Rays take a flyer on Piatt's potential

BALTIMORE - Adam Piatt isn't the powerful right-handed hitter the Devil Rays are seeking for next season, but they decided to see if he could be of some help.

The Rays claimed Piatt, 27, off waivers from Oakland on Tuesday and will give him some playing time in the corner outfield spots and at DH.

"He's got some power," manager Lou Piniella said. "We've been looking for a right-handed bat to help out. ... It gives us a nice bat coming off the bench too, gives us more versatility, gives us an opportunity to rest some people. It gives us an opportunity to look at him over the last five, six weeks of the season and see where he fits in for next year."

Piatt, a 1994 graduate of Fort Myers' Bishop Verot High, was an eighth-round pick of the A's in 1997 and was named the 1999 Topps Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .345 with 39 homers and 135 RBIs in 129 games at Double-A Midland in the Texas League.

He made it to the majors the next season but has not been able to stick, going up and down that season and the next two. Piatt, 6 feet 5, 205 pounds, hit .240 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 47 games this season before being designated for assignment Wednesday.

"We've always liked the way he played the game," Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. "He's had some success at the major-league level and he's struggled at times this year."

In 198 big-league games, Piatt has a .252 average, 14 homers and 62 RBIs.

"He's young," Piniella said. "He can still get better."

Piatt is scheduled to be in uniform today and the Rays are expected to send down a pitcher to make room on the roster.

YOUNG REPORT: Ever so slowly, the Rays and top draft pick Delmon Young appear to be moving closer to a deal on a major-league contract that could be worth at least $5-million.

Some issues still need to be resolved, but the Ventura County Star reported Tuesday that the Young family was waiting for what could be one final discussion with the Rays to finalize the deal.

The Rays would like to get Young signed so he can be ready to start playing in either the instructional league or the Arizona Fall League.

"I think negotiations are progressing," LaMar said. "We're hoping to get Delmon signed and let him start his pro career as soon as possible."

The Rays apparently have not made any progress with No. 3 pick Andrew Miller, a left-hander from Gainesville who may be headed to the University of North Carolina.

OUT AT THIRD: Carl Crawford ran his stolen base streak to 19, and his overall AL-leading total to 40, by stealing second in the first inning, then was thrown out, on what appeared to be a bad call, trying to swipe third. ... Crawford had three singles, extending his hitting streak to nine games. ... The Rays are 18-6 when Crawford and Rocco Baldelli each reach base twice in a game.

TOP GUN: Toby Hall is the toughest catcher in the AL to run on, throwing out 26 of 60 runners for a .433 percentage.

"He's almost been automatic," Piniella said. "That's how good he's been. He's been throwing as well as any catcher I've had at the big-league level."

Rays pitchers are making a concerted effort to quicken their delivery to home plate, but Piniella said Hall deserves the bulk of the credit.

"The pitchers are trying, but you've got to get it down to second, you've got to be accurate and you've got to have some firmness to the throw, and I'm going to tell you, it's all there," Piniella said.

Hall received treatment for a bruised and extremely swollen right hand. He was hit by a foul tip Monday.

MISCELLANY: The Rays are considering calling up four minor-leaguers once rosters can be expanded Sept. 1, but Piniella said talented shortstop B.J. Upton, 18, is not among them. ... The Rays are seven stolen bases shy of the team season record (120 in 1998) and have the best success rate in the AL, .774 (113 of 146). ... The Rays are 11-6 against the Orioles, with five consecutive wins.