Shortstop Jason Bartlett was voted the Rays' most valuable player, and he was a big part in Tampa Bay's improbable run to the World Series.
Now the Rays are willing to trade him, according to a baseball official who has spoken to the Rays. Not only that, but the Rays have also discussed trying to reacquire Delmon Young, the outfielder who they traded to the Twins last winter to get Bartlett and Matt Garza.
It doesn't appear that the Young talks got very far, and neither did Tampa Bay's efforts to acquire Denard Span, another Twins outfielder. But the Rays are continuing to search everywhere for another outfielder, and Bartlett could be what it takes to acquire one.
As good as Bartlett was for the Rays in 2008, it's actually not that hard to understand why they would move him. One of the Rays' top prospects is shortstop Reid Brignac, who played at Triple-A Durham in 2008. Also, the Rays took another shortstop, Tim Beckham, as the top overall pick in last June's draft.
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