Report: Rays unlikely to deal

Update: 12:55 p.m. Though everything can change with one phone call, it appears the Rays may not make a move before the 4 p.m. trade deadline.

There has been much speculation circling around Tampa Bay's interest in Pirates OF Jason Bay, and more recently, Reds OF Adam Dunn, but ESPN.com is reporting that the Rays have backed off Dunn because he'd make their lineup too left-handed; the report also said Tampa Bay was told by the Pirates that Bay would likely land elsewhere.

With the deadline just a few hours away, anything can happen, so stay tuned.

Several other AL playoff contenders have chosen to make interesting moves the past few days. The latest was the White Sox acquiring Ken Griffey Jr from the Reds for a Pinellas County product, pitcher Nick Masset, as well as minor leaguer Danny Richar.

The Yankees picked up a replacement for injured catcher Jorge Posada, trading reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Tigers for Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. That came after the Angels picked up slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira, swapping their own 1B Casey Kotchman (Seminole).

And the day is far from done, as the most intriguing deal could be one involving Red Sox star OF Manny Ramirez, who has reportedly approved a potential trade to the Marlins (the much speculated three-team deal, including the Pirates, could have Bay landing with the Red Sox).

But while that deal is being discussed, Toronto has possibly entered the mix for Bay, having talks with the Pirates as of this afternoon, according to espn.com's trade deadline blog.

10:58 am. With much-speculated Rays trade target - Pirates OF Jason Bay - linked in a potential Manny Ramirez three-way deal with the Red Sox and Marlins, it appears the Rays are turning their attention to an interesting alternative option.

We had mentioned in today's Times that Reds OF Adam Dunn was someone the Rays could be considering, and SI.com is reported this morning that "more and more, the Rays are looking at Adam Dunn as a realistic possibility."

Now, of course, Dunn isn't the right-handed bat the Rays have been seeking - nor is he known for his defense - but he certainly would bring some power to a lineup that has struggled to score runs as of late. The left-handed hitting Dunn leads the majors in homers (32) and, interestingly enough, the 29-year-old has more home runs over the last five years than anyone in baseball (196).

Dunn has hit 40 homers in each of the past four years, and is on pace again. And moving him to the American League would allow him a chance to DH, too. What would the price be? According to SI's Jon Heyman, it appears the Reds are seeking some of the Rays young pitching prospects, including Jeff Niemann and Jeremy Hellickson.

Dunn isn't the only Reds star outfielder in deadline day chatter, as several outlets have reported Ken Griffey Jr. is likely to get traded to the White Sox (pending his approval).

The Rays could be waiting to see how the Ramirez saga develops - ESPN reported the Ramirez three-way trade has a "50-50 chance" of happening - to see if Bay remains available. But if that deal creeps closer toward the 4 p.m. deadline, the Rays will likely consider many other options.

Stay tuned.....

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

(Pictured: Adam Dunn, top left; and Jason Bay, top right. AP photos. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Joe]

Sweet! This is definitely a killer move by Friedman. Go Rays!

[Razzlegator]

http://trades.mlblogs.com/

[Scott]

Yes! It looks like we got Bay! This is from rotoworld.com.

A source told MLB.com that the Rays will get Jason Bay from the Pirates for Reid Brignac and Jeff Niemann.

[Joe Bag O'Donuts]

Randy FREAKIN' Winn?
$8.8 mill for a guy that's lucky to hit 10 HR's per year?
ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR GODDAMM SKULL???

[Danny]

I say give the Pirates, Reyes, Miller, Gomes and possibily a minor league prospect. The first 3 suck and the prospect will sweeten the deal. Give us Bay and a pitcher to replace the 2 we gave you. We can then call up anyone of the plethora of pitchers that we have.

[Jason]

I completely trust what Freidman's doing. The price has come down now that the 3 way trade is out of the picture. It's all about timing, and being a small market team, we can't afford to overpay for Bay. I'd say one of our pitching prospects (Hellickson or Niemann) and one of our position player prospects (either Brignac or Jennings) but no more than that.

[Dave]

hey guys, I just started following baseball and off my medications right now so forgive me if I sound just a tad bit irrational and/or dim-witted today

afterall, what Friedman and company have done this year with the 2nd lowest payroll in baseball is a flat out joke
he should have found some way to get Cliff Lee for Seth McClung and I am sure that Tim Lincecum could have been had for Chad Orvella last year!

[Ray F]

This is too much... I'm going on break... when I come back, we better have a new outfielder.

[Joe]

I'd like Winn back too but I think I would try to get Baker or Winn for age and salary difference plus, i'm still all for trying to get Fuentes.

I havent heard a ton about them trying to get him just that there were talks. I wonder if Baker was involved in those talks. Havent heard his name at all yet.

