Comments on: “We did a lot of due diligence into his problems from last year… we felt it’s a risk worth taking.”

By: Jon Wolfson

Jon Wolfson — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:40:36 +0000

The decision for Aybar to play for the Rays this year may not be in the hands of the Rays organization, but rather the DR justice system. If the charges stick, he could be locked up for a long time. It had to happen sooner or later this off-season…the Rays got burned.

By: Scott Caruso

Scott Caruso — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:31:59 +0000

I don’t suspect that this will have any effect on Longoria’s status… the Rays will simply not have a choice to make between Guzman and Aybar if Longoria isn’t deemed ready. They will not feel pressured to call him up sooner without Aybar on the roster.

By: Hazleton Jason

Hazleton Jason — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:16:52 +0000

so Chase Fontaine for Ridgway still seems like a good trade if Aybar never sees the field…. Still very disapointing, but this leaves the door swinging in the breeze for Longoria to make the 25-man. It seems to me that Madden’s idea of letting Longo win the job in the spring is taking over from th idea that he would/would not know going into the spring. I like that much better. Give the kid a shot to win the job and if he look s a little over matced let him season in AAA for a month or so.