Baseball 2004 preview

Meet the Devil Rays

A quick look at the players and coaches

PITCHERS

PAUL ABBOTT, 34

AGE: 36.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-2/205.

BORN/LIVES: Van Nuys, Calif./Fullerton, Calif.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in November 2003.

CONTRACT STATUS: $600,000, one-year deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Will be in rotation, could be No. 2, 3 or 4.

DID YOU KNOW?: Abbott was the Orange County player of the year as a high school senior.

AGE: 26.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-3/225.

BORN/LIVES: Pinar Del Rio, Cuba/Miami.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in January 2004.

CONTRACT STATUS: $1.5-million in first year of two-year, $6.5-million deal; Rays hold $4-million option for 2006 with $1-million buyout.

PROJECTED ROLE: Closer.

DID YOU KNOW?: Baez is the fourth Cuban to play for the Rays, joining Rolando Arrojo, Jose Canseco and Rey Ordonez.

AGE: 29.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-1/190.

BORN/LIVES: Bradenton.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in January 2002.

CONTRACT STATUS: $320,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Seventh- and eighth-inning setup man.

DID YOU KNOW?: Carter was the Rays' 2003 All-Star and, at 28 years, 6 months, 29 days, was the sixth-oldest rookie in All-Star in history.

AGE: 21.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 5-11/165.

BORN/LIVES: New Orleans/Harahan, La.

HOW ACQUIRED: 34th-round pick in 2001 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $302,500 one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Middle reliever, for now.

DID YOU KNOW?: Gaudin was the youngest player in Rays history when he made his August 2003 debut at 20 years, 4 months.

AGE: 29.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-0/220.

BORN/LIVES: Maracaibo, Venezuela.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in November 2002.

CONTRACT STATUS: $1.7-million, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Will be in rotation but could drop back from No. 2.

DID YOU KNOW?: Gonzalez returned to the majors last season after nearly a five-year injury-related absence.

AGE: 32.

B/T: L/L. HT/WT: 6-5/215.

BORN/LIVES: Brooklyn, N.Y.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in November 2003.

CONTRACT STATUS: $600,000, one-year deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Middle to long reliever.

DID YOU KNOW?: Halama was traded from Houston to Seattle in the 1998 deal for Randy Johnson.

AGE: 29.

B/T: L/L. HT/WT: 6-9/230.

BORN/LIVES: Mount Vernon, Wash.

HOW ACQUIRED: From Toronto in a December 2003 three-way trade that sent Joe Kennedy to Colorado.

CONTRACT STATUS: $315,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Will be in rotation, probably as No. 3 starter.

DID YOU KNOW?: Hendrickson played four seasons in the NBA, spending time with the 76ers, Kings, Nets and Cavaliers.

AGE: 30.

B/T: R/L. HT/WT: 6-3/200.

BORN/LIVES: Louisville, Ky./Mt. Washington, Ky.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in January 2004.

CONTRACT STATUS: $650,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Left-handed relief specialist.

DID YOU KNOW?: Miller has pitched in the big leagues for the Tigers, Astros, Phillies, Dodgers and Blue Jays.

AGE: 27.

B/T: R/L. HT/WT: 6-0/187.

BORN/LIVES: Darlinghurst, Australia/Dublin, Ga.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in January 2004.

CONTRACT STATUS: $850,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Long reliever, spot starter.

DID YOU KNOW?: Moss is the first Australian-born Devil Ray and 15th in major-league history.

AGE: 25.

B/T: B/R. HT/WT: 6-2/177.

BORN/LIVES: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/San Jose, D.R.

HOW ACQUIRED: Claimed off waivers from Milwaukee in March 2002.

CONTRACT STATUS: $312,500, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Middle to long reliever.

VICTOR ZAMBRANO, 47

AGE: 28.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-0/203.

BORN/LIVES: Los Teques, Venezuela/Valencia, Venezuela.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in March 1996.

CONTRACT STATUS: $325,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: No. 1 starter.

DID YOU KNOW?: Zambrano is the only player to make the big leagues from the organization's inaugural minicamp in June 1996.

