The Tampa Bay Rays had to win on Saturday night. Trailing 1-0 in the American League Championship Series, they were faced with the possibility of heading to Fenway Park down two games to zilch, with one of the best starters in baseball, lefty Jon Lester, waiting to pitch in Game 3 for the Boston Red Sox.

But, in a marathon, back-and-forth thriller, those pesky Rays found a way to get it done, beating the Red Sox in yet another one-run contest between the two clubs. 

The game, though, started off more like a home run derby than anything else.

Scott Kazmir continued to struggle in the first inning, throwing 38 pitches before getting to make the walk back to the dugout for the first time—similar to his 37-pitch first against the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series.

Unlike his performance in the ALDS, however, the rest of the outing did not go as well for Kazmir, who surrendered three jacks and gave up five earned runs in 4.1 innings.

When he was taken out of the game in the fifth, though, little did he know that he was still hours away from having to speak to reporters.

The reason: the other supposed ace, Josh Beckett—best postseason pitcher of this generation, as many people like to call him—was equally as unimpressive. Beckett did not have his normal punch on his heater, and also struggled with his command, giving up eight earned runs on nine hits while also failing to make it out of the fifth.

Evan Longoria, the shoe-in for AL Rookie of the Year, was able to work his way out of a rough playoff slump off the big right-hander from Texas. Longoria homered in the bottom half of the first—to bring the score to a 2-all tie, as Boston scraped across two during the nightmare of a first by the fellow Texan, Kazmir—to start the Cowbell parade and homer frenzy at Tropicana Field.

Dustin Pedroia then went yard in the top of the third, answering right back to the Longoria blast.
Then B.J. Upton hit a  bomb, making it a possibility that he will leave the yard more times in the postseason than he did during the regular season—four to nine, if you are scoring at home. Upton has now hit safely in five postseason games since going 0-for-5 in the first game of the ALDS.

Shortly after that, Carl Crawford singled in Longoria, who doubled in his second at-bat, to give the Rays a 4-3 lead.

Add in a bunch more home runs—Cliff Floyd, Pedroia (again), Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay—while each starter was out on the mound.

But after the Rays chased Beckett and put up three runs to take an 8-6 lead in the fifth, the game changed completely, from a slugfest to a relief pitching duel.

Joe Maddon was forced to get creative with his bullpen, knowing that this was essentially a must-win ballgame for his club. Maddon, the unconventional thinker and perhaps the favorite to be named top skipper in the AL, brought in one of his best late-inning guys, Grant Balfour, in the fifth. Balfour, however, was not himself, walking two while giving up a bomb.

While many people were ready to criticize this choice—as Balfour could have been used later—if the Rays had lost, lefty J.P. Howell bailed out his teammate by continuing to put up zeroes. Howell, an underrated force in the Rays' bullpen all year, lasted 1.1 innings, getting some pretty big outs.

The Red Sox bullpen was also able to shut down the Rays’ offense, as everyone from Manny Delcarmen to closer Jonathan Papelbon put up zeroes until Mike Timlin entered the game in its final frame.

Dan Wheeler, despite allowing Pedroia to score from third base after an ugly 2-0 wild pitch, was huge. Wheeler threw 48 pitches, a season high, in 3.1 huge innings with Maddon's bullpen nearly tapped out. 

But that ended when Timlin walked the bases loaded, albeit one an intentional free pass, in the eleventh. The best player in the majors with a Columbia degree, the speedy Fernando Perez, was then able to score on a sacrifice fly from Upton, whose flyball was just deep enough to give the Rays the win in extras to tie the ALCS at one game apiece.

Oh, some guy named David Price got the win.

Add this one to the ESPN Classic library, because the two best teams in baseball provided a game to remember, and I only hope that the series will remain this exciting throughout.

Inside the Box Score

A few thoughts on the game that popped into my head.

• Going into Fenway, the Rays have much better chances now. This win was huge. But can the Rays rely on Kazmir to come back in game six? He has not been efficient with his pitches, seemingly laboring through five innings in nearly every outing lately. And, is his elbow still bothering him? It is telling that he is hardly using his slider, once an X factor for him. 

• Ditto for Beckett. Is he fully healthy right now, and can he come back strong in game six?

• Longoria picked the right time to get back on track. Whether it was running into Beckett at the right time or because of Maddon’s pre-game talk with him, he had a day, finishing 3-for-5, with a homer, three runs scored and three RBIs. He was mired in a 0-for-13 slump entering the game. Pedroia seems like his back on track, too. 

• Floyd hit a bomb, though many people may have forgot about that since he was removed in place of Willy Aybar so early in the game.

• Jason Varitek put up another 0-for-the day. He really just cannot hit anymore. I know he handles pitchers well, is the captain and has all the “intangibles,” but, if I were a GM, I would stay away when he hits free agency following the postseason. He hit .220/.313/.359 in 131 games over the year, and is now 3-for-21 in the playoffs.

• Youkilis, on the other hand, continues to impress. He finished the night 3-for-6, with another homer, and is now batting .357/.400/.571 in six playoff games. He truly is a great player. All those scouts could not have been any more wrong about him. Not a lot of people may realize it, but he finished sixth in the AL in batting average (.312), sixth in on-base percentage (.390), fourth in OPS (.958), third in slugging (.569) and fourth in RBI (115).

• The game took five hours and 27 minutes. Now, that is a lot of cowbell.

• Price recorded two outs in the 11th frame after walking J.D. Drew, earning the win. The former first-round pick out of Vanderbilt now has more playoffs wins than CC Sabathia. After dominating the minors in his first professional campaign, the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year has allowed only three earned runs in 15.0 innings pitched with the Rays, including this series, since getting called up on September 13. And, though it is a bit premature, he seems ready to overtake Kazmir as the lefty “ace” on the Tampa Bay staff.

• Jason Bay has three home runs, nine RBIs and a line of .440/.517/.920, with a ridiculous 1.437 OPS, in six playoff games, all without any Jason-Being-Jason antics grabbing the headlines. Sure, losing Manny was huge, but the Red Sox seem to be doing just fine without him.

One more thing: Ben Zobrist's walk, when he was attempting to sacrifice bunt, was a tremendous at-bat and totally changed the dynamic of the inning. Zobrist essentially got the same result of a sacrifice, moving up the runner, but did not pay the oh-so-costly price of making an out. 

I will be appearing on the Sports Café with Sean Duade today to discuss the Rays. I will be on from 11:20 to 11:40. Click here to tune in.

