Tampa Bay Rays Wiretap

Baldelli Eyeing Return To Rays

Rocco Baldelli is playing baseball again and is hoping to return to the Rays at some point, according to The Associated Press.

He played in his second-consecutive extended spring training game on Saturday, going hitless in five at-bats.

Baldelli has been sidelined since May 2007 because of lingering hamstring problems and a chronic fatigue issue. Tampa placed him on the 60-day disabled list in spring training.

"I'm happy with how things have gone," said Baldelli. "Trying to get some timing at the plate right now and just the fact I can get out there and run around and swing. There's not much more I can ask for at this point."

He was selected sixth overall in the 2000 draft.

Via ESPN

Tampa Bay Rays, Misc Rumor

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Rays Place Percival On DL

The Tampa Bay Rays today placed right-handed pitcher Troy Percival on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and reinstated infielder Willy Aybar from the 15-day disabled list.

Percival, 38, left Wednesday?s game vs. Texas with two outs in the ninth inning with the injury. He currently is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA (21.1-IP, 10-H) over 22 appearances and is tied for third in the American League with 14 saves in 16 opportunities. He has held opponents to 10 hits (.133 average) and four walks while striking out 21.

Percival ranks 10th on the all-time saves list with 338. He was signed by the Rays last November 30 as a free agent.

Via RealGM Staff Report

Tampa Bay Rays

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Percival Could Be Headed To DL

Rays' reliever Troy Percival could be headed to the disabled list because of a bum left hamstring, according to The Tampa Tribune.

"He came in today saying he was feeling very good, actually," Rays' Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday, "maybe the best day he's had in regard to how he was feeling since the last time it occurred."

His left hamstring tightened up on his during a save situation last Tuesday against the Athletics.

The Rays will wait until Thursday to make a decision on his status, and the way he feels will play a significant factor, but Percival could still be headed to the disabled list.

He has pitched twice since feeling the tightness, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in the team's weekend series with the Orioles.

Via The Tampa Tribune

Tampa Bay Rays, Misc Rumor

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Maddon Thinking About Resting Players

Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon is thinking about resting some of his players as for the first time in the team's history they appear to be legitimate playoff contenders, according to MLB.com.

He knows he wants to start giving players rest but isn't sure how exactly he'll go about it just yet.

"When guys start making mental mistakes, doing things they wouldn't normally do, to me that's a little indication they're fatigued," Maddon said, "or just look how many games they've played in a row sometimes."

The Rays (31-20) had the best record in all of baseball heading into Tuesday night's action.

Via MLB.com

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Kazmir Signs $28.5 Million Extension

The Tampa Bay Rays and pitcher Scott Kazmir have agreed on a four-year contract extension. The first three years of the agreement covering 2009, 2010 and 2011 are guaranteed with the team holding an option for the 2012 season. The contract guarantees Kazmir $28.5 million and has a maximum value of approximately $39.5 million.

Kazmir will donate up to $350,000 during the life of the contract to the Rays Baseball Foundation, the team?s charitable foundation that supports youth and education programs in the Tampa Bay region. Kazmir joins Rocco Baldelli, Carl Crawford, Akinori Iwamura, Troy Percival, Carlos Pena, James Shields, Dan Wheeler, and Evan Longoria as Rays who have donated a portion of their multi-year contracts to the Rays Baseball Foundation.

The 24-year-old Kazmir has a 36-30 career record and a 3.63 earned run average in 100 major league games, 99 starts. He has struck out 628 batters in 580.2 innings, an average of 9.73 strikeouts per nine innings, 13th best in major league history among pitchers with 500 or more innings. He is the Rays all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, starts and innings. He has recorded 14 games with 10 or more strikeouts.

RealGM Note: Kazmir 'deserved' to make $12.86 million in 2007 as the 34th best player in the MLB according to our FIC and the 15th best starter. He therefore had a Reina Value of +2,930%.

Via Press Release

Tampa Bay Rays, Signing

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