The Rays selected 22-year old lefty reliever Armando Zerpa in the Rule 5 Draft from the Red Sox and then they traded him to the Dodgers for cash. Zerpa pitched in 38 games (0 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 2-3 with 2 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. The Rays will need the cash they got in this trade with the payroll likely going up for the 2010 season.

The Rays have acquired 29-year old righty reliever Rafael Soriano from the Braves for 26-year old righty reliever Jesus Chavez. Soriano pitched in 77 games (0 starts) for the Braves last season and he was 1-6 with 27 saves, a 2.97 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He only allowed 53 hits in 75 2/3 innings last season while he whiffed 102 batters showing what kind of stuff he has. Soriano has now pitched in 278 games (8 starts) in his 8-year major league career and he is 8-18 with 43 saves, a 2.92 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. This was a outstanding move for the Rays as it fixes one of the only weaknesses on the team. Chavez was the pitcher acquired in the trade with the Pirates for Akinori Iwamura.

The Rays could be very busy next week at the Winter Meetings. Rumblings are still being heard that the Rays and Cubs are still talking about a Pat Burrell for Milton Bradley trade. I don’t like if for the Rays who traded both Elijah Dukes and Delmon Young because of their boorish behavior and Milton Bradley makes both of them look like choir boys. The Rays would also like to move Dioner Navarro next week for the price of a relief pitcher that could help them next season. If the Rays do indeed trade Navarro they would likely dip into free agency for a cheap back-up catcher like Jose Molina, Ramon Castro, Josh Bard or Mike Redmond. There are also teams hot after Reid Brignac and I fully expect the Rays to trade him for a relief pitcher or two. The Rays need to improve the bullpen either by making trades or signing a pitcher for the back of the pen like J.J. Putz, Octavio Dotel, Latroy Hawkins or Bobby Howry. Look for the Rays to be really active next week.

24-year old righty swinging 3B Evan Longoria finished in 19th in the voting for the A.L. MVP Award. He played in 157 games for the Rays last season and he was 164 for 584 (.281 avg, .889 OPS) with 100 runs scored, 33 homers, 113 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Longoria has now played in 279 games in his first two major league seasons and he is 286 for 1,032 (.277 avg, .883 OPS) with 167 runs scored, 60 homers, 198 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Don’t be surprised if Longoria wins one of this Awards for his trophy case eventually as he is a great hitter and defender at 3B. He is just scratching the surface of his potential.

28-year old switch hitting 2B/SS/OF Ben Zobrist finished in 8th place in the voting for the A.L. MVP Award which is the highest placing ever for a Devil Rays/Rays player. He played in 152 games for the Rays last season and he was 149 for 501 (.297 avg, .948 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 27 homers, 91 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He has now played four years for the Rays appearing in 297 games in which he was 255 for 979 (.260 avg, .805 OPS) with 141 runs scored, 42 homers, 148 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Zobrist will be the starting 2B for the Rays next season and they need him to keep up the good work.