Grant Paulsen (right)

Grant Paulsen, who has been an accredited member of the national media since he was a teenager, has already made his mark in the broadcasting industry although he has yet to graduate from college and is not old enough to legally drink in this country. Paulsen, 20, is perhaps the Jay Bruce of sports journalism, having covered the Little League World Series and Super Bowl for ABC Sports on several occasions. He has also appeared on the David Letterman show six times. A student at George Mason University in Virginia, he is currently the host of Minors and Majors, a two-hour weekly show focusing on Major League Baseball and its minor league prospects on XM Radio.

Grant recently offered his opinions about the latest news and notes around the league in an interview with Tyler Hissey for Scout.com.

TH: Grant, thanks for finding the time to answer some questions about all that is going on in the Major League Baseball season. Let’s get to it.

The Los Angeles Angels are one of the best run-prevention clubs in the game, with an excellent defense and pitching staff. The Angels also have a strong bullpen led by K-Rod, who is on pace to set the single-season saves record. The offensive situation, on the other hand, has been a cause for concern, and the addition of switch-hitting slugger Mark Teixeira will undoubtedly help add another impact bat to protect Vladimir Guerrero. Does the trade make Los Angeles the favorite to win the AL?

Grant: Adding Mark Teixeira was monumental for the Angels. They desperately needed a bat - and preferably a big one - and they got it when they traded for him. Their deep pitching staff, ranked eighth in all of baseball, gives them a chance to win each night, and they are a top-10 team defensively as well. The only area in which they needed to upgrade was at the plate, and in getting Teixeira they were able to add power to a lineup that has hit 49 fewer home-runs than teams like the Marlins and Phillies have this season.

Even if Teixeira proves to be only a late-season rental, which I think could very well be the case, I won't disagree for a moment with what the Angels decided to do. He is a career .285 hitter who can hit his club 35-homers a season and play a terrific first base. With a team like Los Angeles for the long-haul I could see Tex becoming an annual MVP candidate in the American League. They gave up Casey Kotchman, who is a nice enough major leaguer, and a decent relief pitching prospect in hard-throwing righty Stephen Marek. But they got a guy back who makes them the number-one contender for the title (if I can use a wrestling term). That's what the Angels are now. They are the top contender in the AL, and I would be surprised if they aren't in the ALCS.

TH: The Braves certainly went for it all last year, giving up a promising package of prospects—including Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Jarrod Saltalamacchia—to make a run. However, they finished further out of the division than they were at the time of the acquisition, even though Teixeira put up some monster numbers down the stretch. In Kotchman and Marek, GM Frank Wren got about as much as he could have at this point, certainly more than the club would have received had it waited for the compensation picks. Still, it seems, they were burned in the long run. Do you agree? Will teams use this as a lesson before making similar deals at the deadline?

Grant: I think that teams might. I've always felt like GMs should ask themselves only one question before giving up multiple prospects who could eventually help their club for just one veteran major leaguer. If he (the guy they are trading for) comes over and plays like an MVP, can we win the World Series? If the answer is yes, then I am okay with those trades. If the answer is no, then I don't like the idea. Especially if a team is just renting a guy like the Braves were with Teixeira last year, and like the Brewers are this year with CC Sabathia. I didn't like the Teixeira deal last year, and I wasn't a huge fan of the Sabathia deal. If he pitches them into the playoffs, though, I will be okay with the fact that they parted with future All-Star Matt LaPorta.

TH: On an off note, what are the odds that some Angles fans make another Teixeira tribute video on YouTube?

Grant: I feel like another video is coming soon. From the same guys who brought us Mark Teixeira I, comes a second and even more epic offering! Haha. Perhaps the release date will be set for some time in late October.

TH: As of this writing, David Price is 9-0 combined between the Single-A Vero Beach and Double-A Montgomery. Do you see Price making an impact this season? If so, do you think he will turn into this year's version of Joba Chamberlain, coming out of the bullpen, or will he crack the Tampa Bay rotation should Edwin Jackson or Andy Sonnanstine falter?

David Price (AP)

Grant: Price is a stud. The guy is going to be 23 later on this month and he could have been getting big league hitters out as of halfway through his final college season at Vanderbilt a year ago. He popped at 99 in his first outing as a pro during spring training this season, and his breaking pitches are already big-league ready. He's going to be a star front-line arm for many years to come, and I could see him and Scott Kazmir being the game's top one-two punch in baseball in a couple years.

With that all said, I think that he will be used in the bullpen down the stretch this season. That will be the best way for Tampa Bay to get his feet wet against major league hitters. He also had a minor arm injury earlier this spring, which could make the Rays want to pitch him out of the pen as a way of keeping his innings count down a little more efficiently, all while still trying to get production out of his electric arm.

If he is used out of the pen, I could see him performing a lot like Joba Chamberlain did last season. His 2007 efforts were something of a once-in-a-decade time promotion, but if anybody could duplicate that type of start to a career, I think Price is that guy. I could see Price repeating that type of dominance down the stretch. He could fortify an already much-improved bullpen and be a big lift for Tampa Bay down the stretch. Unfortunately for the Rays, though, he isn't going to help them hit any better, which is the only phase of the game that they aren't very consistent with.

TH: I recently wrote a contenders piece for the American League. Which four teams from the league do you see making it to the postseason and why?

Mark Teixeira (AP)

Grant: At this moment I have the Angels, Red Sox, and White Sox winning the West, East, and Central, respectively. I rank them in that order because that is the order of my confidence in each of those teams to capture a division crown.

The Angels, with the acquisition of Teixeira and the re-emergence of Ervin Santana as a front-line arm, are my pick to represent the AL in the World Series.

I think Boston is better today than it was a week or two ago as well, though. Jason Bay will give them everything Manny Ramirez did offensively, more defensively, and he'll do it all without creating any problems or causing any headaches for his new coaching staff. I think that Jed Lowrie is an upgrade for them at shortstop as well, and I could see him becoming Boston's Dustin Pedroia of this year in the next couple of months.

The other kind of Sox get terrific pitching and have more power bats than they know what to do with. I just don't know how much I trust some of the unproven arms in that rotation (John Danks and Gavin Floyd among them) down the stretch. Getting Ken Griffey Jr. should provide them with a nice boost, though.

My wild card pick right now is the Rays. They have a deep enough rotation to win any series they play in, they play great defense and they can manufacture enough runs - as the AL leaders in thefts - to mask their anemic team batting average.

