Rays snag Ekstrom off waiver wire

Pitcher Mike Ekstrom has been claimed by the Rays off waivers from the San Diego Padres and added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster. (I believe they had room, but with today's state holiday, I don't have time to check.) Ekstrom was San Diego's minor-league pitcher of the year in 2006, made 20 appearances in the majors last year and was 4-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 42 games with the Triple-A Portland Beavers.

The Rays also announced signing catcher Alvin Colina, who was with Atlanta's Triple-A Gwinnett team last year, and left-handed pitcher Heath Phillips, formerly with the Rays who played for Kansas City's Triple-A Omaha team in 2009.

Happy holiday, everyone

Let me take a moment to wish you and yours a very merry National Signing Day.

May your team's stocking be filled with five-star, can't-miss recruits -- some of whom may actually not miss -- and may all the players who've said they're going to sign with your team over the last few months actually sign.

Townsend turns up with Toronto

Wade Townsend, the hard-luck pitcher who was with the Biscuits in 2008, has signed with Toronto. He's a former first-round draft pick who was plagued with injuries and was released by Tampa Bay last year.

Baseball America also has that Oakland has released outfielder J.D. Pruitt, a G.W. Long graduate who starred at Montevallo.

Rays to fete, meet fans Feb. 20

If anyone's in the Tampa-St. Pete area Feb. 20, the Rays will have their annual Fan Fest at Tropicana Field that day. The team's charity golf tournament will be March 1 in Bradenton.

First glimmer that winter dwindling, spring near

Just to give you hope that it won't stay cold forever and that spring is coming. Hit a local bookstore today and there are two baseball preview magazines out. I chose Lindy's over Beckett's because it appeared to have more depth and fewer baseball cards stories. Atlanta outfielder Nate McLouth is on the cover.