Rolls takes OF glove to minors

ST. PETERSBURG -- He joined the Rays two years ago as an infielder.

But as one of 17 players reassigned to minor-league camp Wednesday, Damian Rolls exited the Rays clubhouse at Florida Power Park with the sole purpose of gaining experience as an outfielder. He likely will start the season at Triple-A Durham.

"It seems odd, to be honest," Rolls said. "But it may have worked out better because if I was only a third baseman I may have been out of here a long time ago. Being a third baseman-second baseman-outfielder may have bought me a little time."

The Rays would prefer Rolls play regularly rather than limit his development as an outfielder by sitting him.

"We think he has the chance to be a good player," manager Hal McRae said. "He won't achieve that if he stays in the big leagues and plays part time."

A Rule 5 pick from the Dodgers via Kansas City in 1999, Rolls started 39 games at second base last season before moving to the outfield. He batted .262 with 11 doubles, 2 home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 74 games.

"I kind of knew it was coming last year," Rolls said. "It's no secret I need to work on some things. I'll go down, I'll get more chances to play and it will be a better opportunity for me to work on what I need to work on."

BIERBRODT "PROMISING": Control-troubled Nick Bierbrodt had what pitching coach Jackie Brown deemed a successful workout Thursday morning and will pitch as scheduled Sunday.

"He threw the ball where he wanted to, that's really all I have to say," Brown said. "Everything went good today. It looked promising."

Bierbrodt did several drills designed to help him get a better feel for his mechanics, Brown said, then spent the last five minutes of the early morning session throwing hard.

HANGING AROUND: Unsure if he would survive the first round of cuts Wednesday morning, reliever Delvin James waited by his locker in street clothes in case his name was called.

"I waited on them to make the rounds and they never said anything to me," James said. "It was about 15 minutes before I had to go out (on the field) and I said to myself, "I guess I better get dressed. I'm here.' "

In his sixth season in the Rays organization, James has not pitched in a major-league game. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, five strikeouts and three walks in six innings this spring.

"If they keep me here until the end of spring training that means I was really competing for a job," James said. "If I do get sent down, I want to make a big enough impression to where they bring me up whether it's the first week of the season, first month or September. Doesn't matter."

WALK ON BY: It took 13 games, but Jason Tyner drew his first walk of the spring in the fifth inning against the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

"As far as drawing walks and stuff, I'm not really trying to do it," he said. "If it happens, it happens."

McRae, who would like his leadoff hitter to be patient, was encouraged.

"There's no defense against bases on balls," he said. "You either score runs or you knock them in. His value to the ballclub is to score runs. Plus he's a better hitter if he sees more pitches."

STILL WORKING: Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of reliever Kevin McGlinchy's surgery on his partially right torn rotator cuff.

Though still throwing only fastballs in his bullpen sessions, the right-hander said his shoulder is feeling better, and a return to game action might not be far off.

"I'm close," said McGlinchy, whom the Rays picked in the Rule 5 draft. "I'm excited about it. I haven't felt this good about my arm in a long time. I think it only can get better from here on.

"I just want to pitch again. I think there's never a timetable, but I would love to just to be in a game situation and get the blood flowing."