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Waivers cleared, Smith stays a Ray

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2001

BALTIMORE -- No other team wanted Bobby Smith enough to claim his contract off waivers, and the Rays say they are happy to keep him in the organization.

Smith cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Durham, where he is expected to step in at second base in place of Brent Abernathy, who will miss 3-4 weeks after sustaining a fractured rib.

Because Smith was previously outrighted, he could have declined the assignment and become a free agent but would have forfeited his hefty Triple-A salary of about $180,000, which is about three times what the average veteran makes.

"We're glad to still be able to keep him in the organization," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "I was surprised no one claimed him on waivers, to be honest with you. Maybe it was the timing of the year as much as anything. There was no question when we put him out there (on waivers) that he's a major-leaguer, I just don't know if it's going to happen here or not. This gives him an opportunity to stay in the organization and hopefully he'll reach his potential, whether it be with us or someone else."

Smith won the Rays' starting second base job over Abernathy in spring training, but lasted six games (hitting .105) and was designated for assignment April9.

Abernathy, who had hiked his average from .059 to .265, was hit by a pitch Wednesday and sustained a non-displaced fracture of the left rib cage.

JUST TALKING: LaMar met Monday with Vinny Castilla's agent, Joe Sroba, but said nothing had changed in the situation regarding the disgruntled veteran. "We explained how we, as the Devil Rays, saw the situation and he explained how he and Vinny saw it," LaMar said.

Castilla was benched Friday when the Rays called up Aubrey Huff and said he wanted to be traded or released, and has reiterated those feelings daily.

Sroba said after the meeting he still was puzzled by the timing of the Rays' decision. "It just seems a little strange. You try to read between the lines, but I can't get a read on where they are," Sroba said. "Vinny's not happy, but he'll do the best he can to ready for an opportunity, whether it comes with Tampa Bay or another club."

STOP RIGHT THERE: The Rays became the first team since the 1996 Marlins to go 12 games into the season without allowing a stolen base. John Flaherty threw out the first attempt Monday, making the Rays 5-for-5 in catching potential thieves, but the O's then stole two bases later in the game.

GRADE A: Honor roll students from primary schools in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Manatee, Polk and Pasco counties can win free tickets and caps and a visit to the WFLA radio booth under a program sponsored by the team and the Florida Lottery. Students should send copies of their honor report cards to the Florida Lottery Scholastic MVP of the Game, Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. A winner will be chosen at random before each home game.

RAYS BITS: Russ Johnson will speak to students at the Pinellas County Schools' dropout prevention center Wednesday in Largo. ... Fred McGriff was selected the team's player of the week after hitting .328 with two homers and three RBI. ... Starting tonight, the Rays play 25 of their next 37 games at home. ... Managing general partner Vince Naimoli attended his first road game of the season.

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