Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Rays announce spring training schedule

The Rays have released their spring training schedule. All times 1:05 p.m. Eastern, unless noted.

Tickets (for the Florida part of the schedule) go on sale in January.

FEBRUARY
28 Baltimore
MARCH
1 at Pittsburgh
2 Minnesota
3 Philadelphia
4 at Boston
5 N.Y. Yankees
6 at Baltimore
7 at Toronto
8 Pittsburgh
9 at N.Y. Yankees
10 at Boston, 7:05 Eastern
11 Minnesota
12 at Toronto
13 Pittsburgh
14 at Atlanta
15 host Toronto/at Pittsburgh (split-squad)
16 Boston
17 off
18 at Minnesota, 7:05 Eastern
19 at Baltimore
20 Minnesota, 7:05 Eastern
21 Toronto
22 Baltimore
23 at Boston
24 at Minnesota
25 Boston
26 Baltimore, 7:05 Eastern
27 at Baltimore, 7:05 Eastern
28 at Detroit
29 at Biscuits, 2:05 Central
31 regular-season opener, Toronto

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Riefenhauser, Yates on Rays' 40-man roster

Two former Biscuits have been added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster, which shields them from next month's Rule 5 draft.

Left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser and right-hander Kirby Yates, plus infielder Vince Belnome and right-handed pitcher Jesse Hahn went on the 40-man.

Today was the deadline for teams to finalize their 40-man rosters for the Rule 5.

The Rays have protected 37 players.

They also re-signed pitchers Victor Mateo, Mark Lowe and Sam Runion to minor league deals and invited them to major league spring training. Mateo threw a no-hitter this year for Montgomery.

Catcher Mayo Acosta and pitchers Michael Colla, Eduar Quiñonez and Albert Suarez signed minor league contracts. Acosta, Colla and Suarez were Biscuits this year.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Myers gives Rays 3rd AL Rookie of Year in 6 years

Outfielder Wil Myers won the AL Rookie of the Year award, giving the Rays their third winner in the last six years.

Third baseman Evan Longoria won in 2008 and pitcher Jeremy Hellickson was the 2011 winner.

Myers received 23 of a possible 30 first-place votes. Rays pitcher Chris Archer finished third with Detroit shortstop Jose Inglesias second.

Archer, Longoria and Hellickson are former Biscuits.

Myers, in just 88 games, hit .293 with 13 home runs and an AL rookie-best 53 RBIs. The 22-year-old came to Tampa Bay in a trade last winter from the Kansas City Royals.

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Biscuits pulled in $4.6 million in 2013 revenue

The Biscuits pulled in $4.6 million in operating revenue for fiscal year 2013, according to figures filed with the city.

The team's quarterly rent payment of $153,166, paid last week, ran the yearly total to just more than $357,000. That's the lowest in team history, $6,000 below last year's rent.

The Biscuits drew 258,532 in attendance this year, their best figure since 2010. Those fans spent more than $1.1 million in concessions, an average of $4.41.

In its history, the team has totaled more than $52 million in operating revenue, and the city has received almost $5.4 million in rent, which is based on varying percentages of team revenue.