Zobrist optioned to Durham

The Rays optioned INF Ben Zobrist  to Triple-A Durham after Wednesday's game to make room for the return of SS Jason Bartlett from the DL. Bartlett is expected to be in the lineup on Thursday in Kansas City.

Zobrist knocked in two runs Wednesday with a solo homer in the fifth that put the Rays ahead and then a single that scored the decisive run in the seventh.

-- MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

(Pictured: Ben Zobrist. Times photo -- James Borchuck. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Edgar]

This team needs to make a move fast. Acquire RF Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte for Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot. Acquire Casey Blake exchange for Gabe Gross and a PTNL. Casey Blake is a great 4th outfielder, 1B and a backup 3B. Cut guys like Trever Miller, Gary Glover, Jason Hammel and Al Reyesand add Dale Thayer. Put Jonny Gomes and Willy Aybar on waivers. Pick up a superutility guy like Willie Harris.

Here is my roster

Catcher
Dioner Navarro
Shawn Riggans

INF
Carlos Pena
Aki Iwamura
Jason Bartlett
Evan Longoria
Willie Harris

OF
Carl Crawford
BJ Upton
Xavier Nady
Casey Blake

DH
Eric Hinske
Cliff Floyd

Starters
Scott Kazmir
James Shields
Matt Garza
Andy Sonannstine
Edwin Jackson

Relievers
Damaso Marte
JP Howell
Dale Thayer
Grant Balfour
David Price
Dan Wheeler
Troy Percival

I hope Andrew Friedman is reading this right now. This is a perfect projected roster if the Rays GM have the smarts to do it.

Options

Longoria day off; Harris/Blake take over
Pena day off; Hinske/Blake/Nady
Nady day off; Casey Blake/Hinske
Upton/Crawford day off; Willie Harris
Iwamura/Bartlett day off; Willie Harris

The reason for this idea b/c this team can't afford to lose to teams like the Indians and the Royals of the world. This what happens if you are contending with the Yankees and Red Sox; you have to to take chances of making a move and giving away a prospect or two.

[Sanford]

Hey Ryan:

Regarding your comments about the Sox and Yanks being unimportant when they are not in first. Saturday on Fox, Sunday on ESPN, Monday on ESPN. No one wants to watch Tampa at KC - that's unimportant. Stop making stupid comments like a typical Tampa fan. This is why the rest of the country laughs at the Tampa fans.

[Ray F]

For the most part, Hammel is the mop-up guy. He comes in as the long reliever when we are down by a handful in the 5th or 6th to slow the game down. He's fine.

Miller, Reyes, and Glover worry me and Percy's been keeping me at the edge of my seat as well.

I think we may want to look at bringing Dale Thayer up from Durham. He's been nearly unstoppable as their closer. Get rid of Reyes. Glover is on the DL anyway. I think Miller will break out of his funk. I'm sure we could ship Reyes to a borderline contender for some low-end prospects.

[Demetrios]

I agree that we do what it takes to get a solid bat in this line-up. This is not a knee-jerk reaction to the sub-par offense of the past month. We've needed this for the past three months.

What worries me now is our bullpen. I feel good about Howell, Balfour, Wheeler and Percival. How do you feel about throwing Glover, Miller or Hammel out there with the game on the line at Fenway or Yankee stadium in Sept? Do we also pull the trigger on a reliever?

Small market teams do not find themselves in this position in the standings very frequently. There should be some sense of urgency. We have to make at least two moves.

[Ray F]

Agreed,

I think a Neimann-Hammel/Nady trade is fair. I don't think E-Jack has the consistency to be a starter and he can't stay out of the big inning to be dependable as a closer or set-up man; I think he will be gone next year.

Sonny could be the number 5 starter next year if Neimann is gone.

Otherwise-
Kaz-Shields-Price-Garza

Neimann/Sonny/Davis/Hellickson battle for the 5th spot... ughhh, I just dirtied my pants.

[Bodog]

Ray F

Price is the only plyer in OUR RAYS minor league system that is off limits. Friedman had the opportunity to trade for Holiday one on one, but guess who the Rockies want, yup! PRICE. Friedman turned them down flat, which he should have. Neimann and Hammel's and a kid named Hellickson are the names most being thrown around with the trade for Nady. We could stand to lose one or two of those guys and not feel the pinch. EJ and Sonny are safe for this season, but 09, one of those guys will be regulated to the pen. Here's a kicker, I think we'll see Price in the Bigs by 9/23. If a deal involving Neimann is pulled off, we might see Price pitching that doubleheader with the Orioles. I'll esplain my reasoning in another blog.