TH: Personally, going by their poor run prevention (inexperienced pitching staff and bad infield defense), I do not see the Florida Marlins making the playoffs out of the NL East. They have a negative run differential after all, and, though the Arizona Diamondbacks made it to the playoffs after scoring fewer runs than their opponents last fall, I just do not think it is in the cards for the Fish. Do you agree? If so, who do you think will come out the East?

Grant: I agree with you on the Marlins. The peripherals just don't add up to them being a playoff participant (but don't tell the 2007 Diamondbacks that). The best thing about the Marlins is that they aren't supposed to win right now. They are loaded for the future, thanks largely to the Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis trade this offseason, and they were able to hang on to most of their top prospects at the trade deadline. I'm a Gaby Sanchez guy, but he projects more as a backend-arm than an ace, and he was the only major subtraction from their future core. I think they could keep playing on the plus side of .500, but I don’t' see them doing much more than that the rest of the way. Then again, I didn't see them competing at all this year, so what do I know?

TH: There has certainly been a lot of attention centering around the Milwaukee Brewers’ acquisition of CC Sabathia, though the Brett Favre drama has taken away some of its thunder. Sabathia has energized that clubhouse, adds a legitimate ace alongside Ben Sheets at the top of the staff and is now the best-hitting pitcher in the league with Micah Owings’ demotion to the minors. With that being said, do you think the Brewers will make the postseason for the first time since the Robin Yount era?

Grant: The Brewers are my current pick to win the National League's wild card. Sabathia is one of those guys who can go seven-innings and give his team a chance to win on a bad night. That's the mark of a true ace, and he's proven to be just that over the years. He might be baseball's best pitcher if he ever played an entire season in the NL. The big fella would just be dominant. And Ned Yost will not have to pull him out of games for a pinch hitter, because he's proven that he can wield the wood.

Milwaukee is a better team than St. Louis and Florida, and they are better than any of the clubs in the NL West. With that said, they'll be contending with either Philadelphia or New York (whoever doesn't win the East) for the wild-card spot, at least in my insignificant and probably inaccurate projection. I think they stack up well with either of those two teams. The bottom line is that they had better get to the playoffs. If they don't, then I really don't like the trade at all. If they do I wouldn't be shocked at all if they got to the World Series, considering that they would have Sheets and Sabathia to throw at teams back-to-back. But they have to get there first, and in order to do that they need to start playing better defense (they are 11th in the NL in fielding percentage).

TH: Before we end the interview, give us the names of a few prospects to look for when rosters expand in September.

Grant: Dave Price is the main guy to look out for. He could very well change the American League East landscape, not just this season but over the next several years.

In addition to him, the guy I am most excited about seeing is Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh. He's going to get a chance at some point in August, or maybe September, to roam the outfield at PNC Park. He's got more tools than Tim Allen and he's been making his way up through the ranks in a "Jay Bruce" kind of way since the two were drafted real close to each other out of high school back in 2005. I can't wait to see what he does in his first dose of action with the Pirates. He's an electrifying talent who can contribute in a plethora of different ways and baseball fans in the Steel City are in for a treat.

Cameron Maybin is another guy I want to get another look at. I liked what I saw from him in Detroit last season, but I didn't get enough of him. Maybin getting sent to Double-A this year was like dangling candy in front of me and telling me I couldn't have it.

Matt LaPorta and Travis Snider could both also get late-season calls in Cleveland and in Toronto, respectively. I'd be giddy to get a first-glimpse of either of those two slugging outfielders in 2008. Both project as lineup-altering boppers and each should one day find their way onto an All-Star team.

TH: Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule, Grant. Keep up the excellent work on XM Radio.

For more info on Grant and his work on XM radio, click here.

David Price (AP)

David Price took another step closer to reaching Tropicana Field on Saturday night.

Price, making his eighth Double-A start, stole the show from his teammates in the Montgomery Biscuits’ lopsided win over the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

Yet Again.

With a jump to the Tampa Bay Rays likely to happen before month's end, the former number one overall pick made perhaps his last home start for the Biscuits count, striking out 10 while scattering four hits in seven excellent innings of work. He allowed only one run, which came on a solo shot off the bat of Greg Halman in the sixth inning, throwing only 83 pitches without walking a batter.

The homer and a hit batsmen were the only blemishes of an otherwise great night for Price, who was given a big offensive cushion by his teammates and improved to a perfect 6-0 during his time in the Southern League.

The victory capped off an interesting week for the soon-to-be 23-year-old left-hander, who was recently the centerpiece of a feature story in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. The weekly magazine even brought some new information to light on the Vanderbilt product who has a mid-90s heater, excellent command and the pitching sense of a crafty major league veteran.

With all that has been written about the kid, though, this information proved to be quite a surprise.

Price, who has the chance to make millions and millions of dollars during his career, nearly quit baseball during his freshman year.

The reason for his doubts—even though he was a standout two-sport star in high school and one of the most talented prep pitchers in the nation while at Blackman High School in Tennessee—is even more of a shocker.

Of all things, he nearly gave up on pitching and a top-notch education experience to work in the fast-food industry, selling fries and shakes at a Golden Arch location near his hometown. Lucky for everyone (excluding SEC hitters) and his especially his bank account—his signing bonus and future major league earnings would make McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner jealous—Vandy's head coach, Tim Corbin, talked some sense into the then-freshman. After all, he has already been drafted back in high school, was still a rarity as a 6-foot-6 lefty who threw in the 90s and had a bright future ahead of him.

Oh, the Tampa Bay organization benefited from the decision as well. After Price got over his rough intersquad outing that prompted the potential career change and came to his senses, he turned into the best collegiate pitcher in the nation, guiding the program to its best single-season finish in program history as a junior in 2007. That was just one of many accomplishments that he compiled on his resume during his time in Nashville.

Price led the nation in strikeouts during his final hurrah in the SEC, pitched for Team USA and won about every amateur baseball award imaginable—from the Golden Spikes trophy to the SEC Pitcher of the Year—during one of the best pitching careers in the history of Division I college baseball. As a junior, in fact, he turned in arguably the most impressive single-season performance in NCAA history, going 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA while breaking his own school record with 194 strikeouts. In doing so, he became perhaps the most famous baseball-related alum to step foot on the Vandy campus as a student, surpassing ESPN baseball scribe Buster Olney and Cleveland Indians starter and fellow southpaw Jeremy Sowers.

