The Rays had a quiet day on the trade front, but will continue talking and thinking right up until Friday's 4 p.m. deadline for nonwaiver deals.

Executive VP Andrew Friedman said Thursday night: "The final hours before the deadline often breed creative thoughts, and we expect to be in the middle of that brainstorming.  Whether anything happens, major or minor, is impossible to predict.”

Rumors and speculation keep flying around the Internet involving the Rays, but all indications we have gotten are that they are talking primarily about smaller deals - either adding or moving complementary- type pieces.

The biggest deal they could make would be acquiring Toronto ace Roy Halladay, but Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said in a text message to the Times that there was “nothing” going with the Rays.

What else could the Rays do? Hard to say - maybe upgrade the bullpen, or improve the catching position?

"The only certainty,'' Friedman said, "is that that there will continue to be more rumors and speculation than actual news.''