[Bodog]

Ray F

Actually I did, I don't know if you have the capacity to go back into your archives on this blog, but I predicted the Rays to win 96 games this season.

[Ray F]

i stutter...

[Ray F]

Bodog,

I know you've been posting on this blog all season...

Did you ever think, in April, that we would be having this conversation going into August???

HELL NO!!!

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!

We're all a bunch of scumbags!!! If the Rays make a move by Monday, I'm going to pull the trigger and lock myself in for the prorated season tix so I can get priority postseason!!! $355 for an outfield seat for 25 games. Doesn't get better than that.

[Ray F]

I know you've been posting here all season like me...

Did you ever think, in April, we would be having this discussion???

HELL NO!!!

Awesome!!!

[Bodog]

Ray F

The thing about Ruggiano and Brignac is that the Pirates don't want or need those two. The pirates are looking for pitching prospects. Not only do we have the pitching prospects to trade for Nady in AAA ball, but we also have them in AA. It will take one high level prospect from AAA and one from AA for the Rays to get a short at Nady. The Rays can definitely stand to lose a prospect from each level of minor league ball and not feel the pinch. Friedman had better make the deal and make it now. Our teams has been exposed with it's lefthanded heavy lineup. WE NEED THAT RIGHTHANDED BAT.

[Ray F]

Bodog,

It looks like Price will be moving up to triple-a very soon (within the next week). I don't think we'll see him at the MLB level in time for the trade deadline which means if he does come up, it won't be to replace E-Jack or Sonny if they're dealt.

If one of them are included in any deal (E-Jack hopefully), it would seem they would bring Hammel out of the pen and bring Neimann up until Price makes his way through AAA ball.

What do you think???

I think Price needs proper development time. I don't think they necessarily need to worry about starting pitching right now unless they ship E-Jack or Sonny.

[Ray F]

Demetrios,

If I were the Rays,

For the short term that we'll get out of Nady, I think we offer Justin Ruggiano OR Reid Brignac (cause their looking to ship Jack Wilson out too) and a mid-range pitching prospect like Talbot.

Or an even trade for an upper-tier pitching prospect, like Jeff Neimann.

I think the time is now. We have a lot of core guys under long-term contracts so we don't need to keep collecting prospects. We are winning now and to keep winning, we need a viable 3 man everyday outfield and Nady can fill that. Hell, throw Gomes in just for filler if needed.

[Dave B.]

Good question Demetrious... Pittsburgh is what it is, a low payroll team that never seems to develop the players like the Rays have. They want young prospects or low salaried veterans for their core of solid players.

If Nady is available, why not give Gomes and someone like Mitch Talbot. With the young guns we have in the lower minors, Talbot may be expendable.

Very nice to be in this position of leverage!

[Bodog]

Ray F
let's hope the Rays pull the trigger, we definitely have the pitching prospects. Demetrios, what is any player worth. In my opinion, they are all overpaid. I think it'll probably take one of our top pitching prospect, not Price, and one other player. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the backend rotation pitchers, EJ or Sonny be included. I think with Prices' call up this year and making the starting rotation next season. One of those guys is expendibale.

[Demetrios]

As Rays fans, what are you willing to give up for Nady? Although I have not seen him play much, he seems to be a solid hitter having a good year at the plate this year. It seems that he is very good defensively with 10 assists and good fielding pct. I believe he will be a free agent next year which is a minus.

What is he worth?

[Ray F]

Bodog,

I just heard on 620 that it's being reported that the asking price is dropping on Nady and the Rays may be looking to make a move.

You are wise.

[Dave B.]

It is a real shame that people like Danny & Bob are so immature and are allowed to take up space on this site.

If anyone remembers, Ben Zobrist got hurt at the start of the year. He was targeted as the super utility player that played almost all positions during Spring Training.

What happened in Ben's situation is that Willie Aybar took his position while he was on the DL, is also a switch hitter and can play multiple positions.

Ben Zobrist hit the biggest home run of the year in the Jay's series. It was HUGE!

He does have options and that is why he was sent down.