The biggest moment of his amateur days, though, came in June of ’07, when Tampa Bay selected Price with the top pick in the First-Year draft, its easiest choice of the day. He then took home a lucrative signing bonus before the August 15 deadline, emerging as one of the top pitching prospects in the minors without throwing a pitch. With the nice bonus, he also gained enough money to support his shoe fetish, an opportunity that would have certainly eluded him if Corbin did not get through to him and he was flipping burgers instead of making minor league hitting prospects look like Little Leaguers.

Price has gone on to exceed all expectations during his first professional season in 2008. Considering all of the hype, this is no small feat.

Although a minor arm injury set him back a few weeks in spring training, he began the year with a ####, touching 99 on the gun while impressing Alex Rodriguez, his teammates and the rest of those watching him mow down the New York Yankees during a Grapefruit League game on the YES Network. Even Michael Kay took notice.

Price then spent the next several weeks at the Rays' training complex in St. Petersburg, where he had the opportunity to face A-Rod again, drawing praise from the Future Hall of Famer during an extended spring training game.

When he was healthy enough to make his long-anticipated debut, Price made the move to the Florida State League, where he set the circuit on fire with his performance for the Vero Beach Devil Rays. In six starts there, he went 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA and a 37-to-7 K/W ratio in 34.2 innings pitched.

Price made it perfectly clear with his success that he was ready for the next step, forcing the organization to promote him to Montgomery. Although the competition has improved, someone forgot to give him the memo.

The flamethrowing Price has made the transition to facing advanced hitters with ease, hardly missing a beat. Following his latest session of dominance, he is now 6-0 for the Biscuits, with his ERA sitting at 2.08. He has also posted a 48-to-12 K/W ratio, surrendering less than a hit per inning in eight effective starts.

So, if you are scoring at home, the kid is 10-0 between the two stops.

Look out, American League.

Tampa Bay Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, who did not incur the cost of any prospects for any brief rentals at the trade deadline, has a decision to make. Although he has an eye towards the future and an excellent vision for sustained success—and thus will want to handle Price accordingly—he has a chance to upgrade his pitching staff, whether in the bullpen or starting rotation, by calling up the stud prospect.

Either way, Price will be pitching in a Tampa Bay uniform soon enough.

With his performance, command and overpowering stuff, the Joba Chamberlain comparisons were inevitably bound to happen. They are now surfacing around St. Petersburg and the rest of the league in full force, getting thrown around more frequently than the ridiculous jokes about a certain rookie third baseman and an actress who shares the same last name.

Like Chamberlain did for the Yankees down the stretch in his run as an unstoppable link to closer Mariano Rivera, however, Price has a real chance to factor in the AL East race—perhaps more so than other additions in the division made before the deadline, including Xavier Nady and Ivan Rodriguez.

And, according to Friedman, a few tune-up starts at Triple-A Durham might not be necessary for Price, leaving room for a jump from Double-A straight to the majors to the delight of many Tampa Bay fans who were disappointed by the Rays' (justified) unwillingness to overpay and get ripped off by the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for nine months of Jason Bay.

Regardless of what happens in the immediate future, though, Price is going to be a very good pitcher for a very long time, with a chance to become the ace of the majors’ best starting rotation in the next decade.

The 2008 Rays are viewed by many as a great story that will likely fade. However, the winning party—with the best prospect in the game ready to make his debut and with a team-controlled pitching core consisting of Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, James Shields, Wade Davis and several others— is just getting started at the Trop.

And the landscape in AL East division will likely never be the same again.

On Monday at 2:00, Tyler Hissey will host a live chat, similar to the trade deadline live blog on Thursday. Feel free to stop by and ask a question. Click here to access the chat.

To contact Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

The Boston Red Sox simply had to cut their ties with controversial slugger Manny Ramirez, who has become a major distraction for his team in recent weeks. While Ramirez has helped Boston to two World Series titles in four years and is among the most productive pure hitters in the game, Theo Epstein did not want to take the risk of having him dog it and take a mental vacation the rest of the way. With all of the negative talk back and forth and with the “Manny-Being-Manny” antics reaching a whole new level, it was clear that Epstein had to get rid of him somehow.

After the Florida Marlins got greedy and killed the initial possibility for it to happen, the Red Sox spent the afternoon trying to find another team to send him to while keeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in the loop. They were not going to get rid of such a key hitter without adding another impact bat, with their eye on Pirates outfielder Jason Bay.

Epstein found his match in the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are looking to win the lowly National League West. With Los Angeles on board, the three teams pulled off a last-second shocker, combining to form the third blockbuster trade in July.

Ramirez was sent to Los Angeles, which dealt prospects Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris to Pittsburgh.

The Pirates then shipped Bay to Boston, who will cover the remaining money left on Ramirez’s contract and also had to offer up Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss to the Bucs.

Interestingly enough, the deal seems to have worked for all parties involved, to a certain extent.

Pittsburgh, though, appears to be the short-term winner. They have finally put the necessary resources into player development, have a potential future All-Star outfielder, Andrew McCutchen, waiting in the wings in Triple-A, several other exciting young prospects and will add another impact bat if they can sign number two overall pick Pedro Alvarez before the August 15 deadline. Alvarez and his agent, Scott Boras, are reportedly not close to an agreement with the organization, however. They received a much better package than they were offered by the Tampa Bay Rays, who would not meet the Pirates' asking price for an “elite” pitching prospect.

Hansen has not lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was taken in the first round after a standout career at St. John’s three years ago. While he has excellent stuff, he has major command issues and has yet to turn into an effective reliever at the major league level. He has struggled again in Boston this year, posting a 5.58 ERA and 25-to-23 K/W ratio in 30.2 innings pitched after starting the season in the minors. Still, at 24, Hansen is a nice arm to add and will benefit from playing in a smaller market.

LaRoche is an excellent third base prospect who was blocked by numerous obstacles in Los Angeles. Sure, he has not posted great numbers in his brief time at the highest level, hitting .217/.348/.316 with only three homers in 152 career at-bats. But that is too small of a sample size to justify overlooking LaRoche, who posted a .987 OPS with 18 homers before getting called up in 2007. For some reason, Ned Colletti, who has made some horrendous personnel decisions (Juan Pierre, anyone?) in the recent past, did not see him as a major player in the Dodgers’ future, and short-term, success.

One of the top infield prospects for some time, LaRoche should flourish by moving to another organization where he is fully appreciated. All he really needs is a chance, which he will finally get in Pittsburgh. Plus, he gets reunited with his brother, Adam, who is the Pirates' starting first baseman.

