Rays Links

Winter meetings preview: How the Rays can get what they really, really want - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times: The Rays figure to be extra active this year, and that should make for an exciting few days of rumors and whispers and (hopefully) some new presents under the Rays tree.

Tampa Bay Rays at the Winter Meetings: Why they’ll look at Nelson Cruz, Charlie Morton, J.T. Realmuto - Juan Toribio, The Athletic: Rays certainly seem to be in on some big names so far, as Jaun breaks down who are the biggest targets going into the Winter Meetings.

Each team’s needs entering Winter Meetings - David Adler and Chad Thornburg, MLB.com: No secret the Rays are setting sail, casting a wide net, looking for monsters.

Congrats to Austin and Alexis!

Congrats to @austin_meadows and his wife, Alexis!



via austinmeadows13 // IG pic.twitter.com/mbyy92WGeq — Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) December 9, 2018

Around the League

Kyler Murray becomes second straight Oklahoma QB to win Heisman Trophy - Coley Harvey, ESPN: The two sport star, 1st round draft pick of the Oakland A’s and potential early round pick in the NFL draft, Kyler Murray, is the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner.

Will he follow in Tebow’s footsteps going from Heisman to the Minor Leagues? Murray decision to play baseball “is already done according to agent Scott Boras (as reported by Ian Rappaport)

From the Heisman to the Diamond: Vic Janowicz and Bo Jackson - Bill Francis, Baseball Hall of Fame: A fascinating bit of history of the only other Heisman Trophy winners to reach the highest level in both Football and Baseball.

50 women ‘Take the Field’ at MLB Vegas event - Alyson Footer, MLB.com: Major League Baseball trying to take more steps forward toward a more inclusive and diverse future in the industry.

Winter Meetings Rumors! LHP Yusei Kikuchi might be targeting the San Francisco Giants as his top target.

The Today’s Game Committee voted in Lee Smith and Harold Baines to the baseball Hall of Fame. There was a lot of strong reactions to the selection of Baines. My two favorite:

I'm never going to feel anything but happy for a player who gets chosen in any fashion for the Baseball HOF, but is it the Hall of Good or the Hall of Great? — Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) December 10, 2018