[Powderguy]

March News & Notes

3-7: Houston catcher J.R. Towles is expected to miss 8 weeks after straining his hamstring.
3-7: LA Dodgers shortstop Chin-Lung Hu is expected to be out for 8 months after tearing some ankle ligaments.
3-8: LA Angels trade LF Juan Rivera and minor league SP Kelly Shearer to San Diego for SP Greg Maddux.
3-12: NY Yankees sign SP Andy Pettitte to a 2 year, $32 million extension. This just shows that the Yankees have money to throw away.
3-16: LA Angels agree on a 2 year, $22 million extension with SP Greg Maddux.
3-17: Chicago sends 3B Joe Crede to Minnesota for 1B Mike Lamb.
3-17: Detroit trades 3B Ryan Raburn and minor league SP Lauren Gagnier to Colorado for SP Aaron Cook.
3-17: NY Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte will miss 10-11 months with a torn back muscle.
3-20: LA Angels trade CF Reggie Willits and minor league SS Hainley Statia to Washington for RP Jon Rauch.
3-21: LA Dodgers trade minor league LF George Lombard and minor league SS Francisco Lizarraga to Minnesota for RP Matt Guerrier and minor league SS Eric Santiago.
3-23: Pittsburgh trades CF Nate McLouth and minor league 3B Jared Keel to Oakland for RP Santiago Casilla.
3-25: LA Angels sign closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez to a 2 year, $14 million extension.
3-30: Florida relief pitcher Daniel Barone will miss 4 weeks with back spasms.
4-2: Florida sends LF Cody Ross and minor league RF Tom Hickman to LA Dodgers for C Gary Bennett and minor league SP Wayne Renfrow.



The Tampa Bay Rays finished up Spring Training with a 9-15 record, which bested only four teams in terms of wins. New York (N), Chicago (N), and Arizona all had 8 and Colorado finished up with 5.

Now, onto the 25 men that will make up the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day roster. (starters in bold)

Position Players

Catchers: Dioner Navarro, John Jaso
First Base: Carlos Pena
Second Base: Akinori Iwamura, Willy Aybar
Third Base: Evan Longoria
Shortstop: Jason Bartlett, Ben Zobrist
Outfielder: Cliff Floyd (DH), Rocco Baldelli, Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, John Rodriguez

Starting Rotation

1. Scott Kazmir (L)
2. James Shields (R)
3. Edwin Jackson (R)
4. Jason Hammel (R)
5. Jeff Niemann (R)

Bullpen

MR: Scott Dohmann (R)
MR: Grant Balfour (R)
MR: J.P. Howell (L)
MR: Scott Munter (R)
SU: Dan Wheeler (R)
SU: Al Reyes (R)
CL: Troy Percival (R)

Rays of the Future (future call-ups): AAA SP Matt Garza, AAA CL Eduardo Morlan, AAA SP Jacob McGee, AA SS Brandon Rousseve, AA SP Wade Davis, A SP David Price, A LF Ryan Royster