Yesterday, there were grumblings that Twins pitcher Boof Bonser was being dealt to Tampa Bay. This morning's Tampa papers had articles that reported Rays' GM Andrew Friedman saying the team is ready to begin competing. In Minnesota, the team opened two spots on their 40-man roster.
Now, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minnesapolis Star-Tribune is reporting a trade between the Twins and Rays is near completion, and it is a blockbuster. The Rays would receive hard-throwing RHP Matt Garza along with SS Jason Bartlett and middle reliever Juan Rincon in exchange for RF Delmon Young, utility man Brendan Harris and AAA OF Jason Pridie.
Young and Harris would fill the same roles they filled in Tampa Bay, and Pridie would have a clear shot at OF ABs where he had been blocked in Tampa Bay. Garza would slot behind Scott Kazmir and James Shields with Jason Bartlett taking over the starting SS job. Juan Rincon would become a key late-inning reliever on a team absolutely desperate for one.
With a separate report saying the Rays also also close to signing Tory Percival, the Rays will have directly addressed their weak spots while using the player and financial capital it had at its disposal.