MVN - Most Valuable Network

Xavier Nady? C.C. Sabathia? Rays Rumors Running Around

With the trade deadline about a month away the Rays are usually a hot topic around this time. Usually, it’s other teams circling the Rays like vultures, ready to pick and choose from the Rays to bolster their own playoff pushes. However, this year is different with the Rays being the buyers not the sellers. Recently, two names have been mentioned as possible targets of the Rays: C.C. Sabathia and Xavier Nady.

I don’t think the Rays would pursue Sabathia, with an expiring contract and his price range rumored to be around 6yr/130 million dollars. It would make no sense for the Rays to mortgage a good chunk of the farm for two months of Sabathia, especially in 2008.  Knowing Andrew Friedman, this is exactly the type of move he avoids.  However, John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus names the Rays as a possibility.

 The Indians still haven’t declared themselves buyers or sellers in the trade market, but among the teams reportedly lining up to trade for left-hander C.C. Sabathia should he become available are the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs, Red Sox, Rays, and Angels.

Truly, I think this is just because the Rays are 1) contending and 2) have the pieces to get the deal done.  I just don’t see it happening.

The Nady situation though is something that could actually become a reality. As much as my Pal, Erik, hates to admit it Nady, if available, could be the type of player that interests the Rays. He is right handed, has good pop, and is not just a 2-3 month rent a player.  As much as we think his 2008 season so far maybe a fluke, Peter Bendix of Beyond the Box Score, explains why it may not be a fluke after all.

Xavier Nady. Nady quietly had two good seasons in
Pittsburgh in 2005 and 2006, hitting .300/.352/.409 and .278/.330/.476. This season, however, Nady has been even more productive, hitting .314/.376/.510 with ten homers.

Nady’s high batting average can be attributed to his high BABIP and his striking out less often than he has before. His BABIP appears to be legitimate: it is .344, but Nady is stroking line drives at a high rate, leading to an expected BABIP of .379. Nady’s strikeout rate is 17.6% this year, as compared to 23.4% last year (and a career rate of 20.0%).

Nady is not being any more selective this year than in his career (he has swung at 29.18% of pitches out of the strike zone this year, as compared to 28.3% during his career), but he is making more contact (he has made contact with 64.49% of pitches out of the strike zone, compared to 55.53% in his career). His HR/FB this year (14.7%) is nearly identical to last year (15.6%). While Nady may be getting a little lucky in terms of putting more balls in play than in the past despite showing no other signs of improved plate discipline, his statistics appear to be mostly luck-free.

I know our buddy Tom Krasniqi from, 1010 am Sports Desk and the Free Stretch with Bobby Fenton would be the first in line for a Xavier Nady Rays jersey, while Erik would be protesting.  I was able to ask John Perrotto a few questions about Nady and the Rays in his chat today. Here are the fruits of my labor:

(Ed. Note:  I’d only protest if the Rays had to give up too much to get him.  If he can come in here and keep producing at the pace he has this season I’ll cheer him on all year.  It’s just my opinion that he won’t be able to sustain it. — Erik)

Tommy (OPS,FL): The Rays are in need of some RH punch in the lineup. Besides Nady, who do you think is a possibility for them?

John Perrotto: Nady is really the guy at this point that makes the most sense. I think they’ll be players for him

Not one of my questions, but still a good relevant question 

Stephanie (DC):Why do you think the Rays would prefer to bring in a pitcher like Sabathia as opposed to a true right fielder to add some power and mitigate the Hinske/Gomes/Gross/Floyd experience?

John Perrotto:I’m not so sure they would prefer to bring in Sabathia. The question was if the Rays had would it took to get Sabathia. I think adding someone like Xavier Nady would make more sense than Sabathia.

Back to me and my speculating

Tommy (OPS,FL):Lets continue the Nady/Rays theme. What would it take for the Rays to acquire Nady? Niemann? Talbot?

John Perrotto:The Pirates will hold out for something pretty good because Nady is still under their control through next year, so he’s not a three-month rental. I think they would prefer something better than Niemann or Talbot.

Tommy (OPS, FL):What do you think the Rays should do with Edwin Jackson? There’s nothing wrong with his arm, but he’s hasn’t taken the next step as a pitcher. Jackson/Niemann for Nady?

John Perrotto:I think Jackson has taken a step forward this season. He hasn’t become a superstar but he’s pitching better. Jackson and Niemann might be enough to get Nady. That would be interesting.

Quick D- Price question

Tommy (OPS,FL):With Price being promoted to AA, if he should have success from now until September and the Rays are contending, do you see him as the 2008 Joba Chamberlain?

John Perrotto:I haven’t heard anything about that or even thought of it, but that’s a heckuva idea. Joe Maddon is a BP reader and maybe he’ll see your suggestion.

And finally I couldn’t pass up chiming in on this exchange 

Sawx and Yanks fans (Bos and NY): What’s with this Florida bias? Answer some East Coast questions!

John Perrotto: LOL. It’s definitely a Gulf Coast bias today. Everyone wants to talk Rays

Tommy (OPS, FL): Last one from me, um Florida is on the East Coast for those keeping score.

John Perrotto: Good point

Here is a link to the full chat. There are plenty of more Rays question in there.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm and is filed under MVN Rays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.