Rays consider moving Gomes to 1B

By MARC TOPKIN
Published December 22, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - As the Devil Rays continue conversations about trading some players, such as Rocco Baldelli and B.J. Upton, they are also talking about how to play the ones they still might have.

One idea is to move outfielder Jonny Gomes to first base.

Rays officials recently called Gomes - who is recovering well from season-ending right shoulder surgery - to discuss it, and Gomes told them he would be willing to try.

"I said, "Look, I'll play anywhere,' " Gomes said Thursday. "I think they were surprised I was that open to it. Look, I'd definitely have my work cut out for me at first base. But if it helps the team out, and it would help me out in my career, I'd do it. I just want to hit."

Gomes said he has been hitting regularly, recently starting throwing with no pain and expects to be 100 percent by the start of the exhibition season. "It's almost like I didn't have the surgery right now," he said.

As the Rays have added depth and versatility, Gomes is one of several first base options, joining Jorge Cantu (who could be moved from second), Hee-Seop Choi (who signed a minor-league deal), prospect Elijah Dukes (who got a brief tryout in the fall league), Greg Norton and Ty Wigginton.

The Rays also finalized a minor-league deal with veteran reliever Al Reyes and announced the signing of pitcher Gary Glover and outfielder Jason Grabowski to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training.

Reyes, 36, has a good shot to win a job in the bullpen as he comes back from Tommy John elbow surgery. He was 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 65 games for St. Louis in 2005 before being hurt, and spent most of last season recovering in the Rays' minor-league system. He has a career 3.60 ERA over parts of 11 big-league seasons.

Glover, 30, is 21-18 with a 5.03 ERA in 149 major-league games with the Blue Jays, White Sox, Angels and Brewers. He was 5-7, 5.57 for Milwaukee in 2005 and spent last season in Japan with Yomiuri. Grabowski, 29, has a career .196 average in 190 big-league games with the A's and Dodgers, most coming during the 2004 season. He played in Japan for Orix last season.

HOLIDAY CAMP: The Rays are hosting a hitting camp Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-noon at Progress Energy Park, including an appearance by hitting coach Steve Henderson. The cost is $150. Go to devilrays.com or call 727-825-3306 to register.

COUNCIL OKAYS DISNEY GAMES: The St. Petersburg City Council approved an agreement that allows the Rays to play three regular-season home games next year at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. The games are May 15-17 against the Texas Rangers. According to the deal, the city will receive its lost share of ticket revenues due to moving games from Tropicana Field to Disney, as well as 26 tickets to each game against the Rangers. The agreement applies only to the 2007 season.

Around the league

BREWERS MAKE OFFER TO SUPPAN: Jeff Suppan, the MVP of the NL Championship Series, has been offered a four-year deal by the Brewers. "We stepped up and felt it was important to be known," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. Suppan was brilliant in helping the Cardinals beat the Mets before the team went on and swept Detroit in the World Series.

INDIANS MOVING FROM WINTER HAVEN: Cleveland is leaving its spring training home in Winter Haven and moving back to Arizona The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority approved a funding plan outlining the details of financing for a spring training facility in the west Phoenix suburb of Goodyear. The team hopes to play there in the spring of 2009. The team trained in Tucson, Ariz., until 1993.

ORIOLES: The team is thinking about moving its spring training operations into the historic Dodgertown facility, the mayor of Vero Beach said - though the team denied any upcoming move.

PHILLIES: Rod Barajas lost half his guaranteed money and will have to compete for a starting job, finalizing a $2.5-million, one-year deal. He signed a letter of agreement last month for a $5.25-million, two-year deal with Toronto that included $500,000 in available performance bonuses. He likely would have gotten a starting job under that deal, which was dependent on him taking a physical. He refused to take the physical, then switched agents.

REDS: Jeff Conine was acquired from the Phillies for a pair of minor-leaguers. Conine, 40, played outfield and first base with the Orioles and Phillies last season.

YANKEES: Andy Pettitte formally rejoined the team, finalizing a $16-million, one-year contract.

OBITUARY: Cecil Travis, a hard-hitting former farm boy whose career was interrupted by service in World War II, died. Mr. Travis died Saturday at his home in Riverdale, Ga. He was 93. Mr. Travis, a shortstop for the Washington Senators, batted .314 for his career and had an AL-leading 218 hits in 1941, the same year Ted Williams batted .406 and the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio had a hit in 56 consecutive games.

Times staff writer Aaron Sharockman and Times wires contributed to this report. Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8801. View his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/rays/.

[Last modified December 22, 2006, 06:40:53]