The Tampa Bay Rays have holes at 1B, DH and in the bullpen right now and they are huge ones. I feel that they are waiting out some players that are free agents looking for bargains. Russell Branyan, Troy Glaus, Casey Kotchman, Jason Giambi, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Scott Podsednik, Lastings Milledge, Jim Thome and Gary Sheffield are all likely on the Rays’ radar. The Rays are also linked to relievers like Octavio Dotel and Jon Rauch as possible closers. They are also holding out hope that Grant Balfour will give them a discount and return to Tampa but that’s not likely at this point. Scot Shields, Todd Coffey and Chris Ray are cheaper alternatives that could pique the Rays’ interest. The Rays also have James Shields & Andy Sonnanstine who they could deal for help in the needed areas. Rumors have the Rays willing to deal Matt Garza but count me as someone saying that would be dumb.

The Rays have signed 34-year old righty reliever Joel Peralta to a 1-year, $900,000 dollar deal. Peralta pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. Peralta whiffed 49 batters while only allowing 30 hits and walking 9 batters in 49 innings last season which is outstanding! Peralta has now pitched in 260 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 5-11 with 2 saves, a 4.22 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. I like this signing for the Rays as Peralta is a decent reliever.

The Rays have signed 30-year old righty reliever Jonah Bayliss to a minor league deal. Bayliss pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Astros last season and he was 1-4 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors in 2007 for the Pirates. Bayliss has now pitched in 61 games (0 starts) in parts of three years in the majors and he is 5-4 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. Bayliss will get a shot next spring to win a job in the Rays’ bullpen but hopefully he’ll be a longshot.

The Tampa Bay Rays have re-signed 27-year old lefty reliever J.P. Howell to a 1-year deal. The Rays didn’t tender Howell a contract by the deadline to do so making him a free agent before the Rays re-signed him. Howell missed all of last season due to left labrum surgery. In 2009, Howell pitched in 69 games (0 starts) with the Rays and he was 7-5 with 17 saves, a 2.84 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Howell has really been dominating since converting to relief full-time in 2008. In his last two years (all as a reliever), Howell has pitched in 133 games (0 starts) and he is 13-6 with 20 saves, a 2.48 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He only has given up 109 hits in 156 innings while whiffing 171 batters in his last two years despite not having a fastball near 90 miles per hour….and that was before his surgery. Howell has now pitched in 151 games (18 starts) in his first four years with the Rays/Devil Rays and he is 15-15 with 20 saves, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Rays were smart to bring Howell back because he’s likely to be ready early in the year and the bullpen is in shambles right now.

The Tampa Bay Rays have selected 21-year old lefty reliever Cesar Cabral away from the Boston Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft. Cabral pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 4-0 with 9 saves, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 96 games (42 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 13-19 with 13 saves, a 3.73 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Cabral will have a decent shot of making the Rays’ bullpen in 2011 if he has a decent spring.

UPDATE: (3/11/2011) - The Rays have lost Cesar Cabral on waivers to the Blue Jays.

UPDATE II: (3/14/2011) - The Rays have claimed Cesar Cabral back off waivers from the Blue Jays. They will likely give him another look the last couple of weeks of spring training.

UPDATE III: (3/28/2011) - The Rays have returned Cabral to the Red Sox.