* Recall the Rays trading for 41-year-old Nelson Cruz of the Twins last year to provide a right-handed power hitter down the stretch. He helped as a late-July addition, but not nearly enough. What they traded for the Nelson rental included Joe Ryan, a minor league pitcher with consensus major league upside. He was rated the #10 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Ryan began the season with Minnesota as part of their starting rotation. So far, he is 3-1 with a 1.17 E.R.A. Yes, he would be of help right now to the starting pitching-challenged Rays.
* “He transformed Tampa into a true hockey town while leading them to the Promised Land.”–Former Bolt Marty St. Louis, in a tribute video honoring Steven Stamkos who just passed St. Louis as the Lightning’s all-time top scorer.