Rays add a bat by signing DH Phelps

Josh Phelps adds power to the Rays lineup.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published December 23, 2004

ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays are hoping their first significant addition of the offseason is the first step toward significantly improving their offense.

The Rays agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year, $800,000 deal with free agent Josh Phelps and likely will give him the chance to be their everyday DH.

Phelps, 26, has averaged 17 homers and 62 RBIs over the last three seasons in part-time roles with Toronto and Cleveland, playing in fewer than 120 games each time. Both he and the Rays are eager to see what he can do over a full season, and that opportunity led to Wednesday's deal, which is subject to Phelps passing a physical exam.

"Opportunity is what you're looking for," said Phelps, who moved recently to Pasco County's Trinity area. "Playing time is earned.

"I feel confident I'll be productive and continue to do those things. Hopefully I'll get those 400 or 500 at-bats. That's just something you can't pass up."

Phelps is one of several free agents the Rays plan to add. Current talks seem to be focusing on veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez, whom they would use at third base, and outfielder Danny Bautista.

Gonzalez, 31, averaged 18 homers and 66 RBIs from 2000-03 as the starting shortstop for the Jays and Cubs before missing half of last season with injury, bouncing from the Cubs to the Expos and Padres. Bautista, 32, hit .286 with 11 homers and 65 RBIs as Arizona's starting rightfielder.

Other possibilities include infielders Tony Batista, Mark Grudzielanek and David Eckstein, and outfielders Juan Gonzalez, Dustan Mohr and Ruben Sierra.

Phelps, a right-handed hitter, was once viewed as a key part of the Blue Jays future, ranked as their No. 1 prospect in 2001 and considered the logical successor to first baseman Carlos Delgado.

But the Jays seemed to sour on him last season when he hit .237 with 12 homers and a team-high 51 RBIs, and traded him to Cleveland in early August. The Indians didn't have much use for him, though he hit .303 with five homers in 24 games, and declined to tender him a contract by Monday's deadline.

The Rays talked about trading for Phelps, but made a better deal by waiting. They didn't give up a prospect (the Indians wanted Wes Bankston) and will pay Phelps about $400,000 less than he might have gotten in arbitration, though he can earn an additional $200,000 in incentives. Plus, they have the rights to him for three seasons.

[Last modified December 23, 2004, 00:31:19]