Cuts get club near final roster

DUNEDIN -- Pitcher Nick Bierbrodt will open the season on the Triple-A roster but will stay with the major-league team to continue working out his severe control problems.

The Rays got down to all but their final 25-man roster Tuesday, releasing former starting shortstop Felix Martinez and sending Bierbrodt and seven others to the minors.

Bierbrodt, who lost his spot in the rotation when he suddenly lost control of his pitches during a March 8 start, will continue working on his mechanics with pitching coach Jackie Brown for an indefinite period.

"He'll just be here for a while; we don't know how long," manager Hal McRae said.

Bierbrodt said he is making some progress but still has trouble. "I'm not all the way worked out," he said. "I'll throw good, and then sporadically there will be a couple of pitches. A lot of it has to do with dead-arm period, and once that goes away hopefully my control will come back to what it was."

When Bierbrodt is ready to face hitters, he likely will need several weeks in the minors.

Martinez started 169 games over the past two seasons but lost the starting job to Chris Gomez, then a utility spot to rookie Jason Smith, with inconsistent play.

"We appreciate what Felix has done for us over the last couple years but it was a competitive situation coming into spring training, and we obviously chose to go in another direction," general manager Chuck LaMar said.

By releasing Martinez, the Rays owe him 45 days termination pay (about $69,000) and save about $196,000.

Optioned to Triple A were pitcher Delvin James and infielders Aubrey Huff and Jared Sandberg. Reassigned to minor-league camp were pitchers Travis Harper and Gerardo Garcia and catchers Sal Fasano and Yamid Haad.

James, who allowed three runs in 17 2/3 innings, seemed the most disappointed. "One hundred percent no doubt I believe I can pitch here," he said. "Any time you threw as well as I threw and leave empty-handed, you're going to feel a little disappointed. ... But in a sense I didn't leave empty-handed because I left an impression that they know I can pitch here."

McRae said James and Harper pitched well enough to make the team and will be strongly considered should the Rays have an opening. "There's nothing more that either player could have done," McRae said.

Huff had hoped to retain a share of the third-base job and said he was more disappointed in his lack of opportunity during the spring than the decision to send him down. "But I'm not going to go down and sulk and feel bad for myself; I'm going to go down and work hard and play hard ... and open some other eyes," he said. Huff, who discarded his third-baseman's gloves, will play first base at Durham.

The moves left the Rays with 26 players, one over the limit. Left-handed reliever Bobby Seay is expected to be optioned to Durham or placed on the disabled list.

CONFIDENCE BUILDING: It wasn't a win, but a tie at 3 in 10 against the Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium was fine by McRae.

With five spring games left before opening day, the Rays are 1-9-1 and have been out scored 63-46 in their past 11.

"We need some wins or score some runs," McRae said. "Winning is better but I could be just as happy if we put up six or eight runs. Having a good offensive game would help. We pitch well, but we haven't scored enough."

NO. 5 STARTER: Wilson Alvarez, who has missed nearly two seasons with arm trouble, will be the No. 5 starter behind Ryan Rupe.

Because the Rays have three off days in April, the 32-year-old left-hander could pitch in four games on six to seven days rest.

"He'll pitch better in my eyes as a fifth starter because of the rest," McRae said. "Then it complements (Tanyon) Sturtze coming back. He'll get the most rest early in the year."

A GOOD SHOWING: Nathan Ruhl snatched up a crumb.

The Rays minor-league pitcher, who wasn't expecting to get into the game, relieved Rupe with one out in the fifth and retired the two batters he faced.

"There's no expectations," said Ruhl, whom the Rays chose in the 61st round of the 1996 draft and has a 17-18 record and 4.21 ERA in 153 minor-league games. "If I was trying to make the team it would be a little different. It's more an opportunity than anything. It was exciting."

ODDS AND ENDS: The Rays will work out at Tropicana Field before their final spring home game Friday against the Twins. The workout will be closed to the public. ... Randy Winn's solid spring continued with two hits. He's batting .412 with two homers and six RBIs. ... Greg Vaughn, Hall and Huff doubled against the Jays. ... Rupe started in place of James, who pitched four innings of scoreless relief. James struck out three and walked one. ... Detroit will pitch Jeff Weaver, Steve Sparks and Jose Lima against the Rays in the season-opening series.