BROOK FORDYCE, 26

AGE: 33.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-0/194.

BORN/LIVES: New London, Conn./Stuart.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in December 2003.

CONTRACT STATUS: $650,000, one-year deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Backup catcher.

DID YOU KNOW?: Fordyce, with Baltimore at the time, beat the Rays with a 14th-inning squeeze bunt on April 19, 2002.

AGE: 28.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-3/240.

BORN/LIVES: Tacoma, Wash./Tampa.

HOW ACQUIRED: Ninth-round pick in 1997 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $320,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting catcher.

DID YOU KNOW?: Hall led the majors in 2003 by throwing out 41.3 percent (31-of-75) of attempted base-stealers.

GEOFF BLUM, 11

AGE: 29.

B/T: B/R. HT/WT: 6-3/200.

BORN/LIVES: Redwood City, Calif./Houston.

HOW ACQUIRED: From Houston in December 2003 trade for Brandon Backe.

CONTRACT STATUS: $1.5-million, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Will share time at third base and be a backup at second.

DID YOU KNOW?: Blum played six positions for the Astros in 2002-03: first, second and third base; shortstop; leftfield and rightfield.

AGE: 30.

B/T: L/R. HT/WT: 6-1/205

BORN/LIVES: Torrence, Calif./Manhattan Beach, Calif.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in January 2004.

CONTRACT STATUS: $800,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Backup outfielder/first baseman/catcher/DH and top left-handed pinch-hitter.

DID YOU KNOW?: Fick hit the final home run at Tiger Stadium, a grand slam on Sept. 27, 1999.

AGE: 28.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-1/170.

BORN/LIVES: Barahona, Dominican Republic/Kissimmee.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in May 2003

CONTRACT STATUS: $1.75-million, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting shortstop.

DID YOU KNOW?: Lugo homered in four consecutive games Sept. 22-25 at Toronto.

AGE: 36.

B/T: L/R. HT/WT: 6-2/230.

BORN/LIVES: Tampa.

HOW ACQUIRED: From St. Louis in November 2003 trade for Evan Rust and John-Paul Davis.

CONTRACT STATUS: $7.5-million in third year of three-year, $21-million deal, with Cardinals paying $7-million. Rays hold $8-million option for 2005 with $1-million buyout.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting first baseman.

DID YOU KNOW?: Martinez won four World Series rings during his six seasons with the Yankees.

AGE: 34.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-4/240.

BORN/LIVES: Cincinnati/Santurce, Puerto Rico.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in December 2003.

CONTRACT STATUS: $750,000 in first year of two-year, $1.7-million deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Backup first baseman/outfielder/DH and top right-handed pinch-hitter.

DID YOU KNOW?: Perez is the son of Hall of Famer Tony Perez.

AGE: 26.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-2/215.

BORN/LIVES: Manhattan, Kan./Safety Harbor.

HOW ACQUIRED: From Kansas City in December 1999 trade as a Rule 5 draft pick from Los Angeles.

CONTRACT STATUS: $800,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Primary starter at third base and backup outfielder.

DID YOU KNOW?: On June 23, 2003, Rolls became the third player in history to get three extra-base hits off Roger Clemens in the same game.

AGE: 36.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 5-9/170.

BORN/LIVES: Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico/Trujillo Alto, P.R.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free-agent December 2003.

CONTRACT STATUS: $1-million, one-year deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting second baseman, backup shortstop.

DID YOU KNOW?: Sanchez's .981 career fielding percentage at shortstop is third best all-time.

ROCCO BALDELLI, 5

AGE: 22.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-4/187.

BORN/LIVES: Woonsocket, R.I./Cumberland, R.I.

HOW ACQUIRED: First-round pick in 2000 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $320,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting centerfielder.

DID YOU KNOW?: Baldelli led all major-league rookies with 184 hits in 2003 and finished third in the AL rookie of the year voting.

AGE: 22

B/T: L/L. HT/WT: 6-2/219.

BORN/LIVES: Houston/Phoenix.

HOW ACQUIRED: Second-round pick in 1999 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $320,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting leftfielder.