[Dave]

Friedman is overrated. Way overrated. Where would the Rays be right now, if he hadn't stupidly let Josh Hamilton get away under Rule 5? At the worst, we'd have gotten a stud in trade. At best, we'd have our power hitting RF in the lineup vying for MVP here, instead of Texas.

Now, Friedman can't bring himself to part with Reid Brignac in order to shore up that glaring hole in RF in the middle of our first pennant race, right after taking Beckham number 1 overall?

I'm sorry, but if this story line holds past the deadline, I say Friedman is a knucklehead who is way, way out of his league.

[Ray F]

Hellickson or Davis sure- NO PRICE!!!

[Bill]

If the Pirates continue to push for Price they are idiots.

A fair trade is Brignac, Niemann, and Hellickson..........I'd be ok with that move to have Bay for this year and next.

[Razzlegator]

We've spent 10 years enduring some pretty putrid baseball with the only upside being the accumulation of some top flight talent in the minors; with some of them soon to be in the majors. I for one would like to see that talent here and not there. As far as penciling in a 17 year old kid as our shortstop of the future, I'd like to be gazing into that crystal ball, as I'm sure AF would too. Everyone take a deep breath and remember, it is what it is. And for that matter it shall be what it shall be. I've got tickets to 11 more games this year, and I plan on using them regardless of what happens today.

[Danny]

Someone just posted a comment on ESPN.com that perhaps we could include Jackson with Niemann and Brignac. I would be OK with that.

[frantman2]

It would be nice to get some original reporting from our beat writer, but it looks like ESPN has the market covered on this.

[David]

HOw about Randy Winn.

Former Ray who is a switch hitter. Could play right. He is a great clubhouse guy and brings a veteran presence.

[Danny]

Now it appears the Rays Pirates trade talk is back on. The Rays are said to be willing to give up Brignac and Niemann. But the Pirates want Price, Hellickson, or Davis instead of Niemann.

[Amanda]

ESPN.com: "Bay-to-Rays Talk Back On."
See?! Come on, guys! Get him!

[Bill]

It's tough......I don't know how many chances the Rays are going to get to win the division........however, they can't blow all their prospects for a 1 year run......it's tough. With all the great moves Friedman has made I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt on anything he does.

[Amand]

Maybe I'm an optimist (okay, so I KNOW I'm an optimist), but I get the feeling that it's not that the Rays aren't trying here. They're making the effort, it's just not panning out.

[Gaston]

This is the frustrating part of beinga Rays fan. First time looking at possibly making the playoffs and the Rays are ready to stand pat and hope that Baldelli and Price carry the team the rest of the way.

That's why the Yanks and Sox are winners; they take chances.

[Joe]

Im with Bill, I think we let Rocco DH only against lefties and maybe start a smarter discussion with Colorado for Baker and Fuentes. Could really use the lefty in the bullpen.

[Joe]

Now that the Manny blockbuster is dead and the Rays are no longer discussing a deal for Dunn (FoxSports) which is incredibly smart since that would be a braindead move, I think we should still go after Bay if we dont have to sell the farm. Then again, his avg isnt that great against lefties.

I wonder if they have considered finding out from Colorado if they would part with Baker. He has played in Right, hits for average, has a little pop, good slugging pct. Here's his splits:

VS. LEFT: .313 / 1.016 VS. RIGHT: .272 / .754 HOME: .341 / .993 AWAY: .216 / .637

I'd try to get Baker and Fuentes from Colorado in a package and save some money (we'd save more than 6 mil instead of going after Dunn and would get two players instead of 1 for close to same price instead of going after Bay).

[Danny]

Ray,

I dont understand it either. I thought the reason we got Bartlett was because Brignac wasnt ready at the time. And from what I have seen of him, he isnt going to be that much better than Bartlett.

[Scott]

Ray,

I couldn't have said it better myself. I have read that the reason the Bay deal is dead for the Rays is because the Rays are not willing to deal Brignac. I don't understand that. We have Bartlett and we can re-sign him for a few more years until Beckham is ready.

[Amanda]

Now ESPN says that the Manny-Bay deal is dead.

[Bill]

The point is, if all you are after is a guy who can DH vs. lefty's then I really believe Rocco can do that. How much exertion would that really take?

[Razzlegator]

http://www.raysindex.com/
These guys are saying Bay to Bosox.

[Ray F]

Come on Bill...

The only answer Rocco will be this year is to a trivia question. I would LOVE to see Rocco come in and hit 10 HR and drive in 30 runs the last 2 months of the season but everyone this side of reality knows that is a bigger gamble than sending Hellickson and Brignac to Pitt for Bay.

Most teams in playoff contention have made a move. The White Sox got Griffey (who knows why), The Yanks got Pudge, the Marlins got Rhodes, Phils got Blanton, Brewers got Sabathia, Angels got Texiera... etc. etc.

