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Rays Working On Deal For Bay

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

Updated: 07/31/2008 12:32 am

TORONTO - A fascinating trade deadline eve saw the Rays go from potentially big winners in a late move to forgotten bystanders to a percolating megadeal.

Speculation swirled Wednesday that the Rays might be close to consummating a deal with the Pirates that would net All-Star outfielder Jason Bay, likely for a handful of prospects not considered to be among the elite in the Tampa Bay organization.

It is known that the teams had serious discussions regarding Bay, with Triple-A shortstop Reid Brignac and pitcher Jeff Niemann reportedly among the players that might be of interest to the Pirates. The Rays, sticking with the stance they have maintained throughout the trading season, don't appear to be willing to part with any of their top three pitching prospects: David Price, Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson.

While there was some thought that the Pirates were shopping around to see if there were any better offers, the Rays were prepared to wait them out and see if they would accept whatever offer was on the table.

It may still happen, but everything was sidetracked early Wednesday evening when rumors began to swirl about a possible three-way deal between the Pirates, Red Sox and Marlins. Most variations said the deal would send Bay and lefty reliever John Grabow to Boston, Manny Ramirez and cash to Florida and Jeremy Hermida and four or five prospects to Pittsburgh.

A haul of Hermida, a young player already established in the majors, along with prospects from both the Marlins and the Red Sox, might be too tempting for the Pirates to pass up. But a deal with so many moving parts invariably has a much higher potential to come apart.

The Boston Herald reported Wednesday that such a deal was "highly unlikely."

With the deadline to secure trades without players passing through waivers looming at 4 p.m. today, plenty of time remains to sort things out, and the Rays could end up as a fallback for the Pirates.

Bay would be a huge addition if the Rays can get him. A power bat who could play every day and not be restricted to platoon duty, he wouldn't be a two-month rental player. The 29-year-old is under contract through 2009 and due to be paid $7.5 million in the final season of a three-year deal. He's hitting .284 with 22 homers and 62 RBIs and has a .377 on-base percentage, bouncing back from a rough 2007 campaign.

Acquiring Bay could provide a boost to a struggling Rays offense and would go a ways toward counteracting the moves the Yankees and Angels have made in recent days. New York built on its acquisition of Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte last week by acquiring catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers on Wednesday, a day after the Angels scooped up the best hitter available, Atlanta's Mark Teixeira.

Even if the Rays don't get the bat they want today - another report had them looking at Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth as an option - they are still believed to be in the market for bullpen help.

Various reports have linked them to lefty relievers Will Ohman (Braves), Scott Schoeneweis (Mets) and Ron Mahay (Royals). ESPN.com reported Wednesday night that the Rays had told the Rockies they were no longer interested in closer Brian Fuentes.

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