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The Rays have signed Carlos Pena to a one year deal worth 7.25 million dollars. How will that affect the Rays in 2012? There is one obvious effect that anyone could tell you. But then there’s a possible upshot of this signing that could be pretty shocking.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports just tweeted that the Rays have re-signed first baseman Carlos Pena after a one year hiatus. Mark Topkin tweeted that the deal is a one year pact with 7.25 million dollars. Pena had arguably the best four-year power stretch in Rays history from 2007 to 2010, posting a .238/.368/.516 line with 144 homers along with 96 doubles. However, his batting average and OBP declined every season he spent in St. Petersburg. The Rays let him leave to the Chicago Cubs on a one-year deal and despite moving to more of a hitter’s park, Pena didn’t have more [...]

Baseball America’s Matt Eddy has reported that the Rays have signed former Detroit Tigers middle infielder Will Rhymes, former Yankee and Pirates pitcher Romulo Sanchez, and ex-Mets outfielder Jesus Feliciano to minor league contracts with invites to spring training.

The deadline to sign arbitration eligible players before heading to arbitration hearings passed at 1 PM today. The Rays had five arbitration eligible players. The most noteworthy of those five were BJ Upton and David Price. Both got one year deals, with Upton set to make $7 million and Price set to make $4.35 million for 2012. Burke Badenhop also signed a deal today, and he will make $1.075 million for 2012. J.P. Howell was signed last night to a $1.35 million deal for 2012. The Rays did not get off without heading to a hearing, as they were unable [...]

The Rays made their first offensive move of the offseason, signing Luke Scott to a one year deal with an option for 2013. Scott was non-tendered by the Orioles earlier this offseason. This move will likely spell the end of Johnny Damon‘s time with the Rays. Scott will be a good power bat to go behind Evan Longoria.

This offseason, the Rays declined Kelly Shoppach‘s 2012 option, and now it’s official that Shoppach will not be returning to the Rays now that he has signed a 1-year contract with the organization that drafted him, the Boston Red Sox. Let’s take a quick look back at Shoppach’s time in St. Pete before we officially start rooting against him as a member of the rival Sox.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick’s reported that the Rays have signed top prospect Matt Moore to a 5 year contract with 14 million dollars with options that could make it 8 years and 37.5 million dollars. That contract is the largest contract ever hanged out to a player with less than two years of MLB service time. Outstanding move by the Rays- Moore is the real deal. The 23 year old dominated as a starter during his stint in September and October, even stifling the eventual AL Champion Texas Rangers in ALDS Game 1. In 2011, Moore went 12-3 with a 1.92 ERA, [...]

The Rays made a big move today, trading John Jaso to the Mariners for relief pitcher Josh Lueke and a player to be named later or cash. This is a big move for the Rays as Jaso was likely heading for a bigger role next season without Kelly Shoppach. It makes you wonder if the Rays have something big up their sleeves other than the imminent signing of Jose Molina.

Major League Baseball made a couple of big moves today, adding a new wild card spot to each league and moving the Astros to the American League to make two 15 team leagues. Rays fans should be rejoicing over the announcement of the addition of a wild card team. That means that instead of fighting with the Red Sox down the stretch like they did this year, they will have an easier path to the playoffs.

Even with the Rays winning three straight in Toronto, Tampa is just 4-5 in their last nine games. In those five losses they have averaged a paltry 1.2 runs per game. The weak run production is a product of some poor numbers from key contributors. In his last ten games, B.J. Upton is batting .154 and Evan Longoria has just two hits in his last four. Watching the Durham Bulls trying to hold on to the lead in the International League South Division