Morris, the Dodgers’ first-round pick back in 2006, is a solid addition and a nice long-term pitching prospect as well. He missed a year of development in ’07, undergoing Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow during his short-season debut two years ago. The 21-year-old right-hander has been effective in a nice bounce back stint in the Midwest League so far, posting a 3.20 ERA and 72-to-31 K/W ratio in 17 starts for the Great Lakes Loons.

Moss has not received a great look in the majors with Boston's deep outfield, but has some solid tools and the ability to turn into an excellent fourth outfielder. Still only 24 himself, he has put together a nice campaign, batting .282/.346/.528 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 163 at-bats at Triple-A Pawtucket. He has also spent some time in the show, where he posted a .799 OPS in 78 at-bats. While he will never hit for a ton of power, he is another solid organizational player who is ready to contribute in the majors.

The Pirates not only received “quantity,” they received some “quality” as well, it seems, with a high-ceiling arm, a potential impact corner infielder and a few solid pieces to the puzzle.

On the Dodgers’ end, they had no need for LaRoche anymore after trading for Casey Blake. As good as he has the chance to become, it was simply not going to happen for him in Dodger blue. The club even put up with Blake DeWitt and his sub-.700 OPS for three months before giving him a shot. With Morris, his value was down because of the surgery.

For Ramirez, who will be motivated to produce now that the options on his contract are out of the equation, this was a price that they were willing to pay. Going for it right now, the controversial slugger will help L.A. in its attempt to unseat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the West, taking away at-bats from Andruw Jones and Pierre. This will improve the Dodgers’ offensive unit by default.

Boston needed to get rid of the Manny show, though. Things had a chance to go from bad to worse. While they had to pay a lot to essentially give him away, Bay will not be as much of downgrade offensively as some fans might think, anyway. In fact, Bay currently has an OPS in the same range as Ramirez and is a much better defender. Ramirez has the track record—after all, how many hitters have a career .999 OPS?— and can crush the ball when he is focused, but the gap between production between the two is only minimal at this point of his career, especially considering the defensive aspect.

Bay, 29, is also under control for next year, at a reasonable price. This will free up Epstein to improve his roster in other ways while receiving, similar, cost-effective production. The Canadian, a former Rookie of the Year, has been one of the most productive performers in the NL for the past five years—excluding his injury-plagued ’07 campaign in which he posted a .745 OPS. He is batting .282/.375/.519—right around his career line—with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs already, and will improve by moving into a nice place to hit for right-handed hitters, Fenway Park. Considering all of the factors, including the off-the-field issues, Boston did not lose as much as advertised.

Ramirez had to be moved, was replaced by a solid-hitting outfielder and his sideshow is now Joe Torre’s problem. Boston will certainly miss his production, but his time in the city was nearing its end, regardless, and Hansen and Moss were never going to play a major role for the club. And if the Red Sox—who did not miss a beat in the absence of David Ortiz, now back in the lineup—fail to make the playoffs with the surging New York Yankees and Rays each vying for spots, it will most likely be because of other issues, not the loss of Ramirez. Plus, they will improve in 2009, as they were not going to bring back the Future Hall of Famer, who would have had to be replaced with an expensive free agent addition. So the remaining money on his contract, which Boston will pick up, is not that big of a deal, either, given the savings that they will gain with Bay filling the need on the cheap.

It was certainly an interesting day.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

An MLB.com report that said the Tampa Bay Rays acquired All-Star outfielder Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor league prospects Reid Brignac and Jeff Niemann turned out to be false. With Tampa Bay fans jumping for joy on the Internet on sites like this very one right here, it appeared as if the Rays had finally landed the impact right-handed hitter who they desperately need.

A deal, however, was never reached, as Tampa Bay Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman would not back down to meet the Pirates’ asking price of a high-level pitching prospect along the lines of Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson. With all signs pointing towards Bay remaining a Pirate if a deal with the Rays did not occur, it seemed likely that Pittsburgh general manger Neal Huntington would eventually agree to a deal for two legitimate prospects in Brignac and Niemann.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, though, the Rays did not make or receive an offer about the aforementioned pair, and the Pirates were more interested in Hellickson.

Brignac profiles as an above-average major league shortstop defensively and has plus power potential. While his on-base skills leave a bit to be desired, he has the chance to turn into a quality player in the majors. The 22-year-old, who recently made his debut with Tampa Bay, was considered off limits until the report.

Niemann, a former first-round pick out of Rice University, was once one of the top pitching prospects in the minors. However, his star has dimmed as a number of injuries have delayed his progress. One of the tallest professional pitchers out there, he potentially could have joined the Pirates’ starting rotation immediately if a deal had been reached. He is still only the fifth-best pitching prospect in the Rays’ organization—though he would be ranked higher in other systems—but has the chance to make an impact for the Rays later this season.

Huntington and his staff were asking for an “elite” arm in return, with their eye on Hellickson, a 21-year-old right-hander who was dominant in the Florida State League this spring. After a long day of discussions, he did not budge from his demands. Instead, he waited for a better offer for a proven slugger like Bay, who does not become a free agent until after the 2009 season.

And, as it turns out, Huntington ended up receiving a much better package in the three-player deal with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers at the last minute.

After deciding not to make any deadline deals and then watching Bay come into the division, Tampa Bay will now have to rely on internal reinforcements Rocco Baldelli and David Price. Baldelli, making steady progress in Double-A, is expected to join the team next week. It would be unwise to count on him to be a huge difference maker, given his past. Anything they get from him will be a bonus.

Thus, Triple-A Durham outfielder Justin Ruggiano will be in the mix as well.

Price, the top pitching prospect in the minors, will provide a huge boost to the Tampa Bay pitching staff.

The Rays almost landed Bay, but were not willing to pay the price in prospects. Friedman and the organization will surely get criticized for not budging on Davis or Hellickson or making any moves on Thursday. In reality, however, only time will tell if they made the right choice. Davis or Hellickson could turn into a star alongside Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza and Price, making near the minimum for several years.

One thing that was clear during this draft, though, is that organizations are now valuing their prospects—assets, essentially—more than ever. When replacement-level major leaguers such as Carlos Silva are making millions in exchange for mediocre on-field results, perhaps this is the right choice.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

Do you think the Rays should have parted ways with Davis or Hellickson to make a deal for Bay or another player?

(Associated Press)

According to the Palm Beach Post, a tentative agreement has been reached that will end the Manny Ramirez era in Boston.

However, other sources such as Peter Gammons, have said that the deal, which also includes the Pittsburgh Pirates, could collapse at any second.

