Friday, January 16, 2009

[HOT STOVE]
Rays Sign Lance Cormier

Marc Topkin is reporting that the Rays have signed relief pitcher Lance Cormier to a one-year, $675K contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated Dewon Day for assignment, whom was just claimed off of waivers last week.

We have updated the 40-man roster projection to reflect this signing.

This move means one of two things:
  1. The Rays expect Troy Percival to start the season on the DL. As of right now, all spots in the bullpen are spoken for and there are no candidates for demotion. The low-man on the proverbial Totem Pole is Jason Hammel and he is out of minor league options. Or...
  2. The Rays are expecting one of their bullpen arms to be traded prior to opening day. The likely candidates are Chad Bradford, whom the Rays have tried to trade, Jason Hammel, who is out of minor league options or Jeff Niemann, if the Rays start the season with David Price in the rotation. If the Rays can move Bradford (or Dan Wheeler), signing Cormier would save the Rays over $2 million on the 2009 payroll.
Cormier appeared in 45 games (1 start) for the Orioles last season, posting a 4.02 ERA while striking out 46 and walking 34 in 71.2 innings.

He also posted a career-high 56.8% ground balls in 2008 which could go a long ways towards a solid season with the Rays solid infield defense. And for the last three seasons, Cormier, a right-hander, has actually been harder on lefties. In 2008, his OPS against lefties was .667, 95 points better than his mark against righties (.772).
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7 comments:

  1. Riven G3:09 PM

    Let's trade Bradford to Baltimore as the PTBNL

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous3:51 PM

    I kind of like the different look that Bradford brings to the table, I think that Wheeler served us well last year, but it's time to move on from Wheeler.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:52 PM

    Prof, where did you find his tRA at? I checked statcorner and they have his tRA for last year 4.53. Might want to check where you got your number.

    - bossmanjunior333

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Professor6:46 PM

    good catch. i was looking at his tRA as a starter. Should have noticed that the xIP was only 2.7. Oops.

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous7:22 PM

    Kevin, you are a genius!

    -Justin

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous8:21 PM

    Ray's fans. Fantasy BB question. Any insight as to whether Balfour will close this year? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:18 PM

    As for Balfour, I think its pretty unlikely. The Rays really seem to like him and Howell as the aces of the pen. Basically the guys brought in in the toughest situations regardless of the inning. If I had to guess who is next in line for saves behind Percival, Id say Nelson and Wheeler. Id go with Nelson.

    - bossmanjunior333

    ReplyDelete

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