There has been much speculation about what the Rays will do with Edwin Jackson. Let's assume for the moment that the Rays do not trade Andy Sonnanstine and both Sonny and David Price are in the rotation at the end of Spring Training. The Rays would then have two options. Trade Jackson or more him to the bullpen.

If Jackson is moved to the bullpen, one factor that has been ignored so far is cost. Jackson is arbitration-eligible for the first time. Taking a look at starting pitchers that were arbitration-eligible for the first time last season, Jackson will make $2.5-3 million in 2009 if he goes to arbitration or signs a one-year contract. Jackson is coming off a season in which he was 14-11 with a 101 ERA+. Last year, Dave Bush was coming off a season in which he went 12-10 with a 88 ERA+. Bush signed a one-year deal for $2.55 million. Joe Blanton, signed a one-year deal for $3.7 million after going 14-10 with a 106 ERA+. However, Blanton had a stronger resume prior to arbitration-eligibility than Jackson. Daniel Cabrera, signed a one-year deal for $2.875 million after going 9-18 with an 83 ERA+.

On the contrary, relief pitchers in their first year of arbitration-eligibility signed one-year deals for $0.8-1.2 million in most cases. Aaron Heilman, who was coming off a strong 2007 season (140 ERA+, 1.070 WHIP), and pitches in a role comparable to what Jackson would be for the Rays, signed a one-year deal for $1.2 million.

Therefore, if Jackson is moved to the bullpen, the Rays will pay have to pay him 2-3 times the salary of a comparable fourth-year relief pitcher, without even knowing if Jackson will be effective out of the bullpen.

So the question that needs to be asked is: Are the Rays willing to pay $2.5-3 million for Jackson to be a middle reliever, with the hopes that he could someday become an effective closer, or would they prefer a player in that slot that makes $0.5-1 million with little or no upside, but may be more effective than Jackson in 2009?

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DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• Posts over the next few days will be limited. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.
• An interesting take on how the Rays' 10 years of sucktitude, followed by sudden success mirrored a similar run by the Democratic Party. [The League of Nations]
• Here is a roundup of some of the top talent available in the Rule 5 draft, a list that includes two Rays. [MLB Trade Rumors]
• David Chalk just keeps churning out the "Your Sportsmen Ain't S#!t" posts. [Bugs and Cranks]
• The Examiner takes a look at catching prospect Matt Spring. [The Examiner]

Back in early August, the Rays added Chad Bradford from the Orioles for a Player To Be Named Later (PTBNL). It is two months later and the Rays have yet to send a player to the O's to complete the deal. A couple of weeks ago, O's GM Andy MacPhail was asked about the trade.

MacPhail also said the player to be named in the Chad Bradford deal will be announced between the end of the World Series and the start of the winter meetings. That's quite a gap. But it's hardly worth pacing the floor over..."I've done everything I can when asked to downgrade expectations," he said, adding there won't be any immediate benefits to the acquisition.

The winter meetings are to be held December 8-11.

Often in trades involving a PTBNL, the receiving team (in this case the O's) is given a list of several players to choose from. This gives the receiving team a chance to scout the players on the list and decide which player they prefer.

With the seasons completed, this suggests that the Orioles are scouting one or more players in the Arizona Fall League. The AFL schedule ends on November 22, two weeks prior to the winter meetings. Rays prospects participating in the AFL include Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall, Matt Spring, Chris Mason, Ryan Reid, Wade Townsend, Mike Wlodarczyk and Desmond Jennings.

We have been unable to confirm, but there is some sentiment that if the teams cannot agree on a player, the Rays will send a predetermined amount of "cash considerations" to the O's in order to complete the deal. There may also be a six month time limit on the deal.

MacPhail snippets [MASN]

Durham 6, Louisville 2. Ben Hendrickson won his 10th game, striking out 7 in 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk...Dan Johnson was 2-4 with 2 doubles and a walk...John Jaso finished 1-4 with a walk and an RBI...Jonny Gomes was 0-5 with a strike out.

Tennessee 1, Montgomery 0. Mike Prochaska allowed only 1 run in 8 innings on 7 hits and no walks. He struck out 3.

Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 1; ppd rain).
Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 2; ppd rain). The D-Rays have now had their last 6 games postponed or cancelled due to rain or a wet field.

Columbus 2, Charleston 0 (gm 1). Jesse Darcy pitched a 2-hit shutout improving to 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA. He did not strike out a batter and did not issue a walk...Maiko Loyola finished 2-3.

Columbus @ Charleston (gm 2; ppd rain)

Hudson Valley 10, Oneonta 1.

