The Tampa Bay Rays have signed 38-year old righty swinging Manny Ramirez to serve as the full time DH in 2011. Ramirez played in 90 games for the Dodgers & White Sox last season and he was 79 of 265 (.298 avg, .870 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 9 homers, 42 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Rays are taking a big chance here as Ramirez was suspended for 50 games last season due to failing a test for performance enhancing drugs. If he slips up again, he will be suspended for 100 games. Ramirez has had over 30 homers and 100 RBIs in a season 12 of his 18 years in the majors. Ramirez is still a great hitter and I think he will give Evan Longoria solid protection in the lineup as long as he can stay healthy and clean.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RAYS DH IN 2011: B

25-year old righty swinging 3B Evan Longoria had his most impressive season in 2010 in my eyes. He didn’t have any protection in the batting order last season and he still put up great numbers. Longoria played in 151 games for the Rays last season and he was 169 of 574 (.283 avg, .881 OPS) with 96 runs scored, 22 homers, 104 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. If Manny Ramirez gives Longoria good protection in the batting order, I think Longoria is going to have his best season of his career so far and that’s saying a lot. Longoria had 14 errors in 151 games at 3B for the Rays last season and he showed off excellent range. Longoria won his second Gold Glove in a row last season and I don’t think there is anyone in the A.L. who will challenge him this year. This could very well be the year that Evan Longoria wins the MVP Award in the American League as he is probably the best all-around played in the A.L.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RAYS 3B IN 2011: A+++++++++++++++++

With the deal of Jason Bartlett to the Padres, 25-year old lefty swinging Reid Brignac heads into the 2011 season as the starting shortstop. Brignac played in 113 games for the Rays last season and he was 77 of 301 (.256 avg, .692 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 8 homers, 45 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. I think Brignac has a nice upside as a hitter due to the surprising power in his bat that could result in 15-20 homers for the Rays in 2011. Brignac made 4 errors in 50 games at SS for the Rays last season while showing slightly above average range. Brignac might play well enough for fans to forget all about Jason Bartlett in 2011.

30-year old switch hitting Felipe Lopez will be Brignac’s likely backup in 2011, but he might push him for P.T. Lopez played in 113 games for the Red Sox & Cardinals last season and he was 91 of 391 (.233 avg, .656 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 8 homers, 37 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Lopez has played in 1,137 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is a career .266 hitter with a .731 OPS, so he’s a much better hitter than he showed last year. Lopez is a natural SS but he showed poor range there in 25 games last year in which he made 2 errors. Lopez is Joe Maddon’s kind of player as he will be able to move him all over the field.

29-year old switch hitting Ray Olmedo is also in camp to try to win a spot on the Rays. Olmedo played in 114 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 118 of 416 (.284 avg, .717 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 4 homers, 55 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He has played in 198 games in parts of five years in the majors and he has a .228 batting average with a .569 OPS. I see him starting the season in AAA and getting a call from the Rays if the need arises.

29-year old switch hitting Ben Zobrist didn’t play any SS last season but it’s his natural position so he could probably handle it in a pinch. 26-year old switch hitting Elliot Johnson also could play SS for the Rays if needed in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RAYS SS IN 2011: B-

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed 32-year old lefty swinging IF/OF Joe Inglett to a minor league deal. Inglett played in 102 games for the Brewers last season and he was 36 of 142 (.254 avg, .733 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Inglett has now played in 313 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 223 of 781 (.286 avg, .742 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 6 homers, 76 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. Inglett will get a shot to win a job on the Rays’ roster this spring but he will have an uphill battle. I still really like this signing for the Rays as Inglett is a quality, versatile bench player.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed 32-year old righty reliever Chris Bootcheck to a minor league deal. He did not pitch in either the majors or minors last season. Bootcheck last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Pirates. Bootcheck has pitched in 90 games (3 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 3-7 with 1 save, a 6.54 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Bootcheck will start the year in AAA and he will have to pitch really good to have any chance of making it to Tampa in 2011. Still, it doesn’t hurt to sign a guy like this and give him a chance.