Sports | Rays

Rays remain intent on upgrading bench

Though a big bat seems doubtful, a few moves are likely in the week before the season starts.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published March 28, 2005

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WINTER HAVEN - The week remaining until opening day should be a hectic one for the Devil Rays, and not just because they'll spend most of it traversing the state on buses.

Though the everyday lineup seems set and they believe they have more quality pitchers than openings, the Rays go into the final week seeking to upgrade several positions and willing to trade pitching to do so.

General manager Chuck LaMar said Sunday he expects to make at least two moves this week, but it doesn't appear they will land the type of left-handed power bat manager Lou Piniella was hoping for.

"Chuck's calls haven't been too encouraging," Piniella said.

What they should be able to do, at least, is upgrade their bench.

Acquiring veteran catcher Charles Johnson from Colorado in a minor trade seems likely, and they are actively looking to see if they can do better than Luis Ordaz or Shane Halter as a utility infielder and Chris Singleton as an extra outfielder, though they will sifting mostly through the discard pile.

"There's no question it's going to be a busy week," LaMar said. "You're going to have some released players that had outs in their contracts that are going to be available, you've got players who are out of options that are going to be available, you've got players who ended up being 26th or 27th men on competitive teams that could possibly be an upgrade for us.

"You're going to see a lot of names, more as the week goes on. Every day the list is going to increase. I truly think we will make a move or two by the time we set our roster (at midnight Saturday) but I don't expect it to be a huge transaction."

With seven days until their eighth season opener, here is a look at what they have settled and what they have to do:

The lineup

Barring an unexpected upgrade this week, the starting lineup appears set except for the DH spot, where right-handed slugger Josh Phelps, despite a .333 spring average, may not be the full-time solution.

Singleton, or any other left-handed hitting reserves the Rays may acquire, could get a fair amount of DH at-bats. But the chance of acquiring a left-hander to hit more than the 20-25 homers they project for Phelps seems unlikely.

On the field, the Rays feel pretty good about how they line up with Carl Crawford in leftfield, Alex Sanchez in center and Aubrey Huff in right; Alex Gonzalez at third, Julio Lugo at short, Jorge Cantu at second and Travis Lee at first; and Toby Hall behind the plate.

Sanchez has had defensive lapses, however, and the Rays would like to obtain a more sure-handed centerfielder to share playing time and take over in late innings.

The batting order, however, is another issue.

"I don't know," Piniella said. "I think we're going to do more of a matchup lineup than anything else. I don't think we'll just put out a lineup that's set and go with it, unless something seems to work well. That way we can move people around depending on who's pitching."

Expect Crawford to stay at the top and Sanchez to end up second, with some combination of Huff, Lee, Lugo and the DH (Phelps, Singleton or someone new) in the middle; and Cantu, Hall and Gonzalez at the bottom.

The rotation

Four of the spots have been won by Dewon Brazelton, Scott Kazmir, Mark Hendrickson and Rob Bell, though Bell's place in the order isn't set. The competition for the fifth spot is down to veteran right-hander Hideo Nomo, who has looked increasingly impressive, and left-hander Casey Fossum.

With another strong outing Tuesday in Clearwater, Nomo should earn his spot in the rotation and would probably be the No.4 starter. That would bump Bell to No.5, meaning he wouldn't start until mid April.

Fossum has had a decent spring but may be more valuable, and more effective over the long season, working in relief. If left-handed specialist Trever Miller is traded, Fossum would probably slide into that role.

The bullpen

If the Rays are going to make a trade, it is most likely to come from their surplus of relievers. That means the bullpen could be the last area of the team set.

There have been rumors involving just about all of them, including Texas supposedly willing to discuss Alfonso Soriano for Danys Baez. The Rays aren't likely to trade Baez, at least not until July when demand could be very high. But they will listen on Jorge Sosa (who was impressive Saturday), Lance Carter, Miller and most of the others.

As it is now, Baez, Jesus Colome, Travis Harper, Miller and Fossum appear set, with Bobby Seay, Seth McClung, Carter, Sosa and (less likely) Rule 5 pick Angel Garcia competing for the final two spots.

"Those are going to be the toughest decisions," Piniella said.

McClung, Carter and Sosa have options and can be sent to Triple-A Durham; Seay and Garcia can't be sent down without being put on waivers (and in Garcia's case also offered back to the Twins).

The bench

This is where the Rays are most likely to upgrade. Under the likely configuration, Piniella will be extremely limited in terms of left-handed pinch-hitters, pinch-runners and outfield defensive replacements for Sanchez and Huff.

"We're looking for some parts to help Lou and to help us win games," LaMar said.

Backup catcher Kevin Cash, acquired from Toronto for reliever Chad Gaudin, hasn't hit enough and can be optioned to the minors.

The Rays have talked with the Rockies for months about Johnson, the 33-year-old former All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. With the Rockies willing to pick up at least $8.25-million of his $9-million salary, a deal seems likely, though the Mets may also be interested.

With Cantu taking over at second base, they would like a reserve infielder who can play shortstop and second and hit better than Ordaz, who has a career .219 average in parts of five big-league seasons. Atlanta is likely to have a surplus from the trio of Wilson Betemit, Nick Green and Pete Orr; and veterans such as Homer Bush and ex-Ray Miguel Cairo could be available.

And they'd like a little more versatility and speed in the outfield than Singleton, a 32-year-old who sat out all of last season and had thyroid surgery. Baltimore's Luis Matos might be available, as will some veterans such as Doug Glanville.

[Last modified March 28, 2005, 01:36:12]

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