ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays are officially introducing Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez at a news conference.

The event will be held Tuesday at Tropicana Field. Both free-agent outfielders agreed to one-year contracts with the Rays earlier this month.

Ramirez and Damon played together for four years in Boston and helped lead the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series title — ending the team’s 86-year championship drought.

Ramirez began last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, then was claimed on waivers late in the summer by the Chicago White Sox. He hit a combined .298 with nine homers and 42 RBIs.

Damon spent last season with the Detroit Tigers, batting .271 with eight homers and 51 RBIs, mostly as a DH.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays are officially introducing Johnny Damon(notes) and Manny Ramirez(notes) at a news conference.

The event will be held Tuesday at Tropicana Field. Both free-agent outfielders agreed to one-year contracts with the Rays earlier this month.

Ramirez and Damon played together for four years in Boston and helped lead the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series title—ending the team’s 86-year championship drought.

Ramirez began last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, then was claimed on waivers late in the summer by the Chicago White Sox. He hit a combined .298 with nine homers and 42 RBIs.

Damon spent last season with the Detroit Tigers, batting .271 with eight homers and 51 RBIs, mostly as a DH.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays are officially introducing Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez [stats] at a news conference.

The event will be held Tuesday at Tropicana Field. Both free-agent outfielders agreed to one-year contracts with the Rays earlier this month.

Ramirez and Damon played together for four years in Boston and helped lead the Red Sox [team stats] to the 2004 World Series title – ending the team’s 86-year championship drought.

Ramirez began last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, then was claimed on waivers late in the summer by the Chicago White Sox. He hit a combined .298 with nine homers and 42 RBIs.

Damon spent last season with the Detroit Tigers, batting .271 with eight homers and 51 RBIs, mostly as a DH.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Monday, January 31, 2011

Manny Ramirez, who this week will sign his contract with the Rays, arrives at Tampa International Airport. The designated hitter says he has lost 12 pounds during the offseason. And as for joining the Rays? “It feels great.”
	[KATHLEEN FLYNN | Times]

TAMPA — A fit-looking Manny Ramirez hit town Sunday night saying he is excited to be joining the Rays.

“Why not?” Ramirez said at Tampa International Airport. “It feels great.”

The entertaining and enigmatic slugger arrived to finalize his contract with an official announcement expected in the next few days.

Ramirez, 38, has been working out in Arizona and looked to be in tremendous shape.

“I am. I am,” he said. “Last year, I weighed like 237. This offseason, I’m down to 225, and I feel good.”

The Rays are hoping so, planning for Ramirez to take over as the primary designated hitter and to add power to the middle of their lineup, motivated, in theory, by playing for just a reported $2 million after completing a two-year, $45 million deal.

Ramirez has hit well at Tropicana Field — .299 average, .623 slugging percentage and 1.003 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) with 21 doubles, 25 homers and 72 RBIs in 77 games. So the potential is there for more big numbers.

“We’ll see,” Ramirez said. “I’ve done all right (there).”

Ramirez hit .293 with 28 homers and 105 RBIs in 196 games over the past two seasons with the Dodgers and White Sox, missing time due to a suspension for using a steroids-related banned drug and injuries. The season before that, he hit .332 with 37 homers and 121 RBIs with the Red Sox and Dodgers.

Johnny Damon, the Rays’ other primary free agent addition, is expected to arrive this week as the players have to take physical exams and complete paperwork.

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Rays still have a few big things to do, like finalizing their deals with Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez early this week.

And some small things, such as clearing spots for them on the 40-man roster, either by trade or assignment to the minors via waivers, with potential candidates including 1B/OF Leslie Anderson, just-claimed RHP Rob Delaney or Mike Ekstrom, C Jose Lobaton and/or out-of-options OFs Sam Fuld or Justin Ruggiano. They could add another veteran or two, like a middle infielder, on minor-league deals.

But barring an at-this-point unexpected trade for an established reliever, they’re pretty much set for the Feb. 16 opening of spring training.

The offseason focal point was rebuilding the bullpen, and that will be a continuing story, with the potential for ongoing moves.

Four spots seem set with Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta, Andy Sonnanstine and Adam Russell. That leaves a large field for the other three jobs: Lefties Cesar Cabral, Jake McGee, Cesar Ramos, R.J. Swindle and Alex Torres; right-handers Delaney, Dane De La Rosa, Ekstrom, Dirk Hayhurst and Cory Wade.

