Brian Shouse News

Baseball's winter meetings will feel aptly named with snow forecast for Indianapolis much of the week, but maybe the cold temps make the action hotter.

Manager Joe Maddon is here, but exec VP Andrew Friedman doesn't arrive until Monday so that's when the action - if there is to be any action - will get started.

UPDATE 11:31 : The Rays declined to offer arbitration to RHP Russ Springer. DEVELOPING: The Rays have offered arbitration to Type B free agents C Gregg Zaun and LHP Brian Shouse; they are still deciding on RHP Russ Springer though it appears unlikely.

With a number of decisions pending heading into next week's winter meetings, the Rays gave themselves room to operate Thursday, releasing reliever Ramon Ramirez to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

The Rays increased their options behind the plate by acquiring Kelly Shoppach from Cleveland on Tuesday.

No big loss with Jeff Bennett if he's plucked off waivers. Could've been useful, turned out not to be.

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Reliever Brian Shouse was the lone player to file for free agency on Tuesday. The 41-year-old lefty went 1-1 with a 4.50 earned run average in 45 appearances last season with Tampa Bay.

The Boston Red Sox exercised their $7.7 million option on Victor Martinez and declined options on Jason Varitek and Alex Gonzalez on Monday.

Pitcher Jason Schmidt and catcher Gregg Zaun were the only two players to file for free agency Wednesday, bringing the total who have filed to 156.

Tampa Bay Rays will just say "yes" when it comes to Carl Crawford's $10 million dollar option for 2010.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced Monday they have exercised the 2010 option on the contract of outfielder Carl Crawford and declined the options on pitcher Brian Shouse and catcher Gregg Zaun.

Now that the Yankees are celebrating this year's championship, the Rays can start the real work in trying to win the next one.

Major League Baseball crowned a new champion Wednesday night, and Thursday morning it was back to business as players could begin to file for free agency.

Shields could afford to smile, putting a good finish on his disappointing year by working eight strong innings in the 5-3 victory over the woeful Orioles that ensured the Rays of their second winning record in franchise history.

The questions this time last season were quite different. Which team would the Rays face in the first round of the playoffs? Who would pitch the opener? How much could Carl Crawford contribute? Who'd get the last couple of spots on the playoff roster? And which pours better, beer or champagne? This year the questions are much bigger-picture, the ...

The division races are mostly so devoid of any intrigue that teams such as the Yankees, Phillies and Cardinals are enjoying a second spring training as they rest players and align their pitchers for the postseason.

The Rays' bullpen is what it is, and there aren't going to be any substantive changes to it in the season's final weeks, according to Manager Joe Maddon .

That's the second part of the series about the organizational depth the Rays will probably have in 2010.

One benefit to the Russ Springer deal that slipped my mind until now. Even if the Rays don't make the playoffs and Springer decides he doesn't like this Bay Area too much, if the Rays offer him arbitration and he declines, then they would net a sandwich pick for their efforts.