and crony Romano are nothing but shills for the Devil Rays....

Your Sunday article "A low-budget showcase" should be called "A low-budget headcase."

The Devil Rays are nowhere on track to become the next Rockies or, for that matter, the next anything but losers. They have a $24 million payroll, 30th among...mmmm, how many MLB teams are there? Yeah, I thought so. If they doubled the payroll which they have absolutely no intention of coming close to, they would rank 28th. That's how cheap and/or out of touch Sternberg is.

And I know they didn't teach you math in journalism school but they must have taught it in your grade school. Adding 20 percent to a $24 million payroll does not get it "into the mid 30s." It doesn't even get it to $29 million. Maybe your four year old can help you with this.

The SPT sports staff generally is pretty sorry. You are one of the prime examples.

[Mike]

I hope this addition to the 40 man roster doesn't expose some other prospect in the Rule 5 draft that actually could contribute to this team in the future? Teams know what talent we have stockpiled in the minors...Remember Josh Hamilton? Snelling isn't half the player that Hamilton is nor some other pitching prospect we have not currently on the 40 man roster.