DID YOU KNOW?: Crawford led the AL with 55 steals, becoming, at 22 years, 1 month, 23 days, the fourth youngest ever to win a league stolen base title.

AGE: 29

B/T: B/R. HT/WT: 6-0/210.

BORN/LIVES: Arroyo, Puerto Rico/Coral Gables.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in December 2003.

CONTRACT STATUS: $2.5-million in first year of two-year, $6-million deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Starting rightfielder.

DID YOU KNOW?: Cruz is the son of former Astros All-Star Jose Cruz and the nephew of former big-leaguers Hector and Tommy Cruz.

AGE: 31.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-0/190.

BORN/LIVES: Orange, Calif.

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in February 2004.

CONTRACT STATUS: $350,000, one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

PROJECTED ROLE: Backup at all infield and outfield positions, pinch-runner.

DID YOU KNOW?: Gipson was a 63rd-round draft pick by the Mariners in 1991.

AGE: 27

B/T: L/R. HT/WT: 6-4/231.

BORN/LIVES: Marion, Ohio/St. Petersburg.

HOW ACQUIRED: Fifth-round pick in 1998 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $2.5-million in first year of three-year, $14.5-million deal.

PROJECTED ROLE: Primary DH, occasional outfielder and first baseman.

DID YOU KNOW?: In 2003, Huff had the greatest offensive season in Rays history, setting nine teams records (including average, RBIs, hits and doubles) and tying the home run mark.

SETH McCLUNG

AGE: 23.

B/T: L/R. HT/WT: 6-7/250.

BORN/LIVES: Lewisburg, W.Va.

HOW ACQUIRED: Fifth-round pick in 1999 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $302,500 one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

STATUS: Recovering from June 2003 Tommy John elbow surgery; should be pitching in games by July.

DID YOU KNOW?: McClung lettered in seven sports in high school: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, track and field and wrestling.

AGE: 25.

B/T: R/R. HT/WT: 6-4/230.

BORN/LIVES: Birmingham, Ala./Pinson, Ala.

HOW ACQUIRED: First-round pick in 1997 draft.

CONTRACT STATUS: $300,000 one-year deal; Rays retain rights.

STATUS: Recovering from August 2003 shoulder surgery; should be pitching in games by late April or early May.

DID YOU KNOW?: Standridge pitched the first no-hitter in organization history, a seven-inning gem for Class A Charleston in June 1999.

LOU PINIELLA, 14

Manager

AGE: 60

BORN/LIVES: Tampa

FAMILY: Wife, Anita; children, Lou Jr., Kristi, Derek.

PLAYING CAREER: Starred in baseball and basketball at Jesuit High. . . . Earned All-America honors at the University of Tampa. . . . Spent parts of 18 seasons in the majors, including 11 as an outfielder for the Yankees. . . . Won AL Rookie of the Year award in 1969 for Kansas City. . . . Helped lead Yankees to consecutive World Series titles in 1977-78. . . . Finished in the top 10 in batting four times. . . . Has a career .305 postseason average.

COACHING/MANAGING CAREER: Second season with Rays, 18th as major-league manager. . . . His 2003 debut season was only his fifth losing record. . . . Has career 1,382-1,234 record and ranks 24th all-time in wins. . . . Served as Yankees player/coach from 1981-84 then joined staff full time. . . . Took over as manager of Yankees in 1986, moved to general manager in October 1987, went back to the dugout in June 1988 to replace fired Billy Martin. . . . Managed Reds to wire-to-wire championship in 1990. . . . Moved to Mariners in 1993 and improved team by 18 games, leading to second winning season in franchise history then to first playoff berth in 1995. . . . Won AL-record 116 games in 2001 with Seattle.

Hitting coach

AGE: 66

BORN/LIVES: Philadelphia/Odessa.

FAMILY: Wife, Priscilla; children, Tana, Ashley Ann.

PLAYING CAREER: Spent most of 12 seasons as an infielder in the minors, playing 80 games for the White Sox in 1966 and 15 for the Cubs in 1968. . . . Had .203 major-league average.

