By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published December 30, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays found the established backup catcher they were seeking, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with former Orioles starter Brook Fordyce.
The Rays wanted someone who could fill in for Toby Hall one or two games a week, provide guidance to young pitchers and add offense off the bench. They appeared to get all that, maybe more, by adding Fordyce, 33, who has a .263 career batting average and 569 games of major-league experience.
Fordyce, who will get $650,000 plus incentives, said he took the job to be the backup, but welcomes the chance for additional opportunity.
"I know Toby had a good year and I would think it's Toby's job, no doubt about it," Fordyce said Monday. "I'm going to come in there in shape and if I get a little playing time that would be great. I know my role, and it's to help the team no matter what. I know Toby did a great job, but you never know. I've been in that situation before."
Fordyce, who made $3.5-million last season, and the Rays had eyed each other since the Orioles let him go in anticipation of signing Javy Lopez.
Fordyce said he accepted the Rays offer for several reasons. He liked the idea of playing close to his offseason home in Stuart, he was impressed by the team's young talent and veterans it added, and he is excited to play for Lou Piniella.
"I identified the teams that I would want to go to if I became a free agent and Tampa was definitely one of them," Fordyce said. "Following the way the market was going, who was signing where and how Tampa boosted up their experience, all along it just kept getting better for me. It was definitely a situation I wanted to be a part of."
Fordyce has played parts of nine seasons in the majors, the past 31/2 with Baltimore, hitting .273 last season. He also played with the Mets, Reds and White Sox. His best season was 2000, when he hit .301 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs for the White Sox and Orioles.
With Fordyce aboard, Pete Laforest likely will spend the season in Triple A, allowing him to remain eligible for the Canadian Olympic team.
NEW NAME: Just call it Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Angels re-named their stadium after Edison International dropped out of its naming rights agreement. Since 1998, the Angels' home was known as Edison International Field of Anaheim or Edison Field.
REDS: Right-hander Cory Lidle agreed to a one-year, $2.75-million deal. Lidle went 12-15 with a 5.75 ERA in 31 starts for Toronto. He pitched a career-high 1992/3 innings despite a groin injury that slowed him in the second half.
HONORS: "Champion' Schumacher
Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was voted "champion of champions" by the French sports newspaper L'Equipe for the third year in a row. Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was second and Russian swimmer Alexander Popov third. Schumacher has won a record six F1 titles.
COLLEGES: North Carolina defender Catherine Reddick won the Honda Award as the NCAA's outstanding female athlete in soccer. The senior helped the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship and was defensive MVP.
ET CETERA
HORSES: Jockeys refused to ride at Philadelphia Park in a dispute over payment delays the track blamed on the state's stricter rules for drug testing of horses. Test results take up to eight days now instead of three, holding up payouts that range from $40 to $40,000.
BOXING: Yoshio Shirai, the first Japanese boxer crowned a world champion, died of pneumonia. He was 80. Shirai won the world flyweight title in his international debut at age 29 in May 1952 and defended it four times.
