Team mulls options on Alvarez's future

© St. Petersburg Times
published July 17, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Wilson Alvarez's career with the Rays could be coming to an end.

Alvarez has lost his job in the starting rotation and may not pitch again at all for the Rays.

After an abysmal outing Sunday, he told teammates he was considering retiring. Monday, he reported tenderness in his left elbow and left the park with his wife before the game. Tuesday, he didn't show up for an appointment with a Rays doctor.

"We will make a decision by (tonight) on Wilson Alvarez's health status with the organization," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "Either he has to be ready to pitch in the near future or we will have to DL him."

As Alvarez, 32, completes the final season of a five-year, $35-million contract, there are several possible endings in sight:

Alvarez, described as discouraged and embarrassed after his last outing, could retire, though that seems unlikely since the Rays owe him about $3-million in salary and a $350,000 buyout on a 2003 option.

More likely, the Rays and Alvarez could negotiate some type of settlement. While the Rays likely won't release Alvarez because of the potential of a player strike (since they wouldn't have to pay him for the time the players were out), they could agree to pay him a portion of the money owed and let him go. Such a settlement could take a few days to work out.

If Alvarez's elbow is too sore to pitch, the Rays could put him on the disabled list. He would get the rest of his money, and the Rays would at least have the roster spot to call up a starter, with Triple-A Durham righthander Luis De Los Santos the leading candidate.

Or the Rays could put him in the bullpen and essentially forget about him. He wouldn't like the assignment and it wouldn't do them much good, plus they would be forced to make another roster move since they need a starter for Saturday. They could either move Travis Harper to the rotation or send down a reliever to make room for De Los Santos.

RUPE BACK OUT, BACKE IN: The situation involving the other injured starter is much simpler. Ryan Rupe is back on the disabled list and is expected to be miss three or four weeks after the patella tendinitis in his right knee flared up Monday.

An MRI exam and examination by orthopedic team physician Koco Eaton found "wear and tear" on the tendon but no need for surgery.

Brandon Backe, who was 4-6 with two saves and a 4.68 ERA at Double-A Orlando, was called up to take Rupe's place on the roster as Jorge Sosa moved into the rotation.

Backe, 24, was a utility infielder/outfielder until the Rays converted him to a pitcher in September 2000. Backe, who'd pitched in high school and junior college, wasn't high on the idea at the time, but Tuesday could not have been happier it worked out.

"And a lot sooner than I thought," he said.

The Rays passed over some relievers with major-league experience in promoting Backe, but LaMar said they did so for several reasons, including wanting to promote a player on the 40-man roster.

"We know he's coming from Double-A as far as experience, but he's a good competitor, he's got good stuff and this is a chance for him to get his feet wet," LaMar said.

SEEING RED: The last time the Red Sox were here, Brent Abernathy and Boston's Trot Nixon exchanged barbs in the media.

After Rupe hit two Red Sox players May 5, Nixon's bat went flying past Rupe as he swung at the first pitch in his next at-bat. Abernathy said he thought Nixon did it on purpose; Nixon insisted it was an accident and took offense to Abernathy implying otherwise, saying: "I dislike that boy."

Abernathy said Tuesday he is not looking for additional exchanges.

"I'm not here to get in a war of words," Abernathy said. "Last time we played them we were very, very frustrated. We were right in the middle of the 15-game skid we had and sometimes frustration gets the best of you."

MISCELLANY: Infielder Felix Escalona said he hopes to be out only a couple of days after pulling his right groin. ... Jared Sandberg didn't start because he needs to have his contact lens prescription strengthened, but replaced Escalona in the seventh. ... Randy Winn had his fifth four-hit game of the season. ... The Rays are 12-35 against Oakland. ... Jason Smith is scheduled to start at third today.