The Tampa Bay Rays have activated Ben Zobrist from the 15-day disabled list and designated Andy Cannizaro for assignment to make room for Zobrist on the roster.

Zobrist had pins taken out of his hand on Monday and played in four rehab games going 4-14.  He will take over the utility players role for the Rays.

Cannizaro was expected to only be with the big league team until Zobrist came back.  He only got one at bat and went hitless.

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The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned David Price, Justin Ruggiano, and Jae Kuk Ryu to Triple-A Durham.

Price is a good prospect that the Rays really like but they don’t want to rush him to the big leagues so he will either start the 2008 season at Double-A or Triple-A.

Some people think that Ruggiano being sent down was a big suprise since they thought he might have a shot at making the opening day roster with the status of Rocco Baldelli.  We could see Ruggiano on the big league roster before the end of the season the way Baldelli is always injured.

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The Tampa Bay Rays have signed relief pitcher Trever Miller to a one year contract worth $1.6 million and a option for 2009 at $2 million dollars.  The Rays got a pretty good deal here as Miller was hoping for a lot more money when he became a free agent.

Last year, Miller played for the Houston Astros and pitched 46.1 innings.  He did give up 45 hits, 26 runs, six homeruns, while compiling a 4.86 ERA.

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James Shields just got a nice pay raise from the Tampa Bay Rays as they agreed on a four year contract that will pay Shields atleast $12 million guranteed money, but could be upwards of $40 million along with three option years.

If Shields comes back and has a good season like he did last year, I think it will be a good signing.  But you are still talking about the Rays here, who need a lot more help then just Shields.

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The Tampa Bay Rays did not want to goto a salary arbitration hearing with Scott Kazmir so they signed him to a one year contract that will be worth $3.7 million dollars.  Kazmir will command a much higher salary in 2009 if he has a good 08 season.

How much longer will the Rays be able to afford him is the question?

Carlos Pena just got a nice pay raise from the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rays signed Pena to a three year contract worth $24 million dollars.  That is sure a big salary for a player that just started to come on in the past year or so.

I don’t think Pena will have another monster year like he did last year where he hit 46 home runs and 121 RBI, but I do think he will have a decent year around 25-30 homes and 90-100 RBI.  Hopefully he does for the Rays sake.

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The Tampa Bay Rays completed a trade with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday evening when they sent relief pitcher Jeff Ridgway to the Braves for Willy Aybar and Chase Fontaine.

The Rays traded Ridgway who was pretty good last year at Triple A for a utility infielder in Aybar, and Fontaine who was the Braves 2nd round draft pick in the 2006 draft.  Aybar will be able to help out the Rays once he recovers from a hand / wrist injury that will keep him out most of Spring Training.  Fontaine I would expect to start at High A ball, or even Double A.

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Outfielder Jonny Gomes and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed on a new one year contract that will pay Gomez $1.28 million dollars in 2008.  Expect Gomes to get pleny of at bats even though he might not start everyday.

I like the fact the Rays resigned Gomes and it only cost them a little over a million dollars.  He is a pretty good backup outfielder, and with the outfielders that the Rays have on the roster right now they needed some depth out there.  Good pickup!

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