[Ray F]

Good point Thomas,

I think Riggans is definately one of the unsung heroes of the club this year. Brushed somewhere under Howell and Balfour. Gomes is a great personality on the field, but I don't know if the Rays NEED a cheerleader anymore. I think Gomes will remain with the team through the end of the season because we won't get anything of value for him in a trade. They are more likely to trade a guy like Ruggiano.

Gomes should've been sent down. Benzo should've stayed up if not for his attitude alone. What a class-act. Remember last year, Gomes was sent down and he literally had tears in his eyes because he was so mad.

[Thomas]

Consider this(offense only)
Zobrist has 1 more home run and only 1 less RBI than Aybar in 1/2 the at bats!

Also, I'd like to see Riggans get a shot at right handed DH. He's batting .253 with 4 homers and 16 RBI(compared to Gomes .197 with 8 homers and 19 RBI)....but Riggans has had 50 less at Bats!! His homer per at bat is higher than Gomes and he has a better average!

[ron_fl]

We are looking for a bat in right? We send Ben to AAA? He has proven he has the bat we are looking for. What of the other OF in AAA? No shopping required, just open the cupboard. Note the Yankee fans like Ben out of the lineup..understood.

[Bodog]

The Pirates are looking for pitching prospects and the Yanks and or Bosox don't have the prospects - well not at the AAA level. I think as the dealine gets closer the Pirates may lower the asking price for Nady and or Bay.

Blake has been playing in the majors for 10 years and has played all of 2 innings at SS, so I don't see him as a legit backup at that position. But he can play 3b, so if the team were ever in a pinch they could stick him there and move Longoria to SS. Otherwise, I think you are correct, and he would probably be a better option than Nady, as we'd probably have to overpay the Pirates to acquire him.

[Demetrios]

Look for the Rays to look at Casey Blake from the the Indians. If they trade for him he will be in RF but has played some SS. That answers the questions of right handed hitter (.280), back up at short and would come cheaper than Nady. Would rather have Nady but too many teams are looking at him including the Yankees. The price keeps rising on this guy who is an above avg. fielder hitting .320 against righties and lefties.

[BigD]

Ben does need to work on improving his overall baseball skills. He's definitely made progress this season as his better numbers indicate. The Rays are probably not the best team for a young player to get mentored from a veteran and learn a lot. He'd likely be better suited for another team.
Has anyone heard of any trade rumors where he may get sent somewhere or someone else in the Rays may go and he get brought back?

[Ryan]

we need to pound the Royals and let the Yanks and Sox beat up on each other. Isn't it interesting how unimportant yanks/sox is when neither are in first. I have always said that I love it when they play each other because someone loses.

[JeffC]

I am of the opinion that true Rays fans don't get on here and bash players.

Anyway, Zobrist is down but he has a role with this team long term, and will likely still be the "super utility" man they planned on. Bartlett needs to be out there at SS based on his glove work.

How many HR does Zobrist have? He's shown some pop that we didn't see before - I bet if you looked at HR/AB it's a pretty good ratio.

Rays fans, can we all agree on this - Love Gomes passion and enthusiasm. REALLY want to see him succeed, but he may not fit into the long term plan based on his offense and defense right now.

Funny thing is both Benny and Johnny came up huge today - different hero every night.

Bottom line is: We "Meatloafed" the A's to use a Madden-ism (took 2 of 3), and we all get FREE DONUTS TOMORROW AT DUNKIN!!

The people at my local Dunkin hate me - all I do is get the free donut, nothing else, and go on my way.

4 games coming up against KC (no sunshine band) and Rays need to beat up on them, and keep the pressure on the Sawx. GO RAYS!!

[Dave]

The "good riddance" comments are made by low class comments - evils one has to endure for reading/posting on boards like this.

Zobrist needs to develop his defensive skills at 1 position. His SS skills are weak. Looks like the swing adjustments are actually working - he's showing more power and swinging at strikes. I hope he continues to play better. As for Gomes, if he plays more the more he will hit. I disagree with the Gomes bashers - when he gets in the game he makes things happen.

[dan]

It is so sad that there are so many mean spirited, classless people in the world. If you ever get the whole story on Ben, you would hold the sarcasim. This kid is the epitemy of class on and off the field. I hope to see him back soon.

[RJ]

I agree that Ben should stay. He's doing a great job. They got it wrong this time.