Not making a move is a bigger gamble with the beasts of the east on our tail.

[Ben]

3rd place here we come! Always looking up at the Yankees and Red Sox. 2008 will be no different. Go Buccaneers!

[Razzlegator]

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi
All of your trade questions can be answered here.

[Bill]

Looks like Rocco will be the answer....if he is the answer, that would save us 3 top prospects........it's a gamble........

[The Barbarian Brothers]

Chicken-Bone, chicken-bone; lucky, lucky chicken-bone.

[Dave]

Dick, why on earth would we "throw in" Upton to get Bay?

All that does is move the gap in your lineup from RF to CF.

Where's the Jayson Werth talk gone?

[Danny]

TT, because the Yankees and Red Sox are making moves to help their teams have a better chance at the playoffs. The Rays so far have done nothing.

[dick]

was just watching ESPN first take and Starke reports the Rays/Dunn deal is DEAD, repeat, DEAD..As for Bay, that also looks dead and in fact, if the Bosox/Marlins/Pitt deal goes south, now Toronto is looking good for Bay. Wonder what the hell our owners are offering or not offering. Still say if they threw Upton into the equasion, something good would happen. Realize there are Upton fans out there and he supposedly has talent and "unlimited potential" but this area has yet to see it--PLUS, he refuses to sign a long term deal, which indicates to me that he thinks he is better than he is and will test the free market when eligible.

[TT]

Danny - the basement? Please explain how not getting one platoon-type player takes us from first place to the basement. And, that first place standing has come with sub-par years from Pena, Crawford and Upton. If any of those three start to hit in the last 60 games, then all of the whining about lack of offense go away.

The Rays have ALREADY shown the fans that they're serious about fielding a contender by signing Kaz, Longo, CC, Pena and Shields to long-term contracts.

The playoffs run through St. Pete this year, with or without a trade deadline deal!

[Danny]

Rolaids, How can Jackson be talented if he isnt spectacular. You cant have one without the other.

[Danny]

I just read on the ESPN website that the Rays are unlikely to make any trades of any kind. Apparently they are unwilling to give up what the Pirates or Reds are asking for to get Bay and Dunn respectively. This is very disappointing news. The Rays needed to make a move to show the fans they were serious about fielding a contender for the playoffs. Now we can be prepared for the fall to the basement.

[Ray F]

7 minutes ago ESPN.com says the Rays are unlikely to deal.

[joey]

i think the rays will do fine with the combination of hinske and gross until rocco is healthy. but gomes has got to go. he does nothin but take three big swings strike out do some stuff with his gloves. the guy is just aggrivating to watch anymore. but how about john lynch returning to the bucs in his final years. call me crazy but it could happen

[Dave]

Please tell me this is a joke. (From another credible trade blog):

"The Rays might be looking at Craig Monroe as a bench option."

Dear Lord, Why?

[Ray F]

I'm with Rolaids...

We have a logjam of top-tier MLB ready starters. There really is no reason to have Neimann, Hellickson, or Davis collecting dust for the next 3 years. In 6 years when one of them is a number 1 guy somewhere else, people will say "you guys traded him away." But then we can say, they helped us make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

All will not be lost. We have to make a run. Sieze the opportunity to strike while the Red Sux and Stankees are trying to salvage a playoff berth. We can pull the carrot a little further from their mouths.

[Demetrios]

I want both Bay and Dunn but I read that Cincy wants Niemann and that is a little too much for me. I wouldn't lose sleep over it but it is expensive. If they could get both and get some play from Rocco.....I like our chances.

[Rolaids]

Look at it this way, If we get Dunn, no more Floyd. I would call that a serious upgrade. If we can get him for Niemann or Hellickson, I would do it immediately because I really don't see how we are going to use those two in years to come.

Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Price, Davis sounds like a REALLY solid starting rotation to me. Edwin Jackson can be our emergency guy, and while he isn't spectacular, at least he is experienced and talented.

[Marc]

No way would I rent this guy for 54 games and give up prospects to do so.

Dunn will go out on the market next season and end up in Boston or New York.

[Bradley Mofsky]

One or the other Dunn,Bay. I will be happy with either.Please just get one,or a bonus....Both!

[Chris]

If we give up Hellickson for a trade centered around Adam Dunn its a mistake.

-chris

[Evan T]

Dave, I agree about those two, but I'm not so sure either is a top 3 prospect (price, davis, breignac being my top 3), and I agree, I would prefer bay, but those 32 homers are just SO appealing.

[Dave]

Evan, sounds like the Reds do want Hellickson, and Neimann.

He (Dunn) doesn't hit lefties too badly. He's doesn't hit for average full stop, but his averaghe v lefties doens't drop off too much (this year at least).

Still prefer Bay because he is signed through next year. Not a rental like Dunn.