Ramirez and Damon reportedly agree to join Rays

Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon are going to raise the Rays' average--hopefully in batting, certainly in age.

Ramirez, 38, and Damon, 37, both will bring plenty to Tampa Bay.  Most importantly, experience and World Series rings.  Most obviously, in Manny's case, baggage.  

Yeah, Manny might be Manny, but the cost-benefit of this deal makes the value hard to question--as is the case in most deals the Rays make. 

On that note, The Rays will reportedly pay Damon and Ramirez a combined $7 million and change, plus incentives. Last year, they combined to make more than $26 million. The year before that, it was almost $37 million.

What this deal means is 2011 isn't just a rebuilding year. It is something of one, of course. But by bringing these two in, the Rays now still have a chance to compete in the East. It also gives them a legitimate lead-off hitter, as well as some actual protection for Evan Longoria in the middle of the order.  Without this, Longo might have had to stand on the plate to get a pitch he might actually be able to reach.

Dam-Ram played and won a World Series together in Boston. Both were far from it last year.  So do you think they need the defending A.L. East champs more, or is it the other way around? And will this pay off, or be a distraction to the long-term plan being laid out by the Rays?

Whatever it is, this season just got a whole lot more interesting.

And anything's possible. Don't forget, Damon and Ramirez helped break an 86-year-old World Series drought once before. Maybe a 13-year drought will seem like a piece of cake.  You'll just have to hope these two are truly like fine wine.