Piniella hopes to buy the Rays a little help

New manager would like to add some veteran leadership - if there is enough money available.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published December 13, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The plan makes plenty of sense. The question is whether there will be enough dollars.

Six weeks of video study, conversation and analysis has led new manager Lou Piniella to a couple of important conclusions about the Devil Rays team he is taking over.

One, the Rays have a number of talented young players who could be very good in the future.

Two, they need some veteran help now.

So the idea, which Piniella and general manager Chuck LaMar support, is to supplement the youth by bringing in a handful of veterans to provide depth, stability, leadership -- and a few key hits.

"We've got some good young players, players with high ceilings, and I recognize that," Piniella said. "Our commitment is to the young players, don't get me wrong. At the same time, if we can get a couple veteran players who fit into our lineup, who give us experience and who give us speed, that will really help us."

The priorities are for a shortstop with the range to solidify the infield and improve the pitching staff, and an outfielder to show the kids, Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli, how things are done. After that, the Rays would like a veteran catcher to work with Toby Hall, then, if possible, a couple of relievers to stabilize the bullpen.

They've explored some trade possibilities (such as for Toronto shortstop Felipe Lopez), but seem headed toward the free-agent market. They have had discussions about infielders such as Rey Sanchez, Jose Hernandez and Deivi Cruz, and outfielders including Doug Glanville, Todd Hollandsworth and Alex Ochoa.

But as Piniella and LaMar head to Nashville this morning for the annual winter meetings, they don't know what they will be able to afford to add or how much managing general partner Vince Naimoli will allow them to spend. They only know that it will be less than last season's $34-million opening-day payroll.

"Our goals for the year are to get our hands on as many young players as we can and continue to reduce payroll for one more year," LaMar said. "Any financial flexibility that we would have stems from what we do with our arbitration-eligible players."

In other words, about the only way to make any addition is by subtraction.

After the sale of Steve Cox to Japan, the Rays have five players in line for large raises through arbitration. Reserve infielder Andy Sheets and pitcher Dan Reichert, acquired on waivers in September, essentially are bit players, but veteran pitchers Tanyon Sturtze, Paul Wilson and Esteban Yan, despite mediocre numbers, are looking at big deals -- Wilson and Yan around $3-million each, Sturtze perhaps as much as $1.5-million.

LaMar could try to sign them for less, or he could just let them go, as he did Ryan Rupe, either now or at the Dec. 20 deadline for tendering contracts. But he may not get to spend the money saved. Instead, expect LaMar to exhaust all trade possibilities, whether for a low-priced player who could help the team now, for more prospects, or for cash to use toward signings. Additional sales to Japan also are possible to raise funds.

Further limiting their flexibility is the $14.5-million they owe outfielders Greg Vaughn ($5-million this year, $4.25-million deferred) and Ben Grieve ($4-million this year, $1.25-million deferred). Of course, they'd like to trade both of them, but that is unlikely even in a time when Mike Hampton and Todd Hundley can be dealt.

Piniella and LaMar have made the decision to spend first on needed position players, figuring they can make do with the bevy of young arms on the roster.

"We'd rather spend what resources we have on a couple more position players and help our young players develop, because you're just not going to get a lot of quality pitching for the money we might have to spend," LaMar said.

One thing in their favor is baseball's new world economics. The market for all but the top-tier free agents appears to be a) flooded and b) depressed, meaning there should be -- relatively speaking -- bargains available.

"It's a good market out there to try to do a little fishing in," Piniella said. "If we can come out of the meetings with two or three pieces we'll be all right."

Of course, the Rays aren't the only ones looking to do some discount shopping, meaning there is going to be plenty of competition. Baltimore and San Diego, for example, are considering the same group of shortstops.

The Rays aren't looking to repeat the expensive mistakes of 1999-2000, when they brought in big-name players who cost millions and took at-bats and innings from the young players. What Piniella and LaMar want to do is supplement the young core, trying to plug holes to make the team a little better this season with an eye on increasing the payroll and taking a step up in the standings in 2004.

"We've got some talented young kids," Piniella said. "Some haven't done it at the big-league level, some have done it for just a short period of time. We're going to have to have some patience with them, no question about that.

"But how do you develop young players best? In a winning environment. That's why I advocate bringing in a couple veterans to help out."

NOTES: Bill Evers, who led Triple-A Durham to the International League championship last season, will return to manage the Bulls for a sixth season. Also returning are pitching coach Joe Coleman and coach Richie Hebner. ... Paul Harker was promoted from Durham to head minor-league trainer and medical rehabilitation coordinator. Tom Tisdale will move from Double-A Orlando to Durham. Tim McKechney was named minor-league equipment manager.