If the deal does, in fact, go through, the Florida Marlins will add a proven run producer in Ramirez. He will definitely help bolster their powerful offensive attack, which is already leading the majors in home runs but ranks 25th out of 30 teams in on-base percentage. The disgruntled slugger, whose “Manny Being Manny” antics are wearing thin in the Boston organization, remains among the most productive hitters in the majors at 36 years old.

Ramirez is currently batting .299/.398/.529 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs, but has dogged it when running out ground balls twice in the past week. Although he makes about as much money as the entire Florida 25-man roster combined, at $20 million, the Red Sox will most likely cover the remaining $6 million left on the deal. They will also receive an unnamed prospect.

Ramirez can become a free agent after the season, as it is unlikely that his option will be picked up. Thus, if Florida does add him to its lineup, they are taking on a risk for a brief rental with their eyes on playing baseball in October.

The Marlins are currently 51-58, 1.5 games back in the weak National League East, but has a negative run differential, a shaky defense and an inexperienced pitching staff. Parting ways with a few talented, young players may come back to bite them if they do not make the playoffs.

However, the addition of such a popular player-who loves the Miami area-may help out at the ticket window and will undoubtedly improve their chances of reaching the playoffs for the first time since the franchise's second World Series title back in 2003. While the club is a few years away from really having a strong team as their top pitching prospects develop, it clearly want to win right now. Also, Ramirez will bring in two compensation picks once he bolts for free agency.

If the report is true, the Marlins will part ways with Jeremy Hermida and Ryan Tucker, each of whom will wind up in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will also receive a prospect from Boston, who will get Jason Bay and John Grabow in return.

Hermida, the Marlins’ right fielder, is batting .257/.328/.444 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs. He provided one of the only bright spots for the Marlins in 2007, hitting .296/.369/.501 with 18 homers and an .870 OPS in a career-high 429 at-bats during a breakout campaign to emerge as a mainstay in the middle of the lineup. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter, who also possesses a strong arm in right field, has a .798 career OPS.

Tucker, a first-round pick back in 2005, made his major league debut for the Marlins at the end of June. He struggled with the jump to the highest level, though, going 2-3 with a 8.38 ERA and 26-to-22 K/W ratio in 10 appearances, including six relatively ineffective starts, before being shipped back down to Double-A on July 24. He has excellent stuff and profiles as a nice long-term prospect, but needs to straighten out his command and control problems.

These factors were an issue for Tucker during his brief stint in the majors, where he struggled to work ahead and throw strikes while surrendering eight home runs in 34.1 innings pitched. The 21-year-old, who has a mid-90s fastball and as much pure arm strength as any pitcher in the Marlins' system, may turn into a reliever before it is all said and done. He began the season in the Southern League, where he went 4-2 with a 1.38 ERA and 62-to-28 K/W ratio in 72.0 innings pitched for the Carolina Mudcats.

Hermida and Tucker are a decent package for Pittsburgh, which did not receive a strong enough offer from the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay was not willing to part with a high-level prospect, such as Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson, in exchange for Bay. Still, according to Gammons, they are still not satisfied with the proposal on their end, potentially stopping this deal from going down.

The Red Sox are going to have a tough time replacing Ramirez’s bat, but will attempt to fill the hole with Bay, who is batting .282/.375/.519 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs. The All-Star left fielder, who will become a free agent in 2009, is enjoying a nice comeback from an injury-plagued '07 season in which he posted a .745 OPS. He is a gamer with an excellent attitude as well, traits which fit in with the Boston mindset and were lost on Ramirez, who also drew the ire of management when he shoved the team traveling secretary. Bay certainly does not have the track record of the Future Hall of Famer, but has actually posted the higher OPS (.929) of the pair to this point.

Grabow is an excellent left-handed reliever when he works ahead of hitters and his command is on. He has been effective out of the Pirates’ bullpen again so far, posting a 3.19 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 53.2 innings pitched. He will provide a nice upgrade in the pen for Boston, which has seen its relievers struggle in the link to closer Jonathan Papelbon.

The trade is being held up over a prospect on the Pirates’ side, but is likely to happen. It will certainly have an impact on the American League and National League East races, though, if the commissioner signs off on the deal and Ramirez waives his no trade clause. Each of these factors have yet to occur.

The Red Sox, who dropped to three games back with a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, will address a major need to its lack of relief pitching depth. Still, they will lose one of their most productive hitters in Ramirez, who will be a nice addition to the middle of the Marlins’ lineup alongside Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla.

Update: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins are not willing to part ways with Tucker and the deal is still a long way from happening.

Rosenthal:

snip

"In one proposed scenario, the Marlins would trade outfielder Jeremy Hermida and a prospect for Ramirez, and the Red Sox then would flip Hermida and prospects to the Pirates for left fielder Jason Bay and possibly left-handed reliever John Grabow.

The players in the deal, however, remain fluid, according to the source, who described the names as "not set."

Two prominent Marlins prospects who have been mentioned — Class AA right-hander Ryan Tucker and Class A outfielder Michael Stanton — will not be in the trade, Marlins sources said."

Stanton, whose name has also been linked to this blockbuster deal, has hit 27 home runs while posting a .928 OPS in the Sally League. It will be interesting to see what happens, because there have now been around eight versions of the players who are expected to be included in the deal.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

Dunn On The Block?

According to SI.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made an offer for Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn. The Diamondbacks would send infielder Chad Tracy to the Reds, the report says.

Cincinnati general manager Walt Jocketty, however, denied the report to the local writers, saying that he has not had any conversations about Dunn today.

Dunn, a polarizing player who has drawn scant interest, is currently leading the majors with 32 home runs and has driven in 74 runs. While his low batting average and high strikeout totals cause many within the industry to undervalue the left-handed slugger, he truly has been among the most productive hitters in the game, posting a .952 OPS in 104 games. He is a Three True Outcome player who hits a homer, draws a walk, or strikes out in the majority of his plate appearances, but his on-base skills rival any hitter in the National League. He is making $13 million this year, and will become a free agent at the end of the season.

Tracy, who was included in the Diamondbacks’ offer to the Atlanta Braves in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, is batting .300/.342/.480 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in 47 games. The Braves, according to sources, wanted a deal to include Conor Jackson, not Tracy, causing them to take the Los Angeles’ package of Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek.

Dunn would undoubtedly provide a major boost to the Arizona lineup, which has struggled to score runs since their record-setting month back in April.

