The Rays have placed backup catcher Shawn Riggans on the 15-day disabled list with a case of right shoulder tightness. Riggans only played in 1 game so far this season for the Rays and he was 1 for 4 with a solo homer. The Rays have recalled Michel Hernandez to replace Riggans on the roster. He was 1 for 3 in his first game of the season. This will put more pressure on Dioner Navarro to carry the load behind the plate as the Rays like Riggans way more than Hernandez.

The Rays have traded 26-year old righty starting pitcher Jason Hammel to the Rockies for 21-year old righty starting pitcher Aneury Rodriguez. Hammel was beat out for a job in the Rays’ starting rotation by Jeff Niemann. Hammel pitched in 40 games (5 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 4-4 with 2 saves, a 4.60 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. He pitched in 73 games (28 starts) in his three seasons with the Rays and he was 7-15 with a 5.90 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Rodriguez is the #16 rated prospect in the Rockies’ minor league system coming into this season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 27 games (all starts) in A-ball last year and he was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. This was a good move for both the Rays and Hammel as he will get a chance to start for the Rockies.

The Rays still aren’t getting any respect in Las Vegas. The team appears to have improved itself in the off season but no one thinks they can slay Golaith once again in 2009. I think the Rays will repeat as champions of the American League East in 2009 so I would take the over and laugh all the way to the bank.

54-year old Joe Maddon had a dream season in 2008 leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a A.L. Pennant and he won the Manager of the Year Award in the American League. In the off season Maddon got married and had dinner with George Bush in the White House. Now it’s time to get back to work. The Rays finished 97-65 (59.9%) last season to win the American League East Division over the Red Sox and Yankees. Maddon now has a record of 224-262 (46.1%) in three seasons with the Rays with a average division finish of 3.7. It will be interesting to see if Maddon can motivate the Rays now as they will be the team everyone is shooting for. Maddon has now managed part of five seasons in the majors with a 251-286 record (46.7%) with a average finish of 3.8 in the division. Look for Maddon to lead the Rays to another magical season in 2009.

Gabe Gross, Matt Joyce and Gabe Kapler will probably get the bulk of the playing time in RF for the Rays in 2009. The 29-year old lefty swinging Gross played in 143 games for the Brewers and Rays last season in which he was 82 for 345 (.238 avg, .750 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 13 homers, 40 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He only made 1 error in RF last season (121 games) while showing pretty good range.

33-year old righty swinging Gabe Kapler pounds lefty pitching so this could set up into a platoon situation with either Gross or Matt Joyce. Kapler played in 96 games for the Brewers last year and he was 69 for 229 (.301 avg, .838 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 8 homers, 38 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Kapler didn’t make any errors in 14 games in RF last season but he showed pretty poor range.

The Rays would like 24-year old lefty swinging Matt Joyce to earn a lot of playing time in 2009 in RF. Joyce played in 92 games for the Tigers last season and he was 61 for 242 (.252 avg, .831 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 12 homers and 33 RBIs. He only made 1 error in 25 games in RF last season for the Tigers while showing good range. The Rays gave up Edwin Jackson over the winter to bring Joyce in so they might feel obligated to get him a lot of at bats in 2009.

31-year old lefty swinging Jon Weber really impressed the Rays this spring but he will start the 2009 season in AAA. He played in 108 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 103 for 389 (.265 avg, .781 OPS) with 58 runs scored, 13 homers, 51 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. His best asset is his all out effort and the Rays might give him a call at some point in the 2009 season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: C-