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After a few weeks that saw them linked to a handful of teams, the Tampa Bay Rays have finally succeeded in trading Jason Bartlett, sending the 31-year-old shortstop to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos.
Bartlett will fill a hole in San Diego, replacing the departed Miguel Tejada and David Eckstein. He is regarded as a slick fielder and, while he batted just .254 in 2010, he's a year removed from a big 2009 that saw him hit .320 with 14 home runs. He is a second-tier addition made by a budget-conscious team, and he was sent away by another budget-conscious team in the Rays because he's set to earn a raise from last year's $4 million, and the team already has youngster Reid Brignac ready to assume the regular shortstop role.
In return for Bartlett, the Rays pick up two young players. Ramos is a 26-year-old lefty capable of starting and relieving. He features a fastball in the low-90s, a slider, a curveball, and a change. Russell, meanwhile, is a 27-year-old righty reliever with a strong mid-90s fastball and three other pitches as well. Both Russell and Ramos have Major League experience, and will compete for jobs in Tampa Bay's bullpen in the season ahead.
For more on the trade, check out DRays Bay and Gaslamp Ball.
Jason Bartlett Traded From Rays To Padres For Four Prospects
After some delays related to one of the prospects coming back, the Jason Bartlett trade is official - the Tampa Bay Rays have dealt a new starting shortstop to the San Diego Padres.
The 31-year-old infielder goes to San Diego in exchange for Adam Russell, Cesar Ramos, Brandon Gomes, and Cole Figueroa. Gomes and Figueroa were late additions to the trade, and the Padres will receive a player to be named later along with Bartlett.
Bartlett, along with Orlando Hudson, will form a brand new middle infield for San Diego, replacing David Eckstein, Everth Cabrera, and Miguel Tejada. It's a strong defensive middle infield that also has the potential to hit a little bit, as Bartlett is only one season removed from batting .320 with 14 home runs. The Padres won't look for him to be that successful again in 2011, but they will expect a decent average and solid glovework.
The Rays are dealing Bartlett to shed his salary and make room for the younger Reid Brignac. In dealing Bartlett, they pick up a pair of Major League-ready relievers in Russell and Ramos, along with Gomes and Figueroa. Gomes has been exceptional the last two years as a reliever in AA, and Figueroa is a 23-year-old middle infielder who batted .303 last year in advanced A-ball.
On the surface, it looks like a good trade for both teams, as the Padres get better and the Rays gain financial flexibility. You can read more over at DRays Bay and Gaslamp Ball.
Dec 17 8:27p by Jeff Sullivan - 0 comments