25-year old righty swinging starting center fielder B.J. Upton just doesn’t seem to have a clue at the plate right now. He has played in 47 games for the Rays this year and he is 35 of 164 (.213 avg, .675 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 5 homers, 19 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Upton has also whiffed 48 times already this season which is awful. The Rays are kind of stuck right now because Desmond Jennings and Fernando Perez are off to slow starts in AAA and there is really no one to replace him with at the major league level so they will likely have to just grin and bear it by putting his name in the lineup. He is not the same player he was just a couple of years ago. In 2007-08, Upton played in 274 games in which he was 287 for 1,005 (.286 avg) with 171 runs scored, 33 homers, 149 RBIs and 66 stolen bases. But he had major shoulder surgery shortly after the World Series in 2008 and he hasn’t been the same since. He has played in 191 games so far the last two years and he is 170 of 724 (.235 avg) with 108 runs scored, 20 homers, 74 RBIs and 56 stolen bases. Upton has had bouts with laziness in the past but he hasn’t shown any of that this year. If he starts to get lazy while he’s struggling with the bat, Joe Maddon will have no choice but to bench him.

The Tampa Bay Rays need left handed help out of the bullpen and I think they can get one soon if they decide to get active in the trade market. Myself, I would offer up Andy Sonnanstine to the Cleveland Indians for lefty reliever Rafael Perez. Perez has outstanding stuff but he just might need a change of scenery to get into a groove. The Indians will likely make him available for trade soon if they keep stinking up the joint. The Rays could also talk to the Rangers, Nationals or Astros who all need help at catcher. They could possibly offer up Dioner Navarro and cash to take a chance on someone like Jesse English (Nationals) or Tim Byrdak (Astros). The Rays would like to probably ditch Navarro soon due to the play of John Jaso and the return of Kelly Shoppach soon.

With Kelly Shoppach getting close to a return for the Rays you have to wonder if they are going to pull the plug on Navarro the same way they did to Pat Burrell. Navarro is only 26 years old and he is a switch hitter so I would think the Rays might be able to get something for him if they tried to trade him. But, he has played in 25 games this season in which he is 14 of 76 (.184 avg, .494 OPS) with 8 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Over his last two years with the Rays, Navarro has played in 135 games in which he is 96 of 452 (.212 avg) with 46 runs scored, 8 homers and 34 RBIs. That just won’t cut it especially given how well 26-year old lefty swinging John Jaso was replaced Shoppach since he has been out of action. Jaso has played in 21 games for the Rays this year and he is 20 of 59 (.339 avg, .924 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer and 14 RBIs. He has also shown an outstanding eye at the plate so far this year walking 14 times while only whiffing 6 times. Shoppach and Jaso would make a pretty potent combo with the bat so Navarro better get hot soon or he is not going to be wearing a Rays’ uniform much longer.

The Rays have signed 25-year old righty reliever/starter Ricky Orta to a minor league deal. He will miss all of this season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery on May 3rd. Orta was the Mariners’ #27 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Orta pitched in 24 games (3 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 3-2 with 3 saves, a 1.94 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He has now pitched in 81 games (48 starts) in his four years in the minors and he is 14-18 with 3 saves, a 4.47 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. I like this signing for the Rays as Orta has a upside that is worth waiting for while he rehabs.

27-year old lefty reliever J.P. Howell has flown to see Dr. James Andrews today and he could need surgery to repair a torn left labrum which would cause him to miss the rest of the season and part of 2011. Howell pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season in which he was 7-5 with 17 saves, a 2.84 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. In his four years with the Rays/Devil Rays, Howell has pitched in 151 games (18 starts) in which he is 15-15, with 20 saves, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. This is a big blow to the Rays as they only have one lefty reliever (Randy Choate) currently on the pitching staff.

UPDATE: Howell has underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder ending his 2010 season.