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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Jaso’s reaction to the trade

Posted Nov 28, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Nov 28, 2011 at 12:18 AM

ROGER MOONEY

John Jaso’s thoughts had already turned to where he was going to live during spring training in Port Charlotte when he received word late Sunday afternoon that he had been traded to the Mariners.

The Rays shipped the popular catcher to the Pacific Northwest for right-hander reliever Josh Lueke, a player to be named and cash.

“I was definitely shocked,” Jaso said. “I knew Kelly (Shoppach) was gone. I was pretty set on (the Rays) giving me a shot for next year. But it’s exciting. After the initial shock wore off I realized it’s time to move forward.”

Earlier this month, the Rays declined the 2012 option on Shoppach, meaning the two catchers on the 2011 Opening Day and postseason rosters are no longer with the team.

Jaso became a fan-favorite in 2010 when he joined the team in early April because of a knee injury to Shoppach and eventually became the Rays leadoff hitter. His presence signaled the end of the Dioner Navarro Era.

Jaso was still popular among the fan base in 2011 but his production declined (his career stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jasojo01.shtml). He started 50 of the Rays first 90 games, missed 33 games because of a groin injury, then started only 17 of the Rays final 40 games, including one in their last 12.

It wasn’t so much the offensive struggles that upset Rays management, it was his work behind the plate. Jaso struggled to block pitches in the dirt and threw out 13.8 percent of would-be base stealers – the second-lowest total among major league catchers.

Jaso, who is moving close to his Northern California home, said he wasn’t upset with the trade.

“It is a business,” he said.

He also expressed his thanks to the Rays for drafting him in the 12th round in 2003 and allowing him to develop into a major league catcher.

“I can’t be more thankful to the Rays,” he said. “They took a chance on me when I was playing in junior college, and they had faith in me to give me my first big league experience, and without that, I wouldn’t be where I am.”