MLB Prospect Watch

Davis Wins Rotation Spot

In a decision that was expected from the start or spring training, and made inevitable my their recent bullpen injuries, the Tampa Bay Rays have announced that Wade Davis will be their 5th starter and Andy Sonnanstine will move to the bullpen, reports Anthony DiComo for MLB.com.

Davis was the front runner for the spot from the beginning, but Rays manager Joe Maddon insisted that Sonanstine, who had been a member of the Rays' rotation for two years, would be given a chance.  That chanced officially ended when the Rays were forced to re-shuffle some of their arms to fill in the gaps left by reliever J.P. Howell's arm injury.

Injuries Could Decide Rays' Rotation

The Tampa Bay Rays' final rotation spot has been a battle between Andy Sonnanstine and prospect Wade Davis that has yet to be decided.  That could change soon, as the Rays' hand is being forced by a bullpen injury to J.P. Howell, reports Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  The new need for another bullpen arm could force the team to make a decision on the rotation so that the loser of the battle can move to the bullpen.

If this is the case, Davis, who was already the favorite for the rotation, should win that spot with Sonnanstine moving to the bullpen.  Moving Davis to the bullpen would certainly be a detriment to the prospect's development, although his power arm would probably be a better fit in the 7th and 8th innings.  

Rays Building Behind Young Stud Starters

The Rays introduced the city of Tampa to Wade Davis with a few glimpses last September, and thanks to a deliberate progression through the minor leagues that allowed him to build up his innings pitched, Davis is ready to give the Rays a full 200 innings if necessary, reports Bill Chastain of MLB.com.

And even after graduating Davis to the majors this season (and David Price to the majors last season), the Rays still have more young pitching talent waiting by the phone.  Jeremy Hellickson is in camp with the the Rays, and even though he has virtually no chance of making the rotation this Spring, he's giving it everything he's got, Chastain reports.  The Rays already have 6 capable big league starters (Matt Garza, James Shields, Jeff Neimann, and Andy Sonnanstine in addition to Price, Davis), but look for Hellickson to make an appearance in Tampa at some point in 2010.

Link: Rays Look for Moore in Future

As has been the case for the past 4 years, the Tampa Bay Rays farm system remains loaded with big-league caliber pitchers.  And while you may be more familiar with names like Wade Davis and Jake McGee now, by the end of the season you will also know lefty Matt Moore, reports Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Moore struck out batters in Low-A ball last year at the silly rate of 12.9 K/9 in his first full minor league season.  The 2007 8th round pick has battled injuries, but showed in 2009 what he can do when he can stay on the field for an entire season.

Moore will likely begin 2010 in High-A.

Link: Wade Davis to Take Spot in Rays' Rotation

In a somewhat expected move, the Tampa Bay Rays have announced that pitching prospect Wade Davis will take Andy Sonnanstine's spot in their starting rotation, reports Marc Topkin of TampaBay.com in his blog.  If the Rays continue as planned, Davis will face the Red Sox and the Orioles in his first two starts.