Frugal Rays to let 3 veteran pitchers go

Sturtze, Wilson and Yan won't be offered contracts, leaving team with a green rotation.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published December 20, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Exactly how much the Devil Rays are going to cut payroll is not clear. But it's apparently enough to carve up a pitching staff.

		[Times photo: Michael Rondou]
		Esteban Yan leaves the Rays second on the team's career save list and first in games pitched.

The reality of further reducing a $34-million payroll that was the game's lowest will be seen today when the Rays are expected to let go of their three most experienced pitchers, declining to tender contracts to closer Esteban Yan and starters Tanyon Sturtze and Paul Wilson.

General manager Chuck LaMar said Thursday night final decisions had not been made and he was working on potential trades. But it's unlikely he can deal when teams know the three likely will be unrestricted free agents come Saturday morning.

"There's been no offers as far as I know and nothing has changed at all," Sturtze said. "From what we were told, they don't have any money to sign any of us. From what (agent Eric Goldschmidt) and I gather, they're going to not tender all three of us."

Each has had his struggles -- Sturtze with a league-high 18 losses, Yan tying for the lead with eight blown saves, Wilson a 12-start winless streak -- but at least is a somewhat known, if blemished, commodity.

What's left is a payroll that will be under $30-million and a pitching staff featuring Joe Kennedy and a bunch of question marks.

And there isn't going to be much LaMar can afford to do about it, having decided to spend what meager money he has available on a veteran outfielder, with Todd Hollandsworth and Alex Ochoa still the leading candidates and Chris Singleton another possibility if he is nontendered today by Baltimore.

"We know our pitching is going to be extremely young, inexperienced and thin," LaMar said. "With the money we have to spend, we can't get in the market for quality pitching."

Or, apparently, retain what they had.

The three arbitration eligibles, who made about $3-million together last season, would have cost about $7.5-million to keep. Yan, who made $1.5-million after losing in arbitration last year, was expected to double his salary. Wilson, who settled last year, was looking at a raise from $1.2-million to around $3-million. Sturtze, who made $315,000, probably would end up between $1-million and $1.5-million.

Their absence will be felt.

Sturtze and Wilson combined for 63 starts and 4172/3 innings, nearly 43 percent of those pitched by starters. Yan had 19 of their 25 saves. The three had 17 of the team's 55 wins (and 38 of 106 losses).

With prior releases of Ryan Rupe and Wilson Alvarez, Kennedy will be the only rotation member who pitched more 75 innings in the majors last season as a starter or won more than four games. The opening week rotation, against the Red Sox and Yankees, could be Kennedy, Victor Zambrano, Nick Bierbrodt, Dewon Brazelton and Jorge Sosa or Jason Standridge.

(The Rays also must decide today whether to tender a contract to once-promising Royals pitcher Dan Reichert, claimed off waivers in September.)

Among the potential relievers, Lance Carter is the only returning pitcher who had more than one big-league save last season. Travis Phelps is the only one on the roster with as many as five for his career.

"It's going to be tough for some young guys to suck up the innings, but that's the choice they make," Sturtze said. Sturtze, 32, and Wilson, 29, said they are disappointed to leave because they think better times are coming with Lou Piniella taking over as manager. (Yan, pitching in the Dominican Republic, was unavailable for comment).

"They feel they can get it done with the young guys; good luck to them," Wilson said. "If that's what it turns out to be, I'm sure there's teams out there interested in having me pitch for them. Maybe it will put me in a better position to win a championship."

Dozens of players are expected to be nontendered by today's deadline, adding to a glutted market in excess of 100 free agents. But the Rays pitchers are expected to find homes. The Blue Jays are likely to sign Sturtze given his previous relationship with Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi, the Dodgers and Rangers are among the teams interested in Wilson and a number of teams, including the Phillies, are seeking experienced relievers such as Yan.

The Rays are left to consider more, um, creative options.

Among them are one reliever, Mel Rojas, who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 1999and another, John Frascatore, who was out all of last year. They are two of eight players signed to minor-league deals with invitations to spring training.

Rojas, 36, had back-to-back 30-save seasons in the mid 1990s for Montreal. He is said to be throwing very well for Escogido in the Dominican Republic (0-0, 1.89 ERA in 18 games). Frascatore, 32, pitched in 274 games for St. Louis, Arizona and Toronto. He was released by the Mets last spring.

Others signed were pitchers Brian Fitzgerald (a former Mariner), Blake Stein and Erik Sabel; catcher Hector Ortiz; outfielder Brian Lesher; and shortstop Gabby Martinez.