The Tampa Bay Rays are looking really solid heading into the 2010 season. If the season started next week this would likely be the starting line-up in the field:

C-Dioner Navarro/Kelly Shoppach
1B-Carlos Pena
2B-Ben Zobrist
SS-Jason Bartlett
3B-Evan Longoria
LF-Carl Crawford
CF-B.J. Upton
RF-Matt Joyce
DH-Pat Burrell

The Tampa Bay Rays would like to probably move Pat Burrell in a trade if they can. If the Rays can move Burrell they would likely want to sign someone like Johnny Damon to DH if they can get a deal on the salary. Damon lives in Orlando so he might be willing to give the Rays a price break. If not, Willy Aybar is more than capable of putting up decent numbers as a full-time DH. The Rays will also likely platoon in RF and 2B with Ben Zobrist playing 2B against righty pitching with Matt Joyce in RF. Against lefties the Rays would likely use Sean Rodriguez at 2B and Ben Zobrist in RF. Catcher will be another area to keep an eye on as Kelly Shoppach will try to beat out Navarro for the starting job. Shoppach has a lot more power than Navarro but Navarro would likely put up the higher average. The Rays would be good to go with the team they already have if they can’t move Burrell.

The Tampa Rays have re-signed 35-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Chris Richard to a minor league deal. Richard played in 13 games for the Rays last season and he was 2 for 19 (.105 avg, .366 OPS) with 1 run scored. He also played in 100 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 96 for 365 (.263 avg, .885 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 24 homers and 75 RBIs. Richard has now played in 280 games in his major league career and he is 229 for 899 (.255 avg, .768 OPS) with 132 runs scored, 34 homers, 122 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. It never hurts to have guys like Richard stashed in AAA so I like this move for the Rays.

The Tampa Bay Rays have re-signed 34-year old righty swinging back-up infielder Joe Dillon to a minor league deal. Dillon played in 14 games for the Rays last season and he was 9 for 30 (.300 avg, .800 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. He has now played in 137 games in his major league career and he is 57 for 217 (.263 avg, .722 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 3 homers and 19 RBIs. Dillon is a nice guy to have stashed in AAA just in case you need him.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed 30-year old righty swinging 1B Ryan Shealy to a minor league deal. Shealy played in 25 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 30 for 87 (.345 avg, .849 OPS) with 15 runs scored and 12 RBIs. Shealy last played in the majors during the 2008 season with the Royals. Shealy has now played in 164 games in his major league career and he is 146 for 538 (.271 avg, .764 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 19 homers and 94 RBIs. Shealy has a lot of power so I like this signing for the Rays who could stay him in AAA until they need him.

The Tampa Bay Rays decided not to tender contracts for the 2010 season to either 30-year old lefty swinging outfielder Gabe Gross or 29-year old righty swinging catcher Shawn Riggans. Gross played in 115 games for the Rays last season and he was 64 for 282 (.227 avg, .681 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. In two years with the Rays, Gross played in 242 games in which he was 137 for 584 (.235 avg, .725 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 19 homers, 74 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Rays will likely turn to Matt Joyce to fill Gross’ role on the team in 2010. When the Rays traded for Kelly Shoppach you just knew they were going to get rid of one of their catchers and it turned out to be Shawn Riggans. Riggans played in 4 games for the Rays last season and he was 2 for 14 (.143 avg, .500 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He played in 64 games in his four years with the Rays and he was 38 for 188 (.202 avg, .622 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 7 homers and 28 RBIs. With Riggans’ injury history and the fact that the Rays have Kelly Shoppach and Dioner Navarro, he became expendable. The Rays won’t miss either of these guys as they have made upgrades at both positions.