The San Diego Padres really need to jumpstart their team and what better way than to add B.J. Upton to the roster.  Upton’s name will be thrown around this winter as the Rays are tiring of his frequent laziness.  This could be one stop shopping for the Rays if they could get closer Heath Bell and lefty swinging outfielder Will Venable for B.J. Upton and either Shawn Riggans or John Jaso.  This would make the Rays an incredible team as they only really lack a reliable closer and Heath Bell is certainly that.  Venable is a solid young player but his upside is nowhere near Upton’s.  This would be a calculated risk for the Rays as Upton could turn into the superstar that many have projected him to be.  This would be a win now move for the Rays and they should go for it.

The Rays have re-signed 34-year old righty swinging Gabe Kapler to a 1-year deal worth $1.05 million bucks. He played in 99 games for the Rays last season and he was 49 for 205 (.239 avg, .768 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 8 homers, 32 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Kapler destroyed lefty pitching last season as he was 40 for 145 (.276 avg, .931 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 8 homers, 30 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. But against righties he couldn’t hit a lick going 9 for 60 (.150 avg, .357 OPS) with 7 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Still, this was a good move re-signing Kapler as he simply mashes lefty pitching. It will be interesting to see what the Rays do with RF this year as if appears that Gabe Gross will be on his way out of town. Kapler has now played in 1,045 games in his major league career and he is 773 for 2,859 (.270 avg, .757 OPS) with 424 runs scored, 80 homers, 372 RBIs and 76 stolen bases.

The Rays will change a lot over the winter with 9 potential free agents and they will likely let at least six of them walk. Starting 2B Akinori Iwamura will be the name that the Rays’ fans don’t want to hear will be leaving but the handwriting in on the wall. Ben Zobrist is cheaper and he took over Iwamura’s starting job while he was injured. Relievers Chad Bradford, Troy Percival, Jason Isringhausen, Russ Springer and Brandon Shouse all stunk it up for the Rays last season and they will be looking for work in different cities over the winter. Carl Crawford won’t be a free agent long as the Rays will pick up his option for the 2010 season. The only tough choices for the Rays will be whether or not to bring back Gabe Kapler and Gregg Zaun. If the price is right the Rays would probably like to bring both of the veterans back.

The Rays will be looking for help at catcher, right field and the bullpen when free agency opens shortly after the World Series is over. The #1 goal should be a catcher with Bengie Molina, Ivan Rodriguez, Rod Barajas, Miguel Olivo and Jason Kendall. Out of those guys Bengie Molina and Ivan Rodriguez make the most sense. Molina might cost too much for the Rays but Ivan Rodriguez might want to come back to Florida to try to help the Rays. A right fielder to either start or platoon with Matt Joyce would definately also interest the Rays. Xavier Nady (who would come cheap) or Marlon Byrd seem to make the most sense there. The #1 need in the bullpen for the Rays is a capable closer. J.J. Putz, Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito will all likely be available to the Rays for a price. Any of those three guys would upgrade the back end of the bullpen. Middle relievers that could be of some interest to the Rays are guys like David Weathers, Danys Baez, Kiko Calero, Brendan Donnelly, Bobby Howry, Guillermo Mota or Justin Speier. The Rays will be looking for bargains this winter and they should be able to net 2-3 of the guys I mentioned above.

The Rays have a $1.9 million dollar option on the 2010 season with 41-year old lefty reliever Brian Shouse. They will likely be paying him a $200,000 dollar buyout as lefties Randy Choate and J.P. Howell are ahead of Shouse in the pecking order. Shouse pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Rays this season and he was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 467 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-10 with 6 saves, a 3.72 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He pitched just well enough to likely continue his major league career in 2010 but he will more than likely be looking for a new team.

UPDATE: The Rays have officially declined Brian Shouse’s option for the 2010 season.