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Shortstop deeper with veteran Gomez

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 28, 2001

BOSTON -- The Rays signed Chris Gomez to a Triple-A contract Wednesday, but the veteran shortstop could end up in the big leagues relatively quickly.

Gomez, 30, was released Friday by the Padres, who had relegated him to part-time duty and had no use for him after acquiring D'Angelo Jimenez.

The Rays, thin at shortstop throughout the organization, are glad to have the eight-year major-league veteran.

"Our shortstop position is open for competition," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "Felix Martinez had won the job last year, but he's not performing as we expected him to this year. Andy Sheets has competed extremely well since coming up, but the results have not been outstanding."

Martinez lost his starting job after making 12 errors in 38 starts and is hitting .237. Sheets has played steady defensively since taking over in mid May but has a .222 average. Neither Martinez nor Sheets has minor-league options remaining, and they have the right to decline a Triple A assignment and become free agents.

"We're continuing to evaluate our shortstop position," LaMar said. "Signing Chris Gomez gives us a veteran major-league shortstop at the Triple-A level who we could call up anytime."

Gomez quickly became the Tigers' starter but was traded in 1996, with current Rays catcher John Flaherty, to San Diego for Brad Ausmus, Andujar Cedeno and Russ Spear.

Gomez played well for the Padres, helping them into the playoffs twice and the 1998 World Series, and he received a three-year, $7.8-million contract.

Gomez, limited the past few seasons by knee problems, hit .188 with no homers and seven RBI in 40 games for San Diego and .300 in 11 games for Triple-A Portland.

The Padres owe Gomez the remainder of his $3-million salary this season. If the Rays call him up, they will pay him a prorated share of the $200,000 minimum.

LeROY REMEMBERED: LaMar went back a long way with pitcher John LeRoy, who died Monday in an Iowa hospital at age 26. LaMar was Atlanta's scouting director when LeRoy signed with the Braves in 1993, then made LeRoy the Rays' 17th pick in the November 1997 expansion draft.

LeRoy got to Triple-A with the Rays during the 1998 season, then pitched briefly again in the minors and briefly in 1999 before leaving as a free agent.

"I know that everyone in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Atlanta Braves organizations who came in contact with John is deeply saddened, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," LaMar said.

FAST FREDDIE: A sore left hamstring forced Fred McGriff out of the lineup for three days and limited him to DH duties for the past three. Manager Hal McRae said he hopes to have McGriff at first base by Friday, but McGriff isn't sure if he will be ready.

RAYS BITS: Greg Vaughn tied Jack Clark for 64th place on the all-time list with his 340th homer. He has four in 13 at-bats against Hideo Nomo. ... Seven of Steve Cox's last 12 hits have been for extra bases. ... There were no reports of a Gerald Williams signing. The outfielder, released by the Rays on Sunday, cleared waivers and became a free agent at 1 p.m. ... Wilson Alvarez will make another rehabilitation start for Triple-A Durham on Saturday in Norfolk, Va. ... The Yankees shuffled their rotation for the weekend series, leaving the Rays to face Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina in four days.

The pitchers

JOE KENNEDY: Kennedy, a 22-year-old left-hander, has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his four big-league starts. He won his first two after his June 1 promotion, then had a loss and a no-decision. This is the first Fenway Park appearance for Kennedy.

FRANK CASTILLO: Castillo, a 32-year-old right-hander, is doing well in his first season in Boston. He is 7-5 with a 4.21 ERA, though he has allowed 106 baserunners in 79 innings. Castillo has pitched well in limited action against the Rays, going 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA.

Outta leftfield

The Rays have issues, but at least they don't have these kinds of issues. Not yet, anyway. Boston was buzzing Wednesday over a New York Post gossip column report that Sox star Nomar Garciaparra -- or, as the Post described him, the "hunky baseball phenom" -- is involved with soccer star Mia Hamm. What makes the rumor all the more juicy, of course, is that Hamm is married, and to a Marine fighter pilot, no less. Now, have you heard the one about Aubrey Huff and Jessica Alba of Dark Angel fame?

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