Update: According to Jayson Stark, the Reds began talks with the Tampa Bay Rays about Dunn on Wednesday night. The two teams are only in the conversation stages right now, but they could pick up on Thursday, he says. Also, by talking to Dunn, the Rays gain leverage with their discussions with Pittsburgh about Bay, perhaps making this just a smoke storm.

Fuentes Back On The Market?

Brian Fuentes is perhaps the best relief pitcher on the market, with George Sherrill no longer available (Baltimore wants to keep him) and Arthur Rhodes reportedly headed to the Florida Marlins. The Colorado Rockies, after losing a few games to start the week, are reportedly buyers again, though they were considering making a run in the wide-open National League West with their recent surge. GM Dan O’Dowd informed Fuentes this weekend that he was most likely not going to get traded. According to ESPN.com, though, O’Dowd has reconsidered his stance, now looking to shop the left-handed closer again. The Rays are no longer in the running, though, because the Rockies’ asking price—Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson—is way too high for a two-month relief rental.

Bay To Tampa Bay Not Likely:

Bay is most likely not going to be traded to the Rays, after all of the talk that went on today. Following serious discussions, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay are at ends on which prospects to be included the deal. The Pirates, no longer searching for a multi-player package, are looking for “two high-level” prospects. Reid Brignac and Jeff Niemann, the former first-round pick out of Rice University, were two of the prospects whose names came up in the discussions, reports say. However, the Pirates are looking for someone along the lines of Davis or Hellickson, each of whom has been labeled off limits by Tampa Bay.

Niemann was roughed up in his outing on Tuesday night, which certainly did not increase his chances of being included in any package. He is still among the most likely prospects to get moved if the Rays’ Vice President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, pulls the trigger on any deal. Brignac, on the other hand, is less likely to go, as his defensive skills at shortstop are major league average already and he has tremendous power potential. While he needs to improve his on-base skills, it would take an excellent offer for Tampa Bay to part ways with its potential future shortstop.

Also making matters complicated, the Boston Red Sox are reportedly close to sending disgruntled slugger Manny Ramirez to the Marlins in three-team deal involving Pittsburgh. If Ramirez, who has complained about his current situation in Boston and seems lost right now, is actually dealt to Florida, Boston GM Theo Epstein will attempt to replace his production in the lineup with Bay.

Bay, finally healthy, is batting .282/.375/.519 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

According to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Tampa Bay Rays are in serious trade talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates about acquiring All-Star outfielder Jason Bay.

With the trade deadline nearing, Tampa Bay Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has been actively searching for a right-handed bat to help to add to an offense that has struggled to score runs at times.

The report also indicated that “an elite prospect,” someone along the lines of Wade Davis or David Price, has not been offered, making it around “50/50” that the outfielder will remain a Pirate.

Friedman is unlikely to part ways with any high-level prospects. However, the organization has enough depth to offer up a multi-player package with several mid-level prospects to land Bay, who is having a nice comeback season for the Pirates.

Friedman is great at finding value, picking up players who are undervalued on the market and on the low. Right now, Bay’s value is fairly high, as he has put together a productive season. The 29-year-old outfielder, who will become a free agent at the end of 2009 and would not be a two-month rental, is batting .284/.377/.523 with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Bay, a Canadian native, is currently among NL leaders at his position with a .900 OPS as well. While he would undoubtedly upgrade the Rays’ offensive attack—which ranks in the middle of the pack in nearly every meaningful statistical category—if he can continue to produce like he has in ’08, he is coming off a poor campaign in which he posted a disappointing .745 OPS. Also, the former Rookie of the Year is only batting .193/.337/.349 against southpaws, albeit in a small sample size of 83 at-bats. The defense that he provides in left field—it will be interesting to see where he ends up if he is shipped, with Carl Crawford among the best defenders at the position—also leaves a bit to be desired.

Bay makes a lot of sense, though. He is due to make $7.5 million in '09, the last year of his four-year, $18.25 million contract. While he would instantly become one of the Rays' highest-paid players, the remaining money left on the deal would be considered a bargain if he can continue to produce, given the state of the economic market for baseball players today.

Of the available players still on the market, Bay is perhaps the strongest candidate to help the Rays down the stretch if an agreement is reached. Still, often times these deadline deals fail to live up to the hype, with the Mark Teixeira situation in ’07 the perfect example. If Friedman can acquire his services at a reasonable price, without risking any legitimate prospects in a package, then he should definitely pull the trigger as he attempts to guide the franchise to its first postseason appearance. If the Pirates demand a that “elite prospect,” though, this deal will most likely not happen—even though Bay could help the Rays next year, and then bring in a pair of compensation picks once he bolts for free agency.

“50/50” seems about right.

If the gap between the two teams cannot be reached, the Rays also have their eye on outfielder Jayson Werth, who kills lefties and is batting .272/.358/.485 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs for the Philadelphia Phillies.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to upgrade their roster at the trade deadline.

Tampa Bay Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, however, appears set to address the Rays’ need for a right-handed bat and relief help internally, rather than overpaying with prospects for a brief rental.

Two of the players repeatedly linked to Tampa Bay, Casey Blake and Xavier Nady, were each shipped earlier this weekend, reducing the list of potential right-handed hitting outfielders on the market.

Blake, who has been among the most productive hitters with runners in scoring position so far, was the more likely option to be shipped to the Rays, who reportedly were the runner-up to acquire his services. The soon-to-be potential free agent was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor leaguers Jonathan Meloan and Carlos Santana. Blake, currently batting .293/.368/.470, will help improve the Dodgers’ offensive attack and will most likely remain at third base with his new club—the Rays wanted to move him to the outfield—prompting a demotion for rookie Blake DeWitt and his sub-.700 OPS to the minors on Sunday.

Tampa Bay fell short in its offer, reluctantly refusing to give up any quality prospects for three months of a surging hitter.

Nady was traded earlier this weekend to the Rays’ in-division rival, the New York Yankees, who are back in the American League East race and are likely to be without regulars Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada perhaps for the rest of the season. The veteran outfielder was sent along with reliever Damaso Marte in exchange for four prospects, highlighted by 19-year-old outfielder Jose Tabata, who was ranked by Scout.com as the third-best position player prospect in the New York organization. Right-handed pitchers Jeff Karstens, Dan McCutchen—not to be confused with the Pirates’ stud outfield prospect, Andrew—and Ross Oldendorph were also included.

