Rays get versatile infielder from Reds

Looking to shore up their infield depth, the Devil Rays acquired infielder Brendan Harris from the Reds Tuesday for a minor-league player to be named later, or cash.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published January 3, 2007

Looking to shore up their infield depth, the Devil Rays acquired infielder Brendan Harris from the Reds Tuesday for a minor-league player to be named later, or cash.

Harris, who has hit .209 in 110 major-league at-bats over the past three seasons with the Cubs, Expos/Nationals and Reds, adds defensive flexibility because he can play second, third and shortstop. He hit .324 with five homers, 28 RBIs and a .384 on-base percentage in 148 at-bats last season at Cincinnati's Triple-A team in Louisville.

"Brendan is a guy we've had our eye on for a while," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We tried to acquire him last spring training and we are excited to add him to our organization today."

In an unimpressive crop of free-agent utility infielders, the Rays are believed to like Harris' position flexibility, high on-base percentage and line-drive bat. The organization believes that, at age 26, he could develop into more than a spot-start player.

"We feel he can be an offensive-type of utility infielder and he is someone we feel comfortable with playing more in the event of injuries," Friedman said. "He's young and it's too early to say he's not an everyday player, but right now we're looking at him in a utility role."

The Rays, who have just 39 players on their 40-man roster, added Harris to the 40-man.

Around the league

GIANTS: Pitcher Barry Zito, who will be formally introduced by the team today, will make a base salary of $10-million in 2007, then receive raises of $4-million in each of the next two seasons. Zito, a star left-hander and former AL Cy Young Award winner, agreed last week to a record $126-million, seven-year contract to leave Oakland.

INDIANS: Free-agent reliever Keith Foulke arrived to take his physical, the final step before the club can complete a one-year deal with the right-hander. The club is believed to be offering a mutual option for 2008. Foulke, who pitched the past three seasons for the Red Sox and got the final out of their World Series victory in 2004, lost his closer's job last year to Jonathan Papelbon.

OBITUARY: George Sisler Jr., a former president of the International League and executive of three minor-league teams, died Sunday in Worthington, Ohio, at 89. Mr. Sisler, the son of Hall of Famer George Sisler, had Alzheimer's disease.

[Last modified January 3, 2007, 00:30:05]