Princeton 7, Johnson City 0. Tim Beckham did not play.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• 5 of the Rays 6 Arizona Fall League participants will be from the Montgomery roster including James Houser, Ryan Reid, Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall and Matt Spring. Houser was originally scheduled to participate last fall, but was unable due to his on-going suspension. No word yet on who the 6th member will be, although it will likely be a pitcher. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  
• The Bulls' magic number to clinch the South Division is now 4 with 10 games remaining on the schedule. [Durham Bulls]
• The Biscuits now trail Mississippi by 3.5 games with 10 to play. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  

Durham: Off

Montgomery 5, Birmingham 4. Jake McGee improved to 2-1 after holding Birmingham to 3 runs in 6 innings. He struck out 5 and walked 2. He did give up a solo home run in the 3rd...Erold Andrus and Sergio Pedroza had 2 hits apiece. Andrus added his 8th double and Pedroza drove in 2.

Palm Beach 3, Vero Beach 0. Matt Walker dropped to 0-3 after allowing 3 runs in 4.1 innings...The offense didn't help matters, as the D-Rays managed only 2 hits, a Garret Groce single in the 4th and a Chase Fontaine triple in the 9th.

Charleston 5, Columbus 3. Brian Flores got his first start in place of Jeremy Hall. He worked 3 innings and gave up 1 run on 4 hits...Henry Wrigley hit his second home run of the season a solo shot...The Catfish managed only 3 other hits, all singles.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Scott Kazmir's next rehab start will come on Monday for the Durham Bulls. [Our Sports Central]
• Rays of Light takes a look at Desmond Jennings. [Rays of Light]
• Calvin Medlock and Mike DiFelice both cleared waivers and will be assigned to Durham. [Rays Report]
• Justin Ruggiano will be joining them, as he was demoted to make room for Matt Garza at the major league level. [MLB]
  
• Rhyne Hughes will have a CAT scan today after missing his 10th straight game after receiving a concussion as a result of a collision with Matt Spring. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  

Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (22 days until opening day)

DRG here again to get you through the weekend...

Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays 4, Yankees 1.except for Shawn Riggans at catcher, this is the lineup we could see on March 31 including the batting order with Cliff Floyd in the 5-hole and Jonny Gomes in right batting 6th, followed by Evan Longoria. Willy Aybar came on late and played first. Joel Guzman replaced Longoria at third late in the game. Carl Crawford stole two bases. Matt Garza had a strong outing overshadowed by the professional debut of David Price in the 7th inning. Price hit the first batter he faced and then settled down to strike out the next three. Garza struck out 4 in 3 scoreless innings. He allowed 1 hit and walked 2. Brian Anderson also made his first appearance of the spring, giving up a leadoff single, but then retired the next three on fly balls. Scott Dohmann pitched a perfect 8th and 9th, striking out 2.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• Many were impressed with David Price's debut including his own pitching coach. Price was clocked between 95-97 on the Rays' guns, striking out three straight after hitting his first professional batter. [The Heater]

"There were a couple of guys in there that had considerable major league experience that didn’t really have much of a chance," Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "Pretty impressive, period, but very impressive for the first time."

• David Price threw 17 pitches, 11 for strikes. He admitted to being star-struck prior to the game and felt he overthrew during the game but got "lucky" enough to keep them in the strike zone. [Bradenton Herald]

"Watching this guy throw 98 miles-an-hour on the black inside, that's cool," Pena said. "That's exactly what we were expecting."

• Rocco Baldelli came out yesterday to clear the air on the rumors surrounding his medical condition. He was emphatic in denying that he has Multiple Sclerosis, a rare blood disorder or that he ever took steroids. He stated that he has taken every test and nothing has been able to pinpoint the problem. [Providence Journal]

“I’ve felt a lot of different sensations...Nothing came back specifically positive.” He won’t detail the specifics of the battery of tests he keeps referring to, the ones that have taken place here in Tampa, and he wouldn’t give specific locations. But he said he’s been examined by doctors around the country..."I feel like I’ve been tested for everything on Earth. The testing I went through last year was pretty extensive …I have had some problems with my muscles recovering. They don’t recover on a day-to-day basis like I would like them to. It’s tough when you wake up one day and they don’t feel as good as they did the day before. It’s not a fun feeling. We’re still looking to get that very specific diagnosis so I can sleep better at night.”

• Joe Maddon reiterated on Saturday that the team needs to know by the end of the week if they can expect to get 9 innings from Rocco Baldelli or start looking for other options...Let's say nobody seems very optimistic about that. [St. Pete Times]

"Over the course of the next week, something's probably got to give in a positive direction to know that he's going to be able to get out there with any kind of regularity," Maddon said. "You're looking to get nine innings, whether it's as a DH or an outfielder. So I'd say the next week is going to be very vital, or important, to determine that."

