Replace Alomar? Easy. Replace Bautista? Hard.

Jorge Cantu hopes to force the Rays' hand at second. But that still leaves an outfield spot.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published March 21, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The morning after a pair of retirement announcements that created holes in the Devil Rays lineup and altered their agenda for the next two weeks was greeted with dark humor.

Players made jokes about forming a pool on who might quit next. Coaches quipped about whether everyone showed up for work.

"I didn't realize," manager Lou Piniella cracked, "it was so tough to be a Devil Ray."

But for general manager Chuck LaMar, this is serious business.

Replacing second baseman Roberto Alomar might not be much of a problem, especially if Jorge Cantu continues his impressive spring (.342), though the Rays still might have to acquire a capable backup.

But finding a frontline outfielder to take Danny Bautista's spot in the starting lineup and the middle of the batting order will be a challenge, even tougher given the timing and the circumstances.

"We will have to be the aggressor and make sure every team in baseball knows that we are actively looking for an outfielder until Rocco Baldelli gets back (from a knee injury in July or August)," LaMar said. "This is by far, in my opinion, the toughest time of year to make a substantial trade.

"We felt fortunate to sign Danny Bautista, and to find someone of his capability at the end of spring training doesn't happen very often."

Tampa Bay scouts, already scattered through Florida and Arizona, will make even more evaluations and suggestions. LaMar, who usually spends most of the final weeks of the spring talking to other GMs anyway, might need a second cell phone. Conference calls will be scheduled. Meetings will be held. Numbers will be crunched.

Players they have interest in will be identified, and LaMar and his assistants will initiate at least preliminary discussions. Some probable targets include Baltimore's Jay Gibbons, Cincinnati's Wily Mo Pena, Pittsburgh's Rob Mackowiak, Washington's Terrmel Sledge, Oakland's Eric Byrnes and the Mets' Eric Valent.

At the same time, the Rays will re-evaluate in-house alternatives. Alex Sanchez, signed to a minor-league deal Saturday after being released by Detroit, made a good impression Sunday, going 2-for-3. And Joey Gathright, optioned to Triple A last week, might re-emerge as a legitimate option in leftfield with Aubrey Huff shifting to right.

In either case, the Rays would still look to pursue a frontline hitter to be the primary designated hitter, with Washington's Nick Johnson and Houston's Mike Lamb among the possibilities.

Somewhat unusually, the Rays can take on salary, perhaps as much as $4-million. That could allow them to consider a higher class of player than they did in signing Bautista for $1.9-million (which they don't have to pay). But in most scenarios, they are also going to have to give up some talent to make a deal. And that, from the sound of things, might be the bigger issue.

"I think everybody knows what we need here," Piniella said. "I think what's more important is what people are going to want from us. Over the winter, you can sign that type of player with money. Now it takes some talent plus money. We might have to be patient with this and let it go down to the last week or so of spring training."

LaMar was even more adamant that the Rays would not include their top prospects in a deal, especially for a player who is likely to end up in a reduced role once Baldelli returns.

"We are not going to overpay because we have this need," LaMar said. "We are not going to trade away one of our quality young players who we think is one of the building blocks of this organization to fill this hole until Rocco gets back. We're going to do everything we can, but we're not going to panic."

While LaMar spends most of the spring watching his players, the Rays are now looking to see what he and his staff can do.

"I have no idea what they're thinking," Huff said. "You'd like to see us get someone that's established and has had some success, not someone who'd going to get released."

LaMar said they'll try, but that it won't be easy.

"I appreciate the players looking to the organization to fill these needs, but there's no tougher time to do that. Look back at the last six, seven years, and there have not been many significant trades made at the end of spring training," he said.

"We're hopeful something can get done, but these needs are much easier to fill in November, December and January than they are at the end of March."

[Last modified March 21, 2005, 01:50:19]