Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times hears that there was "some chatter" last week about a possible Reid Brignac trade.

Brignac is out of options and doesn't look like a fit on the Rays' Opening Day roster, so he could either be dealt or be exposed to waivers. The former top prospect has batted just .227/.268/.317 over parts of five seasons with the Rays and turned 27 last month.

Rays optioned INF Reid Brignac to Triple-A Durham.

The move clears the way for the newly-claimed Brandon Allen on the active roster. Brignac went just 2-for-17 (.118) over his first eight games this season. Sean Rodriguez should continue to get the lion's share of starts at shortstop while Eliot Johnson will serve as his backup.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times speculates that Reid Brignac and Stephen Vogt will likely be sent to Triple-A Durham on Friday.

Brandon Allen was claimed off waivers from the A's on Thursday and B.J. Upton (back) is expected to return from the disabled list Friday, so the Rays need to make a pair of moves. Brignac is just 2-for-17 (.118) so far this season while Vogt is hitless in 13 at-bats.

Reid Brignac went 2-for-2 with a double and and an RBI as the Rays beat the Twins 6-2 on Tuesday.

Brignac, who missed time with a foot injury last month, is hitting .333 with 30 at-bats for the spring. He figures to be the Rays' primary shortstop until B.J. Upton returns, at which point Ben Zobrist will move back to second base. The Rays will then have to decide whether they prefer Brignac or Sean Rodriguez at shortstop going forward.

Reid Brignac (foot) went 1-for-4 with a homer in a minor league exhibition game Wednesday.

He also played seven innings in the field, including five at shortstop and two at second base. There was some thought that Brignac would return to Grapefruit League action on Wednesday, but the Rays decided to keep him on the minor league side, likely so they could backdate a potential DL stint. The 26-year-old is currently working his way back from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, but there's still a chance he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Reid Brignac (foot) is aiming to return to the Rays' Grapefruit League lineup on Wednesday.

Brignac played in a minor league game Monday and will do so again on Tuesday. If he continues to feel like he's making progress in his battle with plantar fasciitis, the 26-year-old should be clear for Opening Day.

Reid Brignac (foot) is scheduled to play in a minor league game Monday in Rays camp.

Brignac told reporters that his plantar fasciitis is "uncomfortable but tolerable." He's not likely to be fully healthy on Opening day, but he could be active anyway. Look for Sean Rodriguez to start at shortstop.

Reid Brignac (foot) has resumed baseball activities and expects to be ready for Opening Day.

Brignac has been sidelined with plantar fasciitis, but was able to get through pre-game defensive work on Friday. The Rays' training staff could clear him for a full return as soon as next week.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that Reid Brignac (foot) might not be ready for Opening Day.

Brignac was given a cortisone injection on Monday to help the pain and discomfort in his right foot and won't be allowed to participate in drills or Grapefruit League games for the next several days. Sean Rodriguez appears likely to grab starting shortstop duties in Tampa Bay.

Reid Brignac was given a cortisone injection Monday in his ailing right foot.

Brignac should be ready for action later this week, after giving the cortisone a few days to kick in. He is battling Sean Rodriguez for starting shortstop duties.

Reid Brignac went 2-for-3 with an RBI against the Pirates on Sunday.

Brignac is trying to show that his 2011 was a fluke and reclaim the starting job at shortstop for the Rays. He's behind Sean Rodriguez on the depth chart, but there's a slim chance he could overtake him prior to Opening Day. He's 5-for-12 with a couple of walks so far. He doesn't have an extra-base hit yet.

The Rays will give Reid Brignac a chance to compete for the starting shortstop job in 2012 despite his struggles at the plate this season.

Brignac hit just .193/.227/.221 and spent some time in the minor leagues, but the Rays love his defense and think he can improve at the plate. "He'll battle for the spot, absolutely," manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought he made some really good adjustments when he came back up. Defense has never been an issue. I love his defense. It's about making him more of a complete player offensively. I'm not just talking about getting hits, playing the situational game. Base running needs to be worked on a bit, too." Brignac's chief competition for the job will be Sean Rodriguez, who also suffered through a disappointing year.

Reid Brignac went 0-for-4 in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader and is in an 0-for-15 slump since Sept. 15.

Brignac's average is back down to .187 now, as he's just 4-for-29 in September. Barring a strong last week, his highest OPS in a month this season will be his .530 mark in June. Even Adam Dunn, who is currently sporting a .587 OPS for the year, probably sympathizes with Brignac's plight.

Reid Brignac cleared the bases with a third-inning double on Sunday, pacing the Rays to an 8-1 win over the Orioles.

Brignac had just 10 RBI in 79 games coming into this afternoon. Now batting .197/.233/.225, he's arguably been the worst offensive player in the big leagues this season.

Rays recalled SS Reid Brignac from Triple-A Durham.

He'll replace the injured Justin Ruggiano on the active roster. Brignac was demoted to the minors last month after batting just .193/.234/.219 with one home run and 10 RBI over 200 plate appearances. The 25-year-old had a .231/.348/.410 batting line over 48 plate appearances during his time with Triple-A Durham. Sean Rodriguez and Elliot Johnson haven't done anything to win the shortstop job, but Brignac can be ignored in most fantasy leagues.

Rays optioned SS Reid Brignac to Triple-A Durham.

Brignac was sent out to make room for Desmond Jennings on the active roster. The 25-year-old has struggled miserably this season, batting just .193/.234/.219 with one home run and 10 RBI over 200 plate appearances, so he'll try to right himself on the minor league level. Look for Sean Rodriguez and Elliot Johnson to share playing time at shortstop.

Reid Brignac went 0-for-6 in Sunday's 16-inning loss to the Red Sox.

Brignac had actually gone 2-for-4 in each of his last two starts, raising his average to .200. Unfortunately. this puts him back down to .193. We still don't see why the Rays haven't sent him down to play regularly in Triple-A and regain his stroke.

Reid Brignac notched Tampa Bay's lone hit in its 3-0 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Brignac's third inning single was all that came between Josh Beckett and a no-hitter. Even worse for Beckett, it was an infield hit. Brignac is still batting just .174 through his first 138 at-bats this season.

Reid Brignac scored John Jaso on a sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning on Wednesday, leading the Rays to a 4-3 victory in Anaheim.

Brignac also hit a solo home run in the third, his first bomb of the season. A pleasant surprise a year ago, Brignac has been anything but this season, hitting .184 with just two extra-base hits and eight RBI through 125 at-bats. He isn't likely to come into mixed-league value at any point going forward.

Rays activated INF Reid Brignac from the bereavement list.

Brignac left the team Saturday following the death of his grandfather. He'll likely share playing time at shortstop with Sean Rodriguez while Felipe Lopez will stick around as a reserve infielder after the injury to Elliot Johnson.