OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 04-27-2009, 10:08 PM

Rolen, Anderson join club
Quantrill, Mondesi to don new uniforms
March 24, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have some new faces in the clubhouse come opening day, and a few familiar faces will only be coming to Tropicana Field as visitors.

About a dozen players have left the organization, replaced by about a dozen new-comers.

The biggest losses are that of closer Paul Quantrill and outfielder Raul Mondesi. Quantrill, 33, left as a free agent, signing a four-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. The right-hander went 2-6 with 29 saves and a 3.83 ERA in 50 games last season. In four seasons with Tampa Bay, Quantrill recorded 107 saves. The team expected Byung-Hyun Kim to take over as the closer, but has ruptured his right tricep tendon and will miss the entire season.

Mondesi hit .236 with 33 home runs and 81 RBI in 149 games for the Devil Rays last year, down from his .295, 47 home run, 154 RBI season in 2000. Tampa Bay traded Mondesi, 31, to the Baltimore Orioles for closer Matt Anderson. The trade, made after Kim suffered his season-ending injury, brings Anderson to Tampa Bay. He went 1-3 with 32 saves and a 2.08 ERA in 56 games with Baltimore last season, his first as the O's closer.

The Devil Rays looked to replace Mondesi's bat, signing thirdbaseman Scott Rolen to a one-year contract. Rolen, 26, hit .251 with 28 home runs and 107 RBI for the Philadelphia Phillies last season while playing a strong defensive thirdbase. He will earn $9.48 million this year.

Elsewhere, the Devil Rays non-tendered arbitration-eligible outfielder Ryan Radmanovich, making him a free agent. He hit .207 with one RBI in 29 at bats with Tampa Bay last season, and is a career .235 hitter with 20 homers and 73 RBI in 179 big league games. He has signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.

In the Rule V Draft, the club picked up no players but did lose six minor leaguers. Infielders Alex Arias, Craig Paquette, and Orlando Miller, outfielders Darren Bragg and Mark Little, and pitcher Tanyon Sturtze.

To help replace them, the Devil Rays signed eight players to minor league contracts: infielders Ryan McGuire and Rafael Bournigal, outfielders Marty Cordova and Bip Roberts, utility player Felipe Crespo, and pitchers Butch Henry, Ron Mahay, and Graeme Lloyd.

The Devil Rays also signed backup catcher Carlos Hernandez to a one-year deal worth $550,000.

Tampa Bay's most recent roster move, outfielder Eric Byrnes was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for firstbaseman-outfielder Craig Wilson and minor league pitcher Dan Wright.

04-27-2009, 10:08 PM	#264 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Rolen, Anderson join club Quantrill, Mondesi to don new uniforms March 24, 2002 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have some new faces in the clubhouse come opening day, and a few familiar faces will only be coming to Tropicana Field as visitors. About a dozen players have left the organization, replaced by about a dozen new-comers. The biggest losses are that of closer Paul Quantrill and outfielder Raul Mondesi. Quantrill, 33, left as a free agent, signing a four-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. The right-hander went 2-6 with 29 saves and a 3.83 ERA in 50 games last season. In four seasons with Tampa Bay, Quantrill recorded 107 saves. The team expected Byung-Hyun Kim to take over as the closer, but has ruptured his right tricep tendon and will miss the entire season. Mondesi hit .236 with 33 home runs and 81 RBI in 149 games for the Devil Rays last year, down from his .295, 47 home run, 154 RBI season in 2000. Tampa Bay traded Mondesi, 31, to the Baltimore Orioles for closer Matt Anderson. The trade, made after Kim suffered his season-ending injury, brings Anderson to Tampa Bay. He went 1-3 with 32 saves and a 2.08 ERA in 56 games with Baltimore last season, his first as the O's closer. The Devil Rays looked to replace Mondesi's bat, signing thirdbaseman Scott Rolen to a one-year contract. Rolen, 26, hit .251 with 28 home runs and 107 RBI for the Philadelphia Phillies last season while playing a strong defensive thirdbase. He will earn $9.48 million this year. Elsewhere, the Devil Rays non-tendered arbitration-eligible outfielder Ryan Radmanovich, making him a free agent. He hit .207 with one RBI in 29 at bats with Tampa Bay last season, and is a career .235 hitter with 20 homers and 73 RBI in 179 big league games. He has signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. In the Rule V Draft, the club picked up no players but did lose six minor leaguers. Infielders Alex Arias, Craig Paquette, and Orlando Miller, outfielders Darren Bragg and Mark Little, and pitcher Tanyon Sturtze. To help replace them, the Devil Rays signed eight players to minor league contracts: infielders Ryan McGuire and Rafael Bournigal, outfielders Marty Cordova and Bip Roberts, utility player Felipe Crespo, and pitchers Butch Henry, Ron Mahay, and Graeme Lloyd. The Devil Rays also signed backup catcher Carlos Hernandez to a one-year deal worth $550,000. Tampa Bay's most recent roster move, outfielder Eric Byrnes was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for firstbaseman-outfielder Craig Wilson and minor league pitcher Dan Wright.