Trades
• Acquired RH reliever Danny Farquhar, INF Brad Miller and DH/1B/OF Logan Morrison from Mariners for RHP Nathan Karns, LH reliever C.J. Riefenhauser and minor-league OF Boog Powell
• Sent RH reliever Kirby Yates to Indians for undisclosed cash considerations
• Acquired C Hank Conger from Astros for undisclosed cash considerations
Impact: Miller is the leading candidate to be the starting SS, Morrison looks to be the primary DH (unless 1B James Loney is traded and he moves there), Farquhar will compete for a spot in the bullpen. Karns was sixth on the depth chart among starters, Riefenhauser (since traded to Baltimore) and Powell were ticketed for Triple A. … Yates had been designated for assignment and was going to be released, so whatever they got was a bonus. … Conger will compete with Rene Rivera to be the backup to Curt Casali.
Added
• RHP Chase Whitley, claimed off waivers from Yankees
• RHP Jacob Faria, RHP Taylor Guerrieri, RHP German Marquez, INF/OF Taylor Motter, LHP Blake Snell, promoted to 40-man roster
Impact: None of the pitchers will likely be of help at the start of the season. Snell is close, though, and may need only a short stint in the minors to limit his innings — and potential free agent eligibility — before being called up. Faria, Guerrieri and Marquez have yet to pitch above Double A but could be late-season help. Whitley, who has pitched parts of two seasons in the majors, is recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery and eyeing an August return. Motter, MVP at Triple-A Durham, will compete for a bench job.
Dropped
• SS Asdrubal Cabrera, DH/OF John Jaso and OF/DH Grady Sizemore became free agents
• C J.P. Arencibia, LH reliever Jeff Beliveau, INF Jake Elmore, RH reliever Brandon Gomes, OF Daniel Nava were all taken off the roster and became free agents
Impact: Cabrera is a big loss, but the Rays expected it after signing him to a one-year deal. Otherwise, not so much. Gomes pitched in 63 games last season, 173 over the past five. Letting Arencibia go and keeping Rene Rivera was somewhat interesting.
How they're looking
Barring any changes or injury issues, the Rays roster seems relatively set, pending whether they will carry seven or eight relievers. But as of now, it could look like this, with the primary competition for bench spots and bullpen jobs, where they are likely to bring in a couple veteran relievers on minor-league deals to compete:
LF Desmond Jennings
CF Kevin Kiermaier
RF Steven Souza Jr.
3B Evan Longoria
SS Brad Miller
2B Logan Forsythe
1B James Loney
C Curt Casali
DH Logan Morrison
Bench: OF Brandon Guyer; C Hank Conger or Rene Rivera; INF Tim Beckham and/or Nick Franklin and/or INF/OF Taylor Motter; possibly INF/OF Richie Shaffer or OF Mikie Mahtook or lefty-hitting OF TBA
Starters: RH Chris Archer, LH Matt Moore, RH Jake Odorizzi, LH Drew Smyly, RH Erasmo Ramirez
Relievers: RHs Brad Boxberger, Alex Colome, Steve Geltz, Danny Farquhar and/or Andrew Bellatti or veterans TBA; LHs Jake McGee, Xavier Cedeno, Enny Romero
What they're looking for
With the Rays not having a defined list of needs, it's hard to specify targets. Young, cost-controllable impact hitters would be at the top of their list, and there are some teams that have them and need pitching, especially the Cubs, who could deal Jorge Soler or Javier Baez or Starlin Castro. Others who could be available include OF Marcell Ozuna (Marlins) or, less likely, someone like OF Joc Pederson (Dodgers). And there are teams that have more proven (read: expensive) hitters to move, but for the Rays to engage they would have to cover a chunk of the cost, such as Yasiel Puig (Dodgers) or Hanley Ramirez (Red Sox) or Todd Frazier/Jay Bruce (Reds). Though sluggers Pedro Alvarez and Chris Carter are non-tendered free agents, they don't fit unless the Rays make a trade to open at-bats.
Around the majors
Even with LHP David Price getting a record $217 million over seven years from Boston, RHP Zack Greinke $206.5 million over six from Arizona and RHP Jordan Zimmermann $100 million over five from Detroit, many of the top free agents are still on the market. Here's a list of the biggest names still looking for work, with their previous team:
Players
1B Chris Davis, Orioles
OF Jason Heyward, Cardinals
OF Justin Upton, Padres
OF Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
OF Alex Gordon, Royals
INF/OF Ben Zobrist, Royals
INF Daniel Murphy, Mets
INF Ian Desmond, Nats
OF Dexter Fowler, Cubs
OF Denard Span, Nats
Pitchers
RH Johnny Cueto, Royals
RH Darren O'Day, Orioles
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Explore all your optionsLH Scott Kazmir, Astros
LH Wei-Yin Chen, Orioles
RH Mike Leake, Giants
And these 2015 Rays
C J.P. Arencibia
LH Jeff Beliveau
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
RH Brandon Gomes
DH/OF John Jaso
OF Daniel Nava
OF/DH Grady Sizemore
Players who could be traded
RHP Carlos Carrasco, Indians
LH Aroldis Chapman, Reds
LH Andrew Miller, Yankees
RH Shelby Miller, Braves
OF Yasiel Puig, Dodgers
RHP James Shields, Padres
Rays rumblings
Gold Glove winning Kevin Kiermaier was only seventh on ESPN's Buster Olney's list of top centerfielders. … Marketing whiz Jeff Cogen officially started work as chief business officer. … MLB officials are making a mid December goodwill trip to Cuba which seems to bode well for the Rays' spring exhibition visit being approved. … Clever of LHP David Price at his introductory Boston news conference to jokingly be vague in referencing his 2008 ALCS Game 7 win over the Red Sox. And right on to say, "I'm 30 years old, but I'm 8 years old at heart.'' … RHP Chris Archer went to Curacao last week to help out with some Baseball Week youth clinics. … RHP prospect Taylor Guerrieri has been working out near Jupiter with new DH/1B/OF Logan Morrison, raving about his size and strength: "I've never seen somebody so wide. And it's all muscle." … Ex- Ray/Seminole HS product 1B Casey Kotchman signed a minor-league deal with Toronto. … Juan Nieves was set to return to the Rays as a minor-league coordinator until being hired as the Marlins pitching coach.