Astute trades put Rays on path to success 
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Gone are the days when the team would drop $10 million on a high school phenom who simply flamed out in the minor leagues (Matt White).
Acquiring one-dimensional lugs like Greg Vaughn and Vinny Castilla -- who both became Devil Rays on perhaps the franchise's darkest day at the 1999 winter meetings -- is a nightmare not soon relived.
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Rob Neyer
Rob Neyer is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He began his career with legendary baseball author (and current Red Sox executive) Bill James, then joined Stats Inc. and wrote about MLB, the NFL and the NBA. Neyer joined ESPN.com in 1996, and it's believed that he's written more words for the site than anybody.
He's also written six books, including "The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers" (with Bill James) and the just-published "Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends: The Truth, the Lies, and Everything Else."
Neyer moved to Kansas City in 1976, just in time for the Royals' first division title, and fell in love almost immediately. He attended the University of Kansas the same four years as Danny Manning, and is now happy to wait another 20 years for the Jayhawks' next championship.
Neyer contributes regularly to ESPN Radio and ESPNEWS.