Here’s the latest from Tropicana Field, as per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times…
- Most of the Rays’ coaching staff is under contract for 2016, including pitching coach Jim Hickey. As Topkin notes, Hickey “would be a hot commodity as a free agent” given the Rays’ success at getting results from both highly-touted young pitchers and veteran reclamation projects. Hickey has been Tampa’s pitching coach since November 2006.
- The Rays didn’t have interest in bringing back Alex Torres. The left-hander was designated for assignment by the Mets and then outrighted to their Triple-A affiliate after he cleared waivers.