COACHING CAREER: Second season with Rays, 21st as major-league coach or manager. . . . Spent seven years on Lou Piniella's staff in Seattle. . . . Managed Cubs (1982-83) and Phillies (1987-88); also nine seasons in minors. . . . Also has been a coach for Yankees and Blue Jays.

Third-base coach

AGE: 44

BORN/LIVES: Columbus, Ga./Palm Harbor.

FAMILY: Wife, Marta; children, Bryan, Brett, Brooke.

PLAYING CAREER: Spent 13 seasons in majors with Reds, Phillies, Expos, Pirates, mostly as utility infielder. . . . Had .244 career average. . . . Played shortstop right-handed and quarterback left-handed at Miami's Palmetto High.

COACHING CAREER: Third season on Rays' staff, ninth in organization. . . . Has been minor-league field coordinator, manager of Butte (Mont.) rookie-league and Arizona Fall League teams and director of minor-league operations.

First-base coach

AGE: 43.

BORN/LIVES: Williams, Ariz./St. Petersburg.

FAMILY: Wife, Karen; children, Derek, Chelsea.

PLAYING CAREER: Spent 12 seasons in majors, including Lou Piniella's 1990 championship Reds team, for which he hit .750 in the World Series. . . . Also played for Cubs, Astros, Pirates, Red Sox, Phillies and Rangers. . . . Had .264 average.

COACHING CAREER: Seventh season on Rays' staff, ninth in organization. . . . Also has been third-base and bench coach and minor-league coach. . . . Only staff member who has seen every game in Rays history.

Pitching coach

AGE: 43

BORN/LIVES: Tampa.

FAMILY: Wife, Donna; children, CJ, Cody.

PLAYING CAREER: Star pitcher at Tampa Catholic High. . . . Pitched five seasons in Yankees and White Sox minor-league systems. . . . Career ended when he broke his left arm pitching in 1983 instructional league game. . . . Had 27-33 record and 4.27 ERA.

COACHING CAREER: First season on Rays' staff, eighth in organization. . . . Worked his way through Angels minor-league system and spent four-plus seasons (1992-96) as big-league pitching coach. . . . Joined Rays in October 1996 as minor-league pitching coach and was coordinator the past six years.

Bench coach

AGE: 52

BORN/LIVES: Galveston, Texas/Phoenix.

FAMILY: Wife, Maria.

PLAYING CAREER: Spent seven seasons as minor-league catcher, getting as high as Triple A. . . . Had .253 career average. . . . Homered in first pro game.

COACHING CAREER: Second season with Rays, 19th as major-league coach. . . . Spent past 11 seasons on Lou Piniella's staffs in Cincinnati and Seattle, serving also as bullpen, dugout and third-base coach. . . . Coached previously for Toronto and Boston. . . . Managed eight seasons in minors and nine in winter ball.

Bullpen coach

AGE: 44

BORN/LIVES: West Hartford, Conn./Issaquah, Wash.

FAMILY: Wife, Liz; children, Jimmy, Matthew, Danny.

PLAYING CAREER: Spent parts of 10 seasons in major leagues, playing in 140 games for Braves, A's, Tigers and Mariners during 15-year career as catcher. . . . Had career .190 average.

COACHING CAREER: Second season with Rays, 10th as major-league coach. . . . Spent eight seasons as bullpen coach for Mariners, working with catchers and breaking down video. . . . Worked previously as advance scout for Mariners.

Senior adviser

AGE: 73

BORN/LIVES: Cincinnati/Treasure Island.

FAMILY: Wife, Soot; children, Tom, Donna.

PLAYING CAREER: Spent 12 seasons as a major-league infielder, playing for the Dodgers (winning two World Series rings), Cubs, Mets, Reds and Senators. . . . Made 1961 NL All-Star team. . . . Was first player to model Mets uniform in 1962. . . . Had .235 career average.

COACHING CAREER: First season with Rays, 34th as major-league coach or manager. . . . Spent past eight seasons as Yankees bench coach. . . . Managed Padres, Red Sox, Rangers and Cubs to 885-858 record; also managed Yankees to 21-15 mark filling in for Joe Torre in 1999. . . . Also coached for Expos, Giants, and Rockies.