Holiday lull likely won't last

It has been a busy offseason for the Rays, and Tampa Bay can cross a lot off its wish list.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published December 23, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Matt Garza, acquired this fall from the Twins, helped fill one of the Rays' biggest needs, a potential No. 3 starting pitcher.

It has been a busy offseason for the Rays, and although activity usually dwindles during the holiday break, Tampa Bay can cross a lot off its wish list.

The Rays signed a closer (Troy Percival) and a left-handed bat to join the rightfield/DH platoon (Cliff Floyd) while adding the two established veteran presences to a young clubhouse.

They added a young pitcher they think can be the No.3 starter for the next five years (Matt Garza) and upgraded at shortstop (Jason Bartlett). And they attacked character issues by trading Delmon Young to the Twins and Elijah Dukes to the Nationals.

In these parts, where fans are used to the Rays sitting back and watching while other teams reload, that's a lot of activity, though they still need a superutility infielder and a left-handed reliever. And the Rays say the best deals might be yet to come.

"We definitely don't have our feet up," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We accomplished a good number of the things we laid out that we wanted to do. We still have a lot more we'd like to do both internally and externally. We're going to be working just as hard."

Friedman pointed out that the Rays didn't acquire 1B Carlos Pena and INF Brendan Harris until January. Both went from players trying to make the roster to impact players. While the next Rays move might not include the name recognition or the high profile of the earlier ones, it might be just as important.

"Last year we had more holes to fill," he said. "But we're going to be just as opportunistic. We're going to have the same goals as the first couple months, even though that might be a little less specific."

AT THEIR WORD: Manager Joe Maddon said he hadn't read the Mitchell report well enough to be able to talk about it critically when reached by phone last week.

Former Angels Troy Glaus, Scott Schoeneweis and Brendan Donnelly were among the players Maddon coached in Anaheim who were listed in the report.

"I haven't had the chance to talk to those guys," Maddon said. "I guess Brendan denied it the other day, and I'll take those guys at their word. But nothing changes as far as the history goes. It's a time to move forward now.

"But, honestly, I haven't really concentrated on it. We're having a great offseason, and we're trying to put everything together with this team and turn things around. That's where my concentration's been."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Now that Josh Hamilton has been traded to the Rangers, the former Rays top overall pick will get to play at Tropicana Field, albeit in a visiting uniform. Texas plays May 26-28 in St. Petersburg. ... Baseball Prospectus ranked the Rays' top 11 prospects, topped by 3B Evan Longoria, who BP said would be a leading rookie of the year candidate. Five Rays were labeled as five-star prospects (Longoria, LHP David Price, RHP Wade Davis, OF Desmond Jennings and SS Reid Brignac). ... ESPN's Jayson Stark on the Rays: "Maybe nobody on the outside takes this team seriously. But within the sport, the Rays are already a source of rapidly loudening buzzing." ... Maddon called his "Thanksmas" celebration a success and said he hopes to expand it next offseason. ... Considering the hullabaloo about new Rays jerseys being given to St. Petersburg City Council members, what about the Marlins' proposed stadium deal, which reportedly gives city and county officials two suites and 22 tickets to each game? ... Nationals special assistant and former Reds All-Star Barry Larkin, who has been entrusted to mentor Dukes: "I think it's a matter of him feeling like he's a part of something. ... Whatever the situation was, living in Tampa was a source of problems for him." ... The Rays made a minor-league trade, acquiring Tyler Hauschild, who hit .192 in 52 Rookie League at-bats last season, from the Reds for cash considerations.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 22:28:26]