The Tampa Bay Rays have 12 free agents heading into this winter so they have a lot of decisions to make. They have stated that they are going to slash the payroll big time. With that in mind here is what I think they are going to do with these 12 guys:

Carl Crawford: 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Carl Crawford is the best player in Rays’ history. He played in 154 games for the Rays last season and he was 184 of 600 (.307 avg, .851 OPS) with 110 runs scored, 19 homers, 90 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. VERDICT: The Angels & Red Sox are going to come hard after Crawford so I see no way that he could possibly be on the Rays in 2011 and beyond.

Rafael Soriano: 30-year old righty closer Rafael Soriano was outstanding for the Rays this year. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season and he was 3-2 with 45 saves, a 1.73 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. He only gave up 36 hits in 62 1/3 innings while walking 14 batters and whiffing 57. VERDICT: The Rays are going to let Soriano walk as he’s going to get a deal for 3-4 years worth $10 million bucks per year.

Carlos Pena: 32-year old lefty swinging 1B Carlos Pena is one of the most popular players on the Rays. He has good power and he has a great glove at 1B. Pena played in 144 games for the Rays last season and he was 95 of 484 (.196 avg, .732 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 28 homers and 84 RBIs. He whiffed 158 times last season which is way too many. VERDICT: Unless Pena is willing to play for $3-$4 million bucks a year I think the Rays will let him walk.

Joaquin Benoit: 33-year old righty reliever Joaquin Benoit was amazing for the Rays last year. He pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season and he was 1-2 with 1 save, a 1.34 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP. He only allowed 30 hits in 60 1/3 innings while whiffing 75 batters and walking 11. VERDICT: The Rays should offer Benoit $3-$4 million bucks a year and a chance to close. I believe that he would stay with that kind of offer.

Grant Balfour: 32-year old righty reliever Grant Balfour had a great year for the Rays. He pitched in 57 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season and he was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. VERDICT: Balfour will likely be another casualty of the cost cutting the Rays are about to do this winter. I would at least attempt to bring him back on a semi-decent deal if I were in charge.

Dan Wheeler: 32-year old righty reliever Dan Wheeler was solid for the Rays last year. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season and he was 2-4 with 3 saves, a 3.35 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. The Rays have a $4 million dollar club option on Wheeler for 2011 with a $1 million dollar buyout. VERDICT: I don’t think Wheeler is worth $4 million bucks. But if all of the other relievers leave I wouldn’t be shocked if the Rays picked up his option.

Randy Choate: 35-year old lefty reliever Randy Choate was effective when the Rays limited him to facing just left handed hitters. Choate pitched in 85 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season and he was 4-3 with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. VERDICT: I would re-sign Choate for another year as long as it’s for a reasonable price.

Rocco Baldelli: 29-year old righty swinging Rocco Baldelli is a fan favorite but he just can’t be counted on due to his health. Baldelli played in 10 games for the Rays last season and he was 5 for 24 (.208 avg, .615 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer, 5 RBIs and 1 stolen base. VERDICT: I would let Baldelli walk.

Brad Hawpe: 31-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brad Hawpe didn’t do well for the Rays after coming over from the Rockies. He played in 103 games for the Rockies & Rays last season and he was 73 of 298 (.245 avg, .758 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 9 homers and 44 RBIs. VERDICT: He’s gone!

Gabe Kapler: 35-year old righty swinging Gabe Kapler played in 59 games for the Rays last season and he was 26 of 124 (.210 avg, .578 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers and 14 RBIs. VERDICT: I wouldn’t re-sign Kapler.

Chad Qualls: 32-year old righty reliever Chad Qualls was awful for both the Rays & D-Backs this year. He pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs & Rays this year and he was 3-4 with 12 saves, a 7.32 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. VERDICT: Coach Hickey couldn’t fix Qualls and I wouldn’t waste any more time with him.