• Marc Lancaster catches up with Matt Spring who is in his first major league camp. [Tampa Tribune]
  
• Some worry that the Rays proposed stadium could end the city's hopes of becoming a mecca for Arts enthusiasts. [St. Pete Times]
• Minor League Ball is running a community projection for BJ Upton. The final tally was .286/.370/.502 with 25 home runs, 93 RBI and 30 steals. [Minor League Ball]
  
• Similar to the Prof's Meta-Analysis of Top Prospects in the sidebar, MLB Scoop averaged all of the lists of Top Prospects to come up with an aggregate list of the top 100 prospects in baseball. The Rays have four in the top 20, and five overall. [MLB Scoop]
  

Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (5 days until pitchers and catchers report)
Baseball America names their preseason college All-Americans. The list includes Vanderbilt's third baseman Pedro Alvarez.

Alvarez has been a first-team All-American and the top hitter on Team USA in each of his first two seasons, and his bat speed and strength make him the best hitter for both average and power in college baseball. His range is limited and his hands are average at best, but he has worked hard on his defense and has enough arm strength for the hot corner.

"He's the best position player in the draft," a front-office executive said. "He can hit and he can stay at third base. He stacks up with Evan Longoria and Alex Gordon, who got put in that same category. He's a better hitter than we had last year, when the top guys were Matt Wieters and Matt LaPorta."

Alvarez is odds-on choice to be the top overall selection in the June draft by the Rays. A third baseman, but many feel he can transition to first base quite well. Hmmmm?

• June, 2008: Drafted.
• July, 2008: Debut at Hudson Valley with a late call-up to Columbus.
  
• 2009: Spend season in Vero Beach and Montgomery.
  
• 2010: Promoted to Durham for the first half of the year. 2010 also happens to be the last year of Carlos Pena's extension. Pena traded prior to July 31. Alvarez makes his debut in September, 2010.
  

Anyone think this scenario crossed their minds when they decided to give Pena a three-year deal?

2008 Preseason College All-Americans [Baseball America]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Catcher Matt Spring has been invited to Spring Training. The Rays' 4th round pick in 2004, Spring split time between Columbus and Montgomery, logging only 59 games, batting a combined .186-7-29. Don't read too much into this. Teams have like 23 kazillion pitchers on hand when camp first starts, and those pitchers need catchers to throw to. Spring is a filler. [Riverwalk Talk]
  
• Ian Browne wonders if another team in the AL East can challenge the Red Sox or the Yankees. Now that the O's have traded Erik Bedard, and not Peter Angelos, I would think it is safe to rule them out. [MLB]

"Yes, we're young. And we have lacked some experience. But now we've gained some experience over the past two years. Now is the time to start making this thing work a little bit. So I love the American League East. I wouldn't want to play anywhere else."-Joe Maddon

• Yahoo! Sports ranks the AL catchers. 14 catchers, Dioner Navarro comes in 13th. [Yahoo! Sports]

Navarro throws well but is only an average receiver. Conditioning is always an issue for him. He hit only .227 with a .286 on-base percentage last season.

• DRays Bay updates their roster odds. [DRays Bay]
• 376 days until Rays pitchers and catchers report to their new 2009 Spring Training home at Charlotte Sports Park. [Charlotte Sun-Herald]
  

Durham 10, Rochester 6 (14 inn). Second straight strong start for JP Howell as he tries to get back on the radar with the Rays front office. Howell threw 5 shutout innings of 1-hit, 1 walk ball. He struck out 3. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. Joel Guzman hit his 6th home run and drove in 4. Justin Ruggiano added his 4th home run.

Montgomery 7, Mississippi 6 (12 inn). In his first game since being promoted from Columbus, Matt Spring hit a grand slam. Spring, the Rays 4th round pick in 2004, was hitting .197 with 1 home run and 8 RBI at Low-A. Chris Mason pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks.

Tampa 9, Vero Beach 8. Rhyne Hughes hit his 6th home run and went 1-4. He is now hitting .327. Paul Moviel had his worst outing of the year, allowing 9 runs on 12 hits in 4+ innings.

Charleston 3, Columbus 2. Wade Townsend struggled with his control as he walked 5 and gave up 4 hits in 5 innings, but scrambled to only give up 2 runs. Nevin Ashley hit his 3rd home run.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Reid Brignac is struggling early in the season. In 44 games he is hitting .249 with only a .666 OPS. He has 10 doubles and 4 home runs with a 30 to 12 strike out to walk ratio.