The position player side of the roster seems relatively complete, with potentially the only competition between Fuld (who was acquired from the Cubs) and Ruggiano for a reserve spot.

And there will be considerable conversation about the batting order, starting with whether Damon should bat leadoff or second, with John Jaso and/or B.J. Upton other options at the top.

NUMBERS GAME: Look for Ramirez to wear No. 99 with the Rays, as he did with the Dodgers and White Sox. With Ben Zobrist wearing No. 18, Damon will have to switch, perhaps back to 8, which he wore in Oakland, or 22. … Farnsworth will keep 43, which he wore in Atlanta.

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Farnsworth’s deal includes a $2.6 million salary and either a $650,000 buyout or $3.3 million 2012 option, plus $300,000 in games finished incentives. … C Toby Hall, injured the past two seasons and now 35, is working out and seeking a minor-league deal, hoping for a return to the Rays. … Baseball America labeled the Rays “the gold standard” in player development. … As a promo for Adidas, Upton will do a live video chat with fans at 7 p.m. Tuesday on eastbay.com/adidas. … The B-Street Band, a Bruce Springsteen cover band led by Joe Maddon‘s buddy Willy Forte, will play a free concert before the March 20 home spring game. … 1B Casey Kotchman would get a reported $750,000 plus incentives if he makes the team. … After telling the New York Post “we just have to (bleeping) win,” Yanks co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said, “I still think the Rays will be tough.” … SI.com’s Joe Sheehan writes that the Rays still “have more than enough talent to be competitive,” and Jon Heyman has exec VP Andrew Friedman on his list of 21 offseason winners. … Five Rays spring games will be televised: March 10 and 18 vs. Red Sox, March 15 vs. Marlins, March 21 vs. Yankees, March 23 vs. Phillies. … Saturday home game times were set, with a 1:10 start April 30; 4:10 on April 16, May 14 and 28, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 3; 7:10 on April 2, June 18, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 10 and 24.

MISCELLANY: Hall is hosting a charity golf tourney Thursday at The Bayou Club (e-mail acpc.inc@hotmail.com for info), and Toronto’s Jesse Litsch, a Pinellas Park product, is co-hosting one Feb. 11 at East Lake Woodlands (litschcharitygolf.com). … Ex-Ray Wade Boggs, Steve Balboni (Eckerd College) and Cal Ripken were named to the International League Hall of Fame.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays signed first baseman Casey Kotchman, who played for the Mariners last season, to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

The Rays announced the signing Friday.

Kotchman, known for his fielding prowess, hit .217 with nine homers and drove in 51 runs for the Mariners last year.

Kotchman is a native of St. Petersburg, Fla. According to a St. Petersburg Times story, he is not making excuses for his recent performance at the plate.

“The numbers are what they are,” Kotchman told the newspaper.

In seven major-league seasons, Kotchman has a career average of .259, with 49 homers and 284 RBI.

“I’m not thinking about anything but playing for the Rays,” he said.

Mets are sued

NEW YORK — The trustee representing the victims of Bernard L. Madoff’s multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from the owners of the New York Mets, alleging they, as longtime and successful investors, knew or should have known Madoff was operating a fraud, according to two lawyers involved in the case.

The trustee’s lawsuit against the Mets takes aim at roughly 100 financial entities owned or controlled in part by Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, and could imperil the assets held by the two men, an array of holdings that includes the baseball team, the regional cable-sports network that televises its games, as well as real-estate holdings and investment funds.

Notes

• Toronto signed reliever Jason Frasor, 33, to a $3.5 million, one-year contract.

• The Minnesota Twins will take down 14 pine trees that were planted behind the center-field wall at Target Field in Minneapolis. Hitters complained the trees made it difficult for them to see the ball when it left the pitcher’s hand.

• ESPN announcing teams for TV games: play-by-play man Dan Shulman with analysts Orel Hershiser and Bobby Valentine on Sundays; play-by-play man Sean McDonough with analysts Aaron Boone and Rick Sutcliffe on Mondays; play-by-play man Dave O’Brien with analyst Nomar Garciaparra on Wednesdays.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, January 29, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Casey Kotchman took in as many Rays games as he could when he wasn’t busy starring for Seminole High on his way to being a first-round draft pick in 2001. Coming back to the Trop with the Angels, then the Red Sox and Mariners, he has played 10 games there as a visitor.

Now Kotchman is looking to play for his hometown team, signing a minor-league contract with the Rays that includes an invitation to spring training, and planning to win a job at first base.

