FORT MYERS (620 WDAE) — The Tampa Bay Rays will look to build on their split-squad sweep Friday by heading to JetBlue Park in Fort Myers for a matchup against the Boston Red Sox. Jake Faria will make his Grapefruit League debut, taking on Roenis Elias. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 12:30 with Countdown to Opening Day.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox send a strong lineup out to face the Rays, albeit without J.D. Martinez, who the team had yet to formally announce the signing of.
New Rays reliever Daniel Hudson arrives at the team's Spring Training facility in Port Charlotte (Steve Carney/620WDAE.com)
HUDSON ARRIVES IN CAMP — Reliever Daniel Hudson, acquired in the trade that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson to the Pirates, arrived at the Rays facility in Port Charlotte Saturday morning, saying he was a little surprised to be dealt in the spring.
"I was thinking that if I was going to be moved it would either be in the offseason or at the [trade] deadline," Hudson admitted. "It's kind of rare to have this many trades go down in Spring Training."
Hudson also discussed the tweaks the Rays staff may bring to his game, and coming back to the American League for the first time in a long time.
Manager Kevin Cash said Hudson will throw a live batting practice, joining Alex Colome and Sergio Romo, in Port Charlotte today.
Click below to hear more from Hudson!
BANDA IMPRESSES HIS NEW TEAMMATES -- Another new pitcher, left-hander Anthony Banda, made quite the impression on his teammates Friday in his live batting practice session in Port Charlotte.
"He looked awesome," Cash said. "Powerful arm, kind of a fastball-changeup approach, and he's trying to work in a breaking ball."
The Rays skipper said both pitching coach Kyle Snyder and fellow lefty Blake Snell gave him some pointers to help with that pitch.
"That will be a big pitch for him," he said, "but just from 25 pitches it was pretty exciting to watch."
Click below to hear more from Cash, including thoughts on Mallex Smith, the batting order, and the feeling in the clubhouse now that the moves from last weekend have started to be digested.