Waiver claims make three untradeable

CLEVELAND -- Randy Winn apparently will be staying with the Rays this season.

So, too, will Paul Wilson and Esteban Yan.

The three were put on waivers, claimed by other teams and pulled back by the Rays. Because they can't be placed on waivers again for 30 days, it is all but impossible for them to be traded this season.

The Rays had talks with other teams about each before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Had the players cleared waivers the Rays could have traded them to any team. Because they were claimed, the Rays could negotiate only with the team awarded the claim. They apparently could not work out a deal.

Several other Rays are believed to have cleared waivers, including catcher John Flaherty, outfielder Ben Grieve, shortstop Chris Gomez and pitcher Tanyon Sturtze, but there has not been any interest. Pitcher Wilson Alvarez (who was activated Monday) and outfielder Greg Vaughn (who is still on the disabled list) also are likely to clear eventually.

Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said the team is not allowed under Major League Baseball rules to comment on waiver transactions "and we will continue to adhere to that."

WINS AND LOSSES: If starting pitcher Joe Kennedy is to get to .500 today, he'll have to do it against a Royals lineup he has yet to see this season.

"Hopefully our scouting reports are correct," the left-hander said. "They haven't seen us either. So it goes both ways."

Kennedy equaled his win total from last season against the White Sox on Sunday, improving to 7-8. He has won his past two, pitching to a 2.25 ERA.

"I wouldn't mind getting to that mark," he said. "But I just want a good game, win or lose. If I'm able to do that then I'll have a chance to get to that .500 mark. It's not a goal, but it's something I really, really want to do."

ANXIOUS MOMENT: The Rays avoided a potential letdown in the ninth inning when Aubrey Huff dropped a foul popup off Karim Garcia's bat moments after Milton Bradley homered to make it 4-2.

Garcia later grounded out to shortstop for the second out.

"Once we got the out, again, I was able to relax," manager Hal McRae said.

SPEEDUP RULES: The three-game series against the Indians took a total of 6 hours, 59 minutes. The shortest game was 2:08 Wednesday, the shortest for either team this season. The longest was 2:32 on Tuesday.

SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT: Designated hitter Steve Cox has been working on his batting stance, trying to stand more upright in the batter's box.

"It kind of allows your lower body to feel more free," he said. "It feels pretty good right now, but it's just one of those things that I'm trying to get used to."

SITTING TIGHT: Second baseman Brent Abernathy and Grieve have not played the past six games, shortstop Gomez the past five since a lineup shakeup.

The trio could play against the Royals on Sunday afternoon, but it appears McRae will continue to start Andy Sheets, Escalona and Jason Conti for the time being.

"None of them will sit for a long period of time without playing," McRae said.

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH: Double-A Orlando outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who could be in the majors this season, was named Rays minor-league player of the month. Chris Flinn of Class A Charleston was the pitcher of the month.

Baldelli hit .418 in 23 games for Class A Bakersfield and Orlando with 17 runs, 4 homers, 17 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Flinn was 2-2 with a 1.32 ERA in seven games.

ODDS AND ENDS: Left-handed pitcher Stevenson Agosto was released from Triple-A Durham to make room for Luis De Los Santos. Agosto was 4-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 15 games. ... Wilson's three-game winning streak is the third of his career. ... Yan has converted four of his past five save opportunities.