The Rays have signed 27 year old righty reliever Scott Munter to a minor league contract. Munter pitched in 12 games (0 starts) last season for the Giants and he was 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Munter has now pitched in 84 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 3-2 with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He has good stuff but he will need to throw more strikes if he wants to make the Rays bullpen in 2008.

The signings of closer Troy Percival and outfielder/DH Cliff Floyd shows fans that the Rays are starting to get serious about winning baseball games. The Rays also re-signed Carlos Pena today to a 3-year, $24 million dollar contract as they hope last season was not a mirage. The Rays are on the right path finally as they have exciting young players and they are putting veteran help around them similar what the Cleveland Indians did when they moved into Jacobs Field. Hopefully the Rays can start winning like that team in Cleveland did.

The Rays have acquired 3B Willy Aybar and 2B Chase Fontaine from the Atlanta Braves for 27 year old lefty reliever Jeff Ridgway. Aybar is a 24 year old switch hitter that missed all of last season due to personal problems. He last played in the majors in 2006 with the Dodgers and Braves. Aybar has played in 105 games in his major league career and he is 96 for 329 (.292 avg, .803 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 5 homers and 40 RBIs. Aybar will challenge Evan Longoria for the starting job at 3B in Spring Training. Fontaine is a 22 year old lefty swinging 2B. He played last season in A-Ball and he appeared in 117 games and he was 106 for 391 (.271 avg, .750 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 3 homers, 33 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. This will turn out to be a great trade for the Rays as long as Aybar is over his past demons.

The Rays have signed 38-year old righty swinging Mike DiFelice to a minor league contract. DiFelice is the favorite right now to back up Dioner Navarro next season for the Rays. He played in 16 games last season for the Mets and he was 10 for 40 (.250 avg, .661 OPS) with 1 run scored and 5 RBIs. DiFelice has now played in 543 games in his major league career and he is 362 for 1,538 (.235 avg, .642 OPS) with 144 runs scored, 28 homers and 163 RBIs.

The Devil Rays signed outfielder John Rodriguez and infielder Andy Cannizaro to minor league contracts. Rodriguez is a 29 year old lefty swinger with a solid bat. He last played in the majors in 2006 with the Cardinals. Rodriguez has played in 158 games in his major league career and he is 99 for 332 (.298 avg, .812 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 7 homers and 43 RBIs. He should make the team as a reserve outfielder/DH. Cannizaro is a 29-year old righty swinger who last played in the majors in 2006 with the Yankees. He has played in 13 games in his major league career and he is 2 for 8 (.250 avg, .958 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He will have a decent shot to make the Rays as a utility infielder.