[Bob]

GOOD....RIDDANCE....ZOBRIST!!!!!!!!

and dont let the door hit you on the behind..

[Brent]

Remember Fellas if it wasnt for Ben and Gomes we would not have won today... Clutch hitting by both. Plus Ben won the game for us on Friday as well... Keep up the good work Ben and we will see you again soon.

[Joel]

I agree Ben is needed & should stay. Why not keep his bat swinging? Right now he is seeing the ball well. The more opportunities the more he is winning and helping to win ball games.

[Pat]

Zoebrist should stay, he has done a very good job in place of Bartlett. It's nice to be a lot deeper and have to see guys who used to start have to go back down, but Ben is a great guy, and does well when he gets enough reps.

[Bill]

I was going off the radio broadcast who said Gomes had options.

[MD]

The Rays took the wrong player out of the game today. All Crawford had to do was put his glove up & catch the ball.
Gomes is good in the dugout but I'd rather see Zoebrist stay. I say give him a shot in right field. Couldn't hurt.
Once again we had a runner on secon, no outs & Crawford doesn't advance him. Cost the Rays a run. The Rays keep winning series at home, even though most of the line should be hitting seventh or eigth except Evan & Navi.

[Bodog]

@ Dick, your rational concerning Ben is off the charts, we're playing MLB and not little league where you plug a player into an open position. Get real folks, personally I would love to see Ben stick around, but ya had to know he was gonna get optioned back to AAA once Bartlet returned. Ben is an excellent utility INF and nothing more, don't go trying to make him into an OF. As far as Gomes is concerned, it is hit or miss with this guy. I'll tell ya what though, the Rays had better make a move right now for a solid righthanded hitter or they will certainly pay for it in the stretch - they need to do whatever it takes to get Nady or Bay, forget about Holiday, the Rockies want way to much. They want a package of players with the prize being Price.

[Andy]

This was my source for saying Gomes is out of options. Bill, If you have better info, please share.

http://www.raysindex.com-a.googlepages.com/TVI.htm

[dick]

For Andy...understand the team's position if Gomes is out of options but if not, it makes no sense as they could employ Zobrist as utility, both infield and outfield -- could play him against lefties in RF until we trade for someone who can solve the problem there. Gomes is a liability on defense and sure, he makes periodic contact but not enough to keep him here. No doubt Bartlett has solidified our defense up the middle but he still makes waaay too many errors (11 at last count) and has ZERO power.

[dick]

For Andy--tks for pointing that out about Gomes being out of options but I cannot imagine much interest from anyone willing to trade for Gomes. He has been showcased recently both DH and RF and the results are terrible so what we would get in return is minimal and probably no better than Gomes. I'm not suggesting BY ANY MEANS that Zobrist is the answer but he has much more power than Bartlett and though Bartlett adds more to the defense, he still makes more than his share of errors and I believe he already has 11 or 12 and zero homers. So, I would have Zobrist on this team vs Gomes and use him as infield utility and also in RF against lefties (until we can get someone who can help us out there).

[Bill]

Gomes is NOT out of options. This move doesn't make sense.....Barlett is coming off an injury and no true back up shortstop.

[mo]

zobrist can switch hit and Im sure he can play the OF as good as Gomes

[Andy]

Dick,

As I understand it, Gomes is out of options meaning he would need to pass through waivers before they could send him down to Durham. So the choice to send down Zobrist is in fact a choice to keep them both. Gomes is having a very bad season, but he still has trade value and it doesn't make sense for a team of limited resources to give up a player for free.

[Andy]

"Good Riddance Ben."

Is that really necessary? I agree that Bartlett is a much better defender. At the same time, I hope I never get forced to sit near someone like yourself.

[dick]

It seems the overwhelming majority of us on this blog cannot understand why the Rays continue to keep Gomes at the major league level. Zobrist is SO much more valuable, can more or less play anywhere, is a switch hitter with occassional power from both sides of the plate while Gomes is one-dimensional and is weak even there. He is a liability in the field, struggles to hit, even lefthanders and either strikes out or homers, normally resulting in K's. It makes more sense to keep Zobrist in Tampa and Gomes to Durham.

[Yankee Fan]

Thanks for playing well Ben now back to AAA with you.

[Danny]

Its about damn time they sent him back. He has been swinging a hot bat, but he has been a major liability on defense. Good Riddance Ben.