Flaherty earns chance with another team

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© St. Petersburg Times
published May 20, 2002

Now that he is back in the lineup, one can only hope for the best.

That the stars align, the heavens smile and John Flaherty plays himself the heck out of town.

This is what he wants and it is certainly what he deserves.

The Rays have been known to chase bad players with good intentions. Now the time has come to trade a solid player, and do so with the best intentions.

Flaherty no longer has a future in Tampa Bay. Of that, there is no debate. His career is winding down and Toby Hall's is starting up.

Before Hall went out of the lineup this weekend with a minor injury, Flaherty had been averaging fewer than five at-bats a week. He has become a bit character in one of baseball's worst productions.

Which is why the next week can be so important for him. The Rays are going nowhere, but Flaherty does not have to follow.

He went to general manager Chuck LaMar in the winter and requested, if a deal were possible, to be traded. This might now be his best chance.

Flaherty, 34, has played well in his limited role. Now he can play a half-dozen games in succession with a chance to prove he still can be a starter or, at least, a role player on a contender.

"I don't even know if it's really about the playing time," Flaherty said. "I just want to feel like I can go out there and play again. Help a team make a difference. If I stay here all year, I'll do what I can to help these guys. And I feel like I've been doing that. But if it's someplace else, maybe it'll be a more competitive situation where I can help a team win."

On a franchise in perpetual flux, Flaherty has been the closest thing to a constant. Always a professional, never a problem.

He is funny and articulate. One of those rare athletes who did not lose his perspective when he gained his fortune.

His first season in Tampa Bay in 1998 was a bust, but Flaherty maintained his dignity. He was given an award by the Baseball Writers Association for showing the most character that season. His wife asked if this was the award they gave to somebody for playing crummy and not complaining.

"Well," Flaherty said, "yes."

This is a team that has known whiners and wimps. Veterans who have complained publicly about their roles and conspired privately in the clubhouse. Through it all, Flaherty has behaved better than the rest.

Before the days of Hit Show, he was one of the first players to make a commitment to the Rays. Flaherty was something of a hot commodity in 1999, soon to be a free agent. Instead of hitting the open market, he signed a three-year, $9-million extension with Tampa Bay.

At the time, there was talk he had sold himself short. Even the Rays were congratulating themselves on tying up an important position on the field at a reasonable salary.

"Do I regret signing that contract? Hell no," said Flaherty, who is one of the few Rays to live here year-round. "When I signed that contract, I wanted to be here when things got better. Obviously, that didn't happen. I don't blame the organization for that. It bothers me more that I haven't done as much as I expected to help.

"With my family situation and spring training being here, everything else worked out well. When I signed that deal my agent said, 'Hopefully you'll be underpaid by the end of it.' It doesn't look like that now. I wish it did."

The Rays would be a lesser organization without him. Having said that, the Rays would still do well to trade Flaherty between now and July.

Not just because they might get a marginal prospect in return. Not just because they could save half of his $3.25-million salary.

Maybe just because it would be the right thing to do.

Perception is important in this game. Players pay attention to how others are treated. In their very short history, the Rays already have had a number of players grumbling on their way out the door.

Trading Flaherty would not help the Rays win any more games this season. But then, keeping him won't have much impact either.

This team is destined to lose 90-plus games whether Flaherty is here or not. His contract runs out in October and he will not be back in 2003. All of which means the Rays should do whatever they can to deal him quickly.

Opposing general managers are not going to be outbidding one another to acquire him, but Flaherty still has value. His contract is high for a backup, but he can make his case on the field this week.

So play well, John Flaherty.

Hit the ball hard, block the plate with abandon.

With any luck, you'll be gone by morning.

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