Bradford, Springer file for free agency

   Veteran Rays relievers Chad Bradford and Russ Springer, who both are considering retirement, were among 39 players who filed for free agency on Friday.

   Bradford, 35, was 1-0, 4.35 but limited to 20 games due to a series of injuries; Springer, 41 today, was 1-4, 4.11 in 26 games after his August acquisition from Oakland. 

    Troy Percival, who still plans to retire according to agent Paul Cohen, filed Thursday as a matter of procedure. Jason Isringhausen, whose season ended with elbow surgery. is also eligible.

   None are expected to be resigned.

Davis gets open spot in rotation

Not a surprise at all, but Wade Davis will take the open spot in the Rays rotation and Andy Sonnanstine will go the bullpen.

Under that plan, here is how the will line up for the next three series:

At Boston: Shields, Davis, Garza

At Baltimore: Price, Niemann, Shields, Davis

vs. Toronto: Garza, Price, Niemann

Wade Davis called up, will debut on Sunday

Top prospect RHP Wade Davis has been called up and will make his major-league debut on Sunday.

Davis' promotion was expected, but the question was when he would pitch - the decision means he will face the Tigers on Sunday at Tropicana Field, rather  than the Yankees in Monday's doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
 
The way the Rays are set up, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine will start against the Yankees.

Joe Nelson designated for assignment

The Rays designated RHP Joe Nelson for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Executive VP Andrew Friedman said that once the Rays decided to not call him up, the move was made in part out of "respect" so Nelson could catch on with another big league team.

You can't always get out at closing time

"The ninth inning is no different from the first. Same three outs. Same 60 feet, six inches. Same everything," John Romano writes in the Point After blog. "Except, for the longest time, baseball people have treated it differently."

Romano points out that Rays reliever J.P. Howell's struggles since Aug. 7, when he gave up a 2-run game winning walk-off home run with two outs and two strikes on Ryan Langerhans in Seattle, point out just how different that ninth inning can feel to a pitcher from any of the eight that come before it.

RHP Jeff Bennett optioned to Triple-A

RHP Jeff Bennett was optioned to Triple-A Durham after Friday's game, clearing a roster spot for RHP Chad Bradford to be activated from the DL on Saturday.

Bennett hasn't pitched well in his short time with the Rays, posting a 6.75 ERA. In 6 2/3 IP over seven games, he allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks. He signed with the Rays Aug. 1 after being released by Atlanta.

Bradford has been on the DL since July 23 with back tightness.

Bradford to DL, Thayer recalled

RHP Chad Bradford was placed on the 15-day DL with lower back stiffness and RHP Dale Thayer was recalled from Triple A Durham.

Bradford leaves game without pitching due to back stiffness

UPDATE, 11:40: Bradford said the stiffness came out of nowhere and he hopes it is just a spasm and will know more Thursday. At this point, no MRI is scheduled.

UPDATE, 10:34: Bradford left with lower back stiffness.

NEWS: RHP Chad Bradford was warming up to come into the game in the middle of a Chicago seventh--inning rally but stopped during his warmups due to some type of physical problem and left with assistant trainer Paul Harker without pitching.
 
The Sox have two on and two outs, and Bradford was to replace Randy Choate. But he looked uncomfortable after throwing a couple warmups and summoned C Dioner Navarro, who immediately waved to the bench. Harker and manager Joe Maddon came out, and there wasn't much discussion as Harker walked Bradford off. Dan Wheeler was them summoned.

Bradford rejoined the team June 27, spending the first part of the season recovering from February surgery on his right elbow. In 10 games, he had a 2.08 ERA, but allowed 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings.

And the answer to Rays rotation question is ....

UPDATE, 4:44: Not going to be announced until after the game. At that time, it's likely the Rays will put both Scott Kazmir and Chad Bradford back on the active roster, meaning two openings have to be created.

UPDATE, 4:14: We still don't know yet. The clubhouse is open, and RHP Winston Abreu, who seemed the most likely candidate to be sent down to make room in the bullpen, is also present. So maybe the big news won't be big news until after the game.

NEWS: .. we don't know yet.

The clubhouse is about to open, and from what we can tell here at Heater headquarters, all three candidates to be dropped from the rotation are present and accounted for at the Trop - Andy Sonnanstine, Jeff Niemann and David Price.

Niemann said he hasn't heard anything yet, and is just waiting to hear like everyone else.

We've also seen Joe Dillon, who seemed a candidate to be go if the Rays decided to go with 13 pitchers and 12 position players. But he's on the field right now taking early batting practice.

Now technically they don't have to make a move until Saturday, when Scott Kazmir is expected to start. So it's possible they could announce that today and hold off for yet another day on saying who will be going.

Rotation decision still pending

If the Rays have made a decision on how to make room on the pitching staff for Scott Kazmir, it's not obvious yet. All the involved candidates are in the clubhouse, so a roster move has not been made. Andy Sonnanstine is starting tonight. Jeff Niemann is scheduled for Saturday and David Price for Sunday. The Rays could send Sonnanstine or Price to the minors, or move Niemann or Sonnanstine to the bullpen. To make room, they likely would part ways with RHP Winston Abreu, who also is present and accounted for. Kazmir will start Saturday or Sunday.