Brian Shouse: 42-year old lefty reliever Brian Shouse was signed to a minor league deal but he never made it back to Tampa. Shouse pitched in 23 games (7 starts) in Rookie+A+AAA-ball this year and he was 0-3 with 3 saves, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. VERDICT: He won’t be back in 2011.

The Rays just couldn’t get anything going against Cliff Lee who beat them again and sent them home. Jason Bartlett was the leadoff hitter for the Rays in this game and he was solid as he was 3 for 4. Ben Zobrist (1 for 4 with a RBI) and Sean Rodriguez (1 for 3 with 1 run scored) also pitched in with the bats but that was about it against Cliff Lee. David Price gave up 8 hits and 3 earned runs in his six innings of work as he whiffed 6 batters while not walking any. He was still the losing pitcher. Grant Balfour & Joaquin Benoit combined to work two scoreless, hitless innings to keep the Rays close. Rafael Soriano gave up a two run bomb to Ian Kinsler which almost ending any chance of the Rays making a comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning. The Rays lose 3-2 in this series to the Rangers as this version of the Rays is likely history.

The bats came alive and the Rays got a good effort out of the pitching staff to win yesterday and force a winner take all Game #5 in Tropicana Field tomorrow night. Evan Longoria’s bat woke up from a slumber with a vengeance yesterday as he was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 2 doubles, a homer (off Derek Holland) and 2 RBIs. Carlos Pena continued to rip the baseball as he was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a double (hit to LF!), a triple and 1 RBI. B.J. Upton (2 for 4 with a double, stolen base and 1 RBI) and Ben Zobrist (2 for 5 with 1 run scored) also pitched in with the bat for the Rays yesterday in Texas. Wade Davis pitched the first 5 innings allowing 7 hits, 2 earned runs and 3 walks while whiffing 7 batters and earning the win. Davis’ biggest matchup was the one he won against Vladimir Guerrero in the bottom of the fifth inning when he whiffed him with the bases loaded. Randy Choate, Grant Balfour and Joaquin Benoit combined to work 3 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit to get the game to closer Rafael Soriano. Soriano worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save for the Rays last night. This series is now tied 2-2 with Game #5 tomorrow night pitting David Price against Cliff Lee.

The Rays finally showed some life with the bats late in this game and the pitching staff made it stand up.  Carlos Pena really came alive with the bat as he was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, a homer (in the 9th inning off Dustin Nippert) and 3 RBIs.  Carl Crawford also had a really solid game as he was 2 for 5 with 1 run scored, a homer (in the 9th inning off Neftali Feliz) and 1 RBI.  Dan Johnson was clutch too as he was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a double.  Matt Garza pitched outstanding ball for six innings.  In his six innings he gave up 5 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), walked 2 batters and he whiffed 4.  Randy Choate got out the only batter he faced.  Joaquin Benoit earned the win by throwing 1 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings.  Rafael Soriano came in to pitch the ninth and he gave up 1 run on a solo homer by Nelson Cruz.  The Rays are now down 2-1 in this series with Game #4 later today.

The Rays could only muster two hits today against C.J. Wilson, Darren O’Day and Darren Oliver so it wouldn’t have mattered who pitched for them today. Jason Bartlett went 1 for 3 and Willy Aybar went 1 for 4 with a double. James Shields got the start today even though he didn’t deserve it as he stunk all year long. Shields pitched the first 4 1/3 innings for the Rays today and he gave up 4 hits and 4 earned runs as he earned the loss. Chad Qualls absolutely sucked when he replaced Shields in the game. He got one batter out while giving up 4 hits (one was a Mike Young homer) and 2 earned runs today. Randy Choate whiffed the only batter he pitched to and Dan Wheeler threw a shutout inning in which he whiffed 2 batters. Jeff Niemann was sparkling in his playoff debut as he worked the last three innings giving up 1 hit, walking 1 batter and whiffing 4 without allowing a run. Maybe Niemann should have started today but hindsight is always 20/20. The Rays are now down 2-0 in this series as it heads to Arlington, Texas this Saturday.