Rays sign Burrell, lineup nears completion

January 6, 1:25 AMTampa Bay Rays ExaminerRob Quinn

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Who doesn't love Brunansky?

What do Pat Burrell and Tom Brunansky have in common? Well, when Burrell takes the field for the Rays in 2009, he will be the first player since Bruno to win the World Series and then play for the team he beat in the Series the next year.

Brunansky’s 1987 Twins beat the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games to win the Series. Then, in April of 1988, Brunansky was traded to the Cards for second baseman Tommy Herr.

Burrell was 0-for-the-World-Series against the Rays until his seventh inning double in Game Five. That double wound up being the decisive hit as Eric Bruntlett pinch-ran for Burrell and scored later in the inning to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Well, Burrell played villain against the Rays that last time they both took the field, but now he will be counted on as an important addition as the Rays get ready to defend their 2008 American League Championship. Burrell, who signed a two-year deal worth $16 million today, gives the Rays a right-handed hitting power source to stabilize the middle of the lineup. Another plus Burrell brings to the table is the fact he is a proven quality clubhouse guy, unlike some of the other potential free agents the Rays were looking at (yes I mean Milton Bradley).

Now that Burrell is aboard, I am projecting the Rays lineup as follows:

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. B.J. Upton, CF
6. Pat Burrell, DH
7. Matt Joyce, RF
8. Dioner Navarro, C
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Jayson Stark at ESPN.com throws out a slightly different lineup, with Upton batting second, Crawford third, and Pena fifth. That lineup does have the alternating lefty-righty quality managers seem to love, but I really think the Rays will be best served getting Carl Crawford back into more of a table-setter position in the order rather than in a run-producing spot.

We’ll see how Joe Maddon decides to play it. Either way, the Rays’ search for a designated hitter is now over and the rest of the offseason promises to be fairly quiet. There is a chance the Rays will still add some bullpen help, or maybe talk to Rocco Baldelli about a possible platoon with Joyce, but other than that, the Burrell signing pretty much solidifies the Rays’ roster.

As always, feel free to comment or contact me at raysexaminer@live.com