ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have dropped four of five games, including a 2-0 loss to the last-place Baltimore Orioles on Friday night, and traded away two key players to the Seattle Mariners before Friday's game.
Tampa Bay (23-26) sent All-Star closer Alex Colome and outfielder Denard Span -- who was tied for the team lead in RBI -- along with $4.75 million in cash, with only two minor-league pitchers in return.
"Hopefully we can move past that quickly and try to win a game tomorrow," Rays manager Kevin Cash said after Friday's loss, acknowledging that it's "difficult" to lose players who were central in his clubhouse.