Considering the Pirates’ reported asking price—labeled as ludicrous by many within in the industry—for Nady and his teammate, Jason Bay, last week, the cost, perceived as low, came as a surprise to many.

Nady, who is enjoying a career season, is currently batting .327/.384/.530, for a.914 OPS, potentially adding the bat that the Yankees need and clearing the way for Posada to have season-ending surgery. His value was at is peak, however, turning off Tampa Bay, which was not willing to part with any promising prospects.

With the aforementioned pair no longer available, Friedman seems set to look internally, with Triple-A Durham outfielder Justin Ruggiano as a possibility to make an impact down the stretch. Ruggiano, 26, spent a few weeks in the majors earlier in the season, hitting .290/.333/.452 in 15 games, but did not get any real playing time. He has been productive since his demotion, however, while showing the ability to hit left-handed pitching—.966 OPS in 68 at-bats against southpaws. In 52 games overall, he is batting .303/.359/.500 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs. It will be interesting to see if he gets a fair look the next time around if the club does not end up striking a deal before the deadline on Thursday.

Joe Maddon also announced that Rocco Baldelli, who is currently rehabbing with the Montgomery Biscuits, may be an option in this regard as well. Baldelli, who hit a home run and played five innings in the outfield on Saturday night, has made steady progress with his rare medical condition and is reportedly coming along nicely. Regardless, the Rays have not been able to count on the former star in several years, so why should they expect to now? It would not be a surprise to see him come up in September, though, if he can stay on the field over the next few weeks.

In 27 at-bats with the Biscuits, Baldelli is batting .333/.419/.667 with three home runs and eight RBIs. Tampa Bay will still wait to see if he is a legitimate option over the next month before making a decision.

Friedman and his staff are reportedly looking for bullpen help as well—rumors have linked Brian Fuentes of the Colorado Rockies, Huston Street of the Oakland Athletics and Tyler Walker of the San Francisco Giants to the Rays. Again, though, the club seems more likely to make a change through its farm system, especially with top prospect David Price making pitching look easy down in the minors.

The Rockies’ asking price has turned off Tampa Bay, which would likely not consider including Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson in any deal, let along for a reliever like Fuentes, whose value is high right now because his recent performance and is approaching his career high in innings pitched. The Colorado organization also appears to be close to making a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals—the favorites, according to Peter Gammons of ESPN—and are considering turning into buyers, not sellers, at the deadline.

Street has caught the eyes of Friedman as well, especially considering that his value is fairly low right now. The closer, one of the few Oakland regulars over the past few years not to be shipped by Billy Beane yet, would be a great addition. His teammate, outfielder Matt Murton, has also been linked to the Rays.

Price, 8-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts professional starts, is still the most likely candidate to help the Rays address their bullpen needs. Perhaps he will turn into the Joba Chamberlain of 2008 (if Jeff Samardzija does not beat him to it), as he is currently dominating the Southern League. The number one overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt University, he is 4-0 with a 31-to-12 K/W ratio and 2.19 ERA with the Biscuits, dazzling with his excellent stuff and advanced pitching smarts.

The lanky southpaw began the year in the Florida State League, where he was a perfect 4-0 in six starts for the Vero Beach Devil Rays. In fact, Price looked absolutely dominant at times, overmatching young hitters with his mid-90s fastball and excellent command. He posted a 1.82 ERA, 37-to-7 K/W ratio and .220 opponents’ batting average, allowing only seven earned runs on 28 hits in 34.2 innings pitched.

Rumors—Friedman has made phone calls about veteran second baseman Jeff Kent and soon-to-be free agent Mark Teixeira, according to several sources.

Kent, though, is on the wrong side of 40, and is no longer an adequate defensive second baseman. While the Rays have struggled to score runs, the team defense—with one of the highest defensive efficiency ratings in the majors—has been excellent, especially in the infield.

The play of Akinori Iwamura, who was forced to make the transition up the middle from third base to make room for Evan Longoria, has played a huge factor in that, as he has helped to form an excellent double play combination with shortstop Jason Bartlett.

So, where would the veteran second baseman—a headache in the clubhouse at times, especially around young players, who played a huge role in the divide among the young talent and veterans in Los Angeles in 2007—spend the majority of his innings? DH? Not so fast, as he is only batting .255/.310/.411 with 10 homers and 43 RBIS.

Not to mention, Kent has not exactly torn it up against lefties, either, with a .795 OPS in 88 at-bats against southpaws. His bat speed has steadily decreased over the years, he comes with baggage and would most likely not provide that much of an upgrade, regardless. Thus, odds are against the Rays—who have received a great boost from the veteran presence provided by Cliff Floyd and Troy Percival—from adding Kent for their stretch run.

The market for Teixeira, a Scott Boras client who will demand a lengthy, multi-million contract this offseason, has been expectedly slim. Several of the contending teams do not have a need at first base or designated hitter, and are unwilling to deal any legitimate prospects for a brief, three-month rental.

Teixeira had a monster second half for the Atlanta Braves after he was acquired at the deadline in the biggest deal of the season last summer. The Braves, however, were 2.5 games out in the National League East when they acquired the switch-hitting slugger. They then finished six games back, despite a monster performance from their new acquisition.

Atlanta general manager Frank Wren, a longtime right-hand man for John Schuerholz during the dynasty years, is not used to being a seller at the deadline. The Braves, though, are undoubtedly out of it—done in by too many one-run losses—and should try to make some deals with an eye on the future. Still, Wren most likely would want a deal to include Price—who is absolutely not available—making this a long shot to happen. Six years of a potential ace for three months of the player who is the poster boy for why deadline deals often fail to live up the hype? Yeah, that is not going to happen.

This article was originally posted at Scout.com.

To reach Tyler Hissey, send an email to TylerHissey@gmail.com.

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to acquire a right-handed bat to upgrade their offense before the July 31 trade deadline.

The Rays, coming off a seventh consecutive loss on the road on Thursday, have struggled to score runs all season. It is no secret why they are in the American League East mix for the first time ever: an up-and-coming pitching staff and an excellent defense. In fact, the club ranks in the middle of the pack—including 17th in the majors in runs scored—in nearly every offensive statistical category.

Against southpaws, the numbers get even worse. With several struggling left-hander sluggers leading the offensive attack, Tampa Bay is hitting only .246/.326/.400 in 1021 combined at bats against lefties.

This is a legitimate concern for the Rays, who are looking to hold of the Boston Red Sox and surging New York Yankees.

Initially, reports linked Tampa Bay to the pair of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders likely to be shipped, J