Manny and Damon signed with Rays

• Tiger2003

  

  Just heard it on ESPN Radio. Sorry if this was already posted.
• jordo212000

  

  wow! Hmm that makes things interesting. I am waiting on the tin foiled hat conspiracy theorists to come and explain this to me. I thought the Rays (and everybody except the Yanks and Sawks) weren't capable of signing free agents? I love how the Rays selling high on Matt Garza = a flaw with the system
• sportswizuhrd

  Manny signed for 2 million and Damon 5.25.
  
  Garza will sign for 5.95 million.
  
  Garza was expendable because of the Rays had 6 starting pitchers(why they didnt trade for ML ready talent to replace one of the guys they lost, I do not know).
  
  Also Vernon Wells got traded to the Angels for Matt Napoli.....Vlad Guerrero you are on the clock.
• Sonofanump

  Too bad it's not 1998.
• mucalum49

  

  Sonofanump;647746 wrote:Too bad it's not 1998.

  
  Haha I thought something similar but maybe not back to 1998. I like the deal so that they can alternate. One guy fills in at a corner outfield spot and the other DH's. This will allow Ben Zobrist to be the full time first basemen. Or as I typed that, didn't Damon play a little first?
  
  Either way I don't think this move hurts and hopefully will help fill the Trop. In other Rays news, Dirk Hayhurst of Canton signed with the Rays as well. He's a good guy, and wrote one of the best baseball books in recent years which was a New York Times best seller.
• Laley23

  

  As long as they are smart and only play these guys a few times a week. Manny maybe can still go a full season, as his injuries arent a producut of playing imo, just bad luck. But Damon seemed to slow down a lot the last few years after the break.
  
  ...as for the system. Manny and Damon arent exactly what you call high quality FA....
• Hb31187

  

  no no no Laley dont you understand? OBVIOUSLY the Rays and other small market teams can still contend...I mean look, they signed these quality FA's only 5 years removed from their prime haha
• jordo212000

  

  The Rays will make the playoffs this season and the Yankees will not. You heard it right here
• like_that

  

  LMAO at jordo. I guess this move outweighs all the other moves that completely go against your failed logic /sarcasm.
  
  Glad to see you are that desperate that you cite this move to prove your point. The rays signed two former stars who now currently became journeymen. lolfail. I bet you thought seattle made a big time move when they signed Ken Griffey Jr at the end of his career.
• Laley23

  

  jordo212000;647895 wrote:The Rays will make the playoffs this season and the Yankees will not. You heard it right here

  
  I wont disagree with that, because the Yankees have exactly 1 starting pitcher.
• jordo212000

  

  like_that;647896 wrote:LMAO at jordo. I guess this move outweighs all the other moves that completely go against your failed logic /sarcasm.
  
  Glad to see you are that desperate that you cite this move to prove your point. The rays signed two former stars who now currently became journeymen. lolfail. I bet you thought seattle made a big time move when they signed Ken Griffey Jr at the end of his career.

  The Yankees "big splashes" this past offseason consisted of Russell Martin who has been just an average catcher the past couple of seasons and Rafael Soriano. That's it. Please stop pretending like the Yankees were opening up their checkbook all offseason.
  
  The Rays core paired with these two acquisitions put them right there with the Red Sox. The Rays can pitch with absolutely anybody. You haven't been following baseball if you think Johnny Damon is "washed up" There is a reason the Red Sox were trying to trade for him at the deadline this past season. As for Manny, he appeared to have lost a little bit of his mojo last year. Low risk, high reward move if you ask me. All Manny has ever wanted to do, was just hit the baseball. Now he can do that in Tampa. He no longer has to play defense (which is a relief to both he and Tampa) and he can conserve his energy.
  
  Like I said before, you keep talking about how baseball's system has failed the Rays because they do not have the same team as last year, however I think they will not miss much of a beat at all. Jennings is Crawford 2.0, Pena hit below .200, and Garza was wildly inconsistent as a pitcher. Garza also seemed to be somewhat of a headcase.
  
  You are correct that neither of these guys are people you build your team around, and they aren't who they were 5 years ago. But you do not build your team through free agency in baseball. You must have a good core of home grown guys and you must accentuate that talent by picking and choosing quality free agents.
• september63

  

  Manny as a DH for only 2 Mill a year is a good move. IMO
• HitsRus

  

  I'm not overly impressed with the Rays moves. They had to make some, to attempt to replace what they lost, but frankly, Manny and Johnny have seen better days. They relatively inexpensive aquisitions that won't hurt and may help. At least they will compete which is better than what the Indians are doing.
• Footwedge

  jordo212000;647895 wrote:The Rays will make the playoffs this season and the Yankees will not. You heard it right here

  Now if only the Reds would pick up Ricky Henderson and Don Mattingly they would cake walk over the Phillies this year. LMAO!!
  
  What a shame that Manny has to hang on like this and ruin a damn good legacy