Cliff Floyd News

Major League Baseball's deadline to offer arbitration to Type A and Type B free agents is Monday night at midnight ET, and it is a deadline that matters little to the Rays.

The average American League designated hitter had a wOBA of .341, or generated 1.38 runs per 600 plate appearances.

Evan Longoria arrived at Tropicana Field in mid-April with more hype and more expectations than any player in the 11-year-history of the Tampa Bay Rays, which, truth be told, isn't saying a whole heck of a lot.

What Do They Need? Strong across the board, the upstart pennant winners' most glaring flaw-exhibited during the World Series-was a weakness against left-handed pitching.

Historically, the Rays have never been a big-splash team when it came to free-agent signings, and there's no reason to expect any change in philosophy this offseason.

The Marlins added to their pitching depth Monday by claiming left-hander Dan Meyer off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

There is an intangible that Omar Minaya has to take into consideration this offseason: Team chemistry.

These days everybody's a general manager. Everybody has an idea to pitch, a trade to consummate, a free agent to sign.

Pitchers Brandon Lyon and Paul Byrd also joined the list. Of the 178 players potentially eligible for free agency, 149 have filed since the World Series ended last week.

The Tampa Bay Rays have declined their 2009 contract options for designated hitter Cliff Floyd and left-handed relief pitcher Trever Miller.

The traditional end-of-season hugs and handshakes were delivered with a bit more enthusiasm Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

Amid the disappointment of losing their first World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays said they are eager to shed their doormat reputation and start a new era.

Leave it to Joe Maddon to paraphrase a 19th-century poet moments after losing the World Series.

It's homecoming this weekend at Vanderbilt University, information proud former Commodore David Price divulges with little remorse.

Jamie Moyer's teammates sometimes call him old man and grandpa, names befitting a man who, 3 1/2 weeks from his 46th birthday, is baseball's eldest elder statesman.

"He was hitting it over the house," Debbie Price said Friday. "Sometimes he'd hit it so far, I'd say, 'You have to get that.' I got tired of chasing balls." These days, David Price's field is a bit larger than ...

The Rays made a roster move prior to Sunday's Game 4 by adding veteran utility player Eric Hinske to the roster and removing injured Cliff Floyd.

Charlie Manuel handed out rubber ducks to his players Monday at Tropicana Field to remind everybody to stay cool.

Scott Kazmir can't wait to take his cuts. With the World Series shifting to Philadelphia for the next three games, National League rules apply and there will be no designated hitter in either team's lineup.

Look around this World Series and it's easy to spot all the newcomers _ Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton and David Price, eager to get a huge hit or throw a perfect pitch.