In 35 games for TripleA Durham Dillon hit

He will make $700k in 2010, and will be probably continue to be used primarily as a lefty-one-out-guy (LOOGY).Cormier came over from a trade with the Orioles in 2008 and was a shut-down set up man for ex-closer RP Troy Percival when the Rays made it to the World Series that year. In 2009 he regressed some, but still is a capable long relief pitcher with a solid breaking ball. He will make $1.2m in 2010, making he and Choate a huge bargain for the talent they have, especially in the late months of the season.Dec 12, 2009 Tendered contracts to OF B.J Upton, SP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett, RP J.P. Howell, RP Grant Balfour, and C's Kelly Shoppach and Dioner Navarro.Except for Balfour and Navarro, no details of any contracts have been released yet, so it will be interesting to see who signs before the mid-January deadline and who will go to the arbitration courts to work out a deal.Fiery Balfour signed a $2.05m one-year deal and avoided arbitration the next day. Balfour is the flamethrower of the Rays bullpen, serving up a steady diet of fastballs to hitters an almost predictably ending up with either a walk or a strikeout.

He is the emotional lightning-rod of the team, famous nation-wide for screaming "Sit the $ down!" after striking out then-White Sox SS Orlando Cabrera during the 2008 ALCS following a heated argument.Navarro is a surprise here. He seemed like a perfect candidate for non-tenderation after the signing of Kelly Shoppach before the Winter Meeting, and yet he's back again for $2.1 million, exactly what he made in 2009. Navi had an awful year that season after being an All-Star in 2008.Even with regression, it seems that Navarro and Shop are not ideal platoon partners with each player having similar splits (both are strong against lefties). The going rate on an average catcher this year seems to be $3 million annually, so Navi could prove to be a cheaper alternative to a free agent like C Bengie Molina.Either way, the catcher position is anything but solidified for Opening Day.Dec. 15, 2009 - Signed eight players to minor league contracts with an invitation to spring training: 1B Chris Richard; RHP's Winston Abreu, Joe Bateman, Jeff Bennett and Richard De Los Santos; and LHP's Jason Cromer, Carlos Hernandez and R.J. Swindle.Everyone is back is the sum up here, and at least Swindle is expected to compete for a bullpen position come Spring Training (probably as a LOOGY competing with Choate).

15, 2009 - Reports say PTBNL in the trade with Cleveland that brought in C Shoppach is either one of RHP's Mitch Talbot or Joseph Cruz.This is only another rumor, but it makes the most sense, as the Indians need the right-handed help. The only question is whether they want a major-league-ready, if inexperienced, Talbot, or a higher-upside future pitcher in Cruz.Cruz is coming off a nice season in A and is only 21, but Talbot is rotation-ready and might be what the Indians need to try to compete in a tightening AL Central.Talbot is out of options with the Rays and with the starting depth Tampa Bay has, would probably never find himself in the starting rotation in the majors, whereas he would start right away with the Indians; he is probably the player to be named later.Whoever is picked will have a great chance to succeed in Cleveland The deadline for the announcement is Dec 20.Dec. 17, 2009 - Rays name Stan Boroski as assistant pitching coach.This may come as a warning to pitching coach Jim Hickey after abullpen meltdown cost the Rays a playoff chance in September of the 2009 season. Boroski comes in from the Houston Astros organization after spending 18 years as a pitching coach or scout, the last three years for AA Corpus Christi. In 1,431 AAA plate appearances he's crushed to the tune of a .300 average with a .920 OPS; it seems unlikely he could hit .300 in the majors, but if nothing else, Shealy is a better insurance policy for Pehan Richard. Dillon, 34, appeared in 15 games for Tampa Bay last season as a designated hitter, third baseman and second baseman, hitting .300 with one home run and two RBIs. He was a member of the Rays' active roster for 62 games May 26-Aug.

7.In 35 games for Triple-A Durham, Dillon hit .244 and spent time at all four infield positions. That wraps up this week, but keep on coming back, there's a lot of off-season to come. Next week's column may be a little late because of the holiday, but if there's news, look for this writer to cover it. 'Tis the season for Rays baseball (and eggnog...mmm...)Be good to each other.63 days until pitchers and catchers report Don't stop believin' Hold onto that feeeeeeeeliiiiiin'... . Everyone knows that from the time Tiger Woods could sit up in his high chair, his dad Earl was training him to put his balls in the hole. At two years of age Tiger was on the Mike Douglas show having a putting contest with another big player like Bob Hope.Don't forget that before Tiger could even walk his dad was training him.