Meet a chance to test market

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 4, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays' pursuit of a shortstop and experienced relief help is about to get more interesting.

Though they again aren't expected to be big spenders when the signing window opens Nov. 13 for a less-than-attractive free-agent market, they are likely to be big talkers in the trade market. And those discussions should become more focused at this week's general managers' meeting in Orlando.

Amid comparing notes about super-agent Scott Boras (who plans to drop by) and discussing the merits of adopting limited use of instant replay, the GMs will have plenty of time to talk. As well as propose, pitch and ponder.

"The overall premise of these meetings is to handle administrative-type industry initiatives," Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "But it will be a benefit for all 30 teams to have the opportunity to be face to face and continue the dialogue we've started in the previous months.

"There are a couple of areas we're being very aggressive in and we've started dialogue, and other areas where some other teams may be aggressive with us. We've had a lot of conversations since the season ended and have a fairly good sense of the possibilities. That being said, something can always pop up at the GM meetings or later in the offseason."

THE "NEW" RAYS: The team is going big time for Thursday's official uniform/logo/colors unveiling (4-8 p.m. at Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg) by bringing in nearly 20 players (including Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton and Delmon Young, but not Carlos Pena, who will be on a cruise) plus former stars Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff for the "fashion show" and appearances. ... Kevin Costner and his Modern West band will play starting at 6:30. ... New-logoed merchandise will be available at the event at 5:30, then Friday at the downtown Tampa team store, coinciding with an 11:45 a.m. event at Gaslight Park, then starting at 5:30 Friday exclusively at Champs Sports stores, where there will be player appearances on Friday night (see blogs.tampabay.com/rays for the schedule).

RAYS RUMBLINGS: There is considerable interest in again playing games at Disney - the April 22-24 series with Toronto is a good fit - with sports boss Reggie Williams telling the Orlando Sentinel, "The ball is in their court." ... Crawford, somehow, finished second behind Arizona's Eric Byrnes as the best defensive leftfielder in the Fielding Bible Awards, voted by a panel of 10. ... Joe Maddon's $550,000 salary last season matched San Diego's Bud Black as second lowest among big-league managers, according to a USA Today survey. ... Odds at online sportsbook bodog.com for the Rays to win the '08 World Series are 100-1. The Royals and Pirates are also 100-1, the Nats 150-1. ... One benefit of keeping pitching coach Jim Hickey is continuity; when hired last year he was their seventh in eight seasons. ... TV broadcasters Todd Kalas, Joe Magrane and Dewayne Staats, and former radio guys Charlie Slowes and Paul Olden, are among 200 initial candidates for the Hall of Fame's Frick Award (vote on baseballhalloffame.org). ... Though Kurt Birkins has been a starter in the minors (8-4, 3.10 at Triple A), the Rays see the lefty claimed off waivers from Baltimore more as a reliever. ... Former Rays coach and scout Lee Elia will return to the field with John McLaren's Mariners in a Don Zimmer-like onfield consultant role.

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8801.

[Last modified November 3, 2007, 23:05:17]