The Rays, needing to make quick roster moves, say Gathright, Upton and Young won't be gone long.
By MARC TOPKIN
Published March 12, 2004
[Times art]
ST. PETERSBURG - All three are young, talented and on the express path to the big leagues. So when the Devil Rays shipped them out - a bit earlier than expected - as part of Thursday's hefty roster reduction, Joey Gathright, B.J. Upton and Delmon Young were in no hurry to leave.
As each packed slowly, said his goodbyes and pondered the immediate future of reporting to minor-league camp, team officials made it clear all were considered big parts of the overall future.
"It's obvious if they stay healthy and continue to work, they not only will reach the major-league level, but all three have the chance to have impact when they get here," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "And in some cases it may not be too far."
For Young, the 18-year-old slugger who was the top pick in the 2003 draft, it probably won't be until the end of the 2005 season or early 2006. But Gathright, the speedy outfielder, and Upton, the smooth shortstop, could be back this season.
Even with a set outfield of Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli and Jose Cruz, Gathright, 22, came to camp thinking he could speed up the process and make the team. At the least, he made sure the top Rays knew who he was and what he was capable of doing.
"I feel like they do, but I don't feel like I played my best ball. It was an experience, and I had fun," Gathright said.
"When it comes to this, you have to be patient. You have to be. You never know what can happen. I just wish everybody the best, and I hope Rocco, C.C. and Cruz have a good season. But they know I'm around."
Manager Lou Piniella said they are well aware and wouldn't hesitate to summon Gathright from Double-A Montgomery or Triple-A Durham if needed.
"He plays centerfield very, very well, obviously he's got tons of speed and he's really improved making contact at home plate," Piniella said. "And he's going to get better. He just needs more playing time. This time next year, assuming we don't call him up this year, he'll be ready to come in here and compete for a job."
When Upton, 19, arrives, perhaps by September, the Rays figure he could stay at shortstop for a long time. For now, he's likely to open the season at Montgomery with a mandate to become better, and more consistent, on defense.
"He plays a position where it doesn't matter how well he swings the bat; he's got to be able to do the job defensively, and I think that's where his work has got to continue to improve," LaMar said.
Upton expected to be sent back to the minors but was a bit surprised to go in the first cut. He is hoping it doesn't happen again.
"I just have to go down and work my hardest to get back up here as soon as I can. Defense will be my focus," he said. "Everybody wants to be here, it's just a matter of time."
For Young, it was a good experience to be in camp with the big-leaguers and an unusual experience to be sent to Class A Charleston.
When was the last time he had been cut from a team?
"Uh, never," Young said. "It's the first time. But you knew going into it you were going to get sent down no matter what."
Overall, the Rays reduced their spring roster to 43 by reassigning 13 players and optioning six others. They made the moves, or at least some of them, earlier than usual because they leave for the season-opening trip to Japan in less than two weeks.
"Usually we'd keep people around a little longer, but due to the circumstances we cut our camp down considerably," Piniella said. "With the young kids, it's important they go down and start playing. At the same time, it frees us here to get the regulars more at-bats and to play our bench a little more. And from the pitching standpoint, we can stretch a few people out and let them compete."
LaMar said there is another reason the Rays made the moves they did: They have more talented players in camp.
"No question, the better you get, the better players you send down early," LaMar said. "And when you look at some of the young prospects we sent down today, in the past year they were here until the last week and we were taking a real good look at them for one reason or another.
"Historically in the quality organizations, young prospects, when you know they're not going to make the major-league club, you get them out as soon as you possibly can, and obviously that's what we did in several cases."
