Rays have talent that Red Sox need
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published December 24, 2005
The Red Sox need a centerfielder now that Johnny Damon is gone. The Devil Rays have Rocco Baldelli, one of the most talented. Any chance Boston makes a run?
Probably not, but consider:
Baldelli is from Rhode Island. At 24, he's young, fleet, can hit for power and has a huge upside. Boston reporters are all over him whenever the Red Sox play Tampa Bay. And he's signed for the next six years.
Baldelli is coming off a lost 2005 after surgeries to his left knee and right elbow. But he said Friday his rehab is going "pretty well" and is looking to be 100 percent when the regular season begins.
Having said that, there is no indication the Red Sox have inquired. It is not that Baldelli is off the table (no one is), but teams understand that unless they blow the Rays away, such talk is no use.
Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman declined to discus what teams have asked about whom. No surprise, though, he lumped together Baldelli and leftfielder Carl Crawford, who in April also signed a six-year deal.
"With the contracts Crawford and Baldelli signed and with what we have been talking about as far as consistency and identifying with the community, it would seem odd to turn around and trade either of those guys," Friedman said.
As for Baldelli, he said he usually never thinks about trades, but admitted he has heard his name mentioned on Boston talk radio.
"The way they talk about it here, it's like a passion," he said from Rhode Island. "But I'm not worried about it."
DOMINO EFFECT: We've talked about Boston's interest in centerfielder Joey Gathright ad nauseam. But its ultimate target could end up being shortstop Julio Lugo.
Consider this scenario: The Orioles trade disgruntled shortstop Miguel Tejada to the Cubs (Baltimore apparently wants pitcher Carlos Zambrano, Chicago is offering pitcher Mark Prior).
Not wanting to give away more parts in another trade, the Orioles sign former Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez. That leaves Lugo as Boston's best option at that position. Maybe then the Sox will give up third base prospect Andy Marte.
SPRING TICKETS: Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 14 at the Tropicana Field box office, devilrays.com, the Devil Rays Dugout store at WestShore Plaza, Ticketmaster and by phone at (727) 898-RAYS and (813) 282-RAYS.
ANTHEM AUDITIONS: The Rays, between Jan. 3 and 28, will take applications from those interested in performing the national anthem at regular-season home games. Candidates should submit auditions on video casette, DVD, audio CD or audio casette. A field of 50 will audition live. Send submissions to Anthem Singers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33705.