“It’s an unusual circumstance where there’s a team in your backyard in any major sport, and to be able to have a chance to play for them, I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Kotchman said. “Just to have a chance.”

Kotchman, who turns 28 on Feb. 22, has a .998 fielding percentage, the highest of any player with 500 games at first base, but he has not produced consistently at the plate.

After hitting .292 with 23 home runs and 122 RBIs in 237 games of fairly regular duty with the Angels in 2007-08, he dropped off considerably as he was traded three times in the next 18 months (to the Braves, then Red Sox, then Mariners) and saw his playing time altered.

In 294 games since the July 2008 trade to Atlanta, he has hit .241 with 18 homers and 119 RBIs, including a tough 2010 season with the Mariners where he hit .217 with nine homers and 51 RBIs, and was dropped from the roster early in the offseason.

Kotchman is not offering, or making, any excuses. “The numbers are what they are,” he said.

With Dan Johnson the leading candidate to play first base and seemingly no room on the roster to carry a backup at just that position, Kotchman, a left-hander, could end up at Triple-A Durham for his first extended stint in the minors since 2005.

“I’m not thinking about anything but playing for the Rays,” he said. “The goal is to press forward and contribute any way I can.”

The Rays added another candidate for their reconstructed bullpen, claiming right-hander Rob Delaney off waivers from Minnesota. Delaney, 26, has pitched in just one big-league game but has impressive minor-league numbers, going 22-19 with a 2.96 ERA and 66 saves in five seasons.

Yanks-Rangers sniping: When Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg recently implied his team prevented free agent Cliff Lee from choosing New York so the pitcher could sign with the Phillies, Yankees president Randy Levine responded by saying Greenberg should get his team “off welfare,” ESPNNewYork.com reported.

“He has been running the Rangers for a few minutes and seems to believe he’s mastered what everyone else is thinking,” the website quoted Levine as saying. “I’ll be impressed when he demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare. What I mean is make them not be a revenue-sharing recipient for three years in a row, without taking financing from baseball or advance money from television networks.”

Greenberg had also said Lee might not want to play in New York because of how Yankee fans acted toward his wife when the Rangers played in the ALCS.

Mets and money: The Wilpon family announced it will attempt to sell up to 25 percent of the team, likely to help cover the cost of a potential legal settlement stemming from the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, Newsday reported. The family did not detail an asking price for a minority stake in the club that’s estimated to be worth $848 million by Forbes magazine, but it hopes to raise $200 million or more.

The decision might have been prompted by a lawsuit filed in December by Irving Picard, the trustee in the Madoff bankruptcy case who is seeking to recoup some profits the family allegedly made as investors.

The Wilpons are looking to raise cash “to address the air of uncertainty created by this lawsuit, and to provide additional assurance that the New York Mets will continue to have the necessary resources to fully compete and win,” Fred and Jeff Wilpon said in the Newsday report.

Pirates: Left-hander Joe Beimel, who pitched for the Rays in 2005 and the Rockies last season, agreed to a minor-league deal.

Twins: The teams will take down 14 pine trees behind the centerfield wall at Target Field after hitters complained the trees made it difficult for them to pick up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand. … Closer Joe Nathan says his surgically repaired elbow feels good and he hopes to be ready on opening day.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have signed veteran free-agent first baseman Casey Kotchman to a minor league contract.

The Rays announced the signing Friday. Kotchman played last year for the Seattle Mariners, hitting .217 with nine homers and 51 RBIs.

Over seven seasons, the 27-year-old Kotchman has a career average of .259 with 49 homers and 284 RBIs.

He was a 2001 first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played for the Angels, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, who traded him to the Mariners before last season.

He became a free agent in November when he wouldn’t accept a minor league assignment.

The Rays also claimed pitcher Rob Delaney off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. He appeared in one game for them last season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have signed veteran free-agent first baseman Casey Kotchman to a minor league contract.

The Rays announced the signing Friday. Kotchman played last year for the Seattle Mariners, hitting .217 with nine homers and 51 RBIs.

Over seven seasons, the 27-year-old Kotchman has a career average of .259 with 49 homers and 284 RBIs.

He was a 2001 first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played for the Angels, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, who traded him to the Mariners before last season.

He became a free agent in November when he wouldn’t accept a minor league assignment.

The Rays also claimed pitcher Rob Delaney off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. He appeared in one game for them last season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press