The Rays have signed 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Rocco Baldelli to a minor league deal. He has started his comeback in A-ball but his first game didn’t go too well as he was 0 for 4 with 4 whiffs. The Rays just hope that Baldelli gets in shape with the idea of calling him up when rosters expand in September. Baldelli has played in 447 games (five years) for the Rays and he is 488 of 1,736 (.281 avg, .769 OPS) with 255 runs scored, 55 homers, 234 RBIs and 58 stolen bases. This is a feel good story for the Rays but Baldelli might also be able to help them out with some keys hits during the pennant race. After all, he did play in 62 games for the Red Sox last season in which he was 38 of 150 (.253 avg, .744 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 7 homers and 23 RBIs.

Wade Davis has been struggling and he’s also being mentioned as a trade chip for the Rays right now. If the Rays decide to trade Davis or replace him in the rotation look for the Rays to promote Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson was the Rays’ #2 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Hellickson has started 18 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 11-2 with a 2.21 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has only given up 94 hits in 105 2/3 innings this season while whiffing 104 batters in AAA this year. Hellickson also has outstanding control as he has only walked 26 hitters this year. The Rays really think that Hellickson is ready to join the rotation but they will need to make a move before giving him his first chance at the show.

When the Rays traded 26-year old lefty starting pitcher Scott Kazmir to the Los Angeles Angels last August 29th the skeptics dogged them saying that they were just dumping salary. But Kazmir has been pretty awful for the Angels this season. He has pitched in 16 games (all starts) for the Angels this season and he is 7-8 with a 5.98 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. In that trade with the Angels for Kazmir, 25-year old Sean Rodriguez was the player to be named later. He has played in 67 games for the Rays this season and he is 57 of 208 (.274 avg, .743 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 6 homers, 30 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Rodriguez is pretty much the starting 2B for the Rays right now and he is an asset both in the field and with a bat in his hands. The Rays also got 22-year old lefty starting pitcher Alex Torres and 22-year old lefty swinging 3B Matt Sweeney from the Angels for Kazmir. Torres has started 17 games in AA-ball this season and he is 8-3 with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has a very nice upside. Matt Sweeney is struggling so far in the minors for the Rays this year. He has played in 74 games in A+AA-ball so far this season and he is 60 of 266 (.226 avg, .659 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 7 homers and 37 RBIs. This trade looks like a big win for the Rays.

23-year old righty swinging outfielder Desmond Jennings is getting closer to the majors. He was the Rays’ #1 overall prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Jennings has played in 57 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 59 of 199 (.296 avg, .808 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 1 homer, 21 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. He has now played in 368 games in his five years in the minors and he is 420 of 1,381 (.304 avg, .842 OPS) with 276 runs scored, 27 homers, 146 RBIs and 153 stolen bases. He reminds me of a young Carl Crawford which is a good thing seeing how the real one might be leaving over the winter. Personally, I think the Rays should find a new home for B.J. Upton and stick Jennings in CF.

The Rays decided to send 26-year old switch hitting catcher Dioner Navarro to AAA after today’s game with the Padres. Navarro has played in 36 games for the Rays this year and he is 22 of 105 (.210 avg, .576 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. Navarro just wasn’t performing as well as John Jaso or Kelly Shoppach so he very much deserved this demotion. The Rays have recalled 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Matt Joyce to replace Navarro on the roster. Joyce has played in 35 games in A+AAA-ball this season and he is 38 of 121 (.314 avg, 1.004 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 5 homers and 20 RBIs. He also was showing solid discipline at the plate walking 32 times while whiffing 29 times. Joyce has played in 103 games in the majors leagues in his career so far and he is 67 of 274 (.245 avg, .824 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 15 homers and 40 RBIs. The Rays hope that Joyce will give them some pop out of RF.