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Rays invite spark plug Ozzie Guillen to spring training

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 7, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Though Ozzie Guillen played sparingly last season, the Rays thought he made valuable contributions. Valuable enough that they want him around again this year.

Guillen on Wednesday agreed to terms on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training and, essentially, a chance to make the 2001 team as a reserve infielder.

Guillen, 36, hit .243 in 63 games for the Rays, playing all four infield positions.

Guillen was the Rays' only major-league free agent. Teams have until midnight today to re-sign or offer arbitration to their free agents; if they don't, they can't re-sign the players until May 1.

EILAND GOES WEST: Pitcher Dave Eiland, who spent the past three seasons in the Tampa Bay organization, has agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with Oakland.

Eiland, a 34-year-old Pasco County product, said the Rays didn't show much interest in re-signing him.

"They said they wanted to go younger and I think it was time to turn the page. Unfortunately it didn't work out, mainly because of the injuries," Eiland said. "They wanted to go a different direction and, quite frankly, I was ready to go a different direction."

Eiland, who pitched in 17 games during an injury-marred 2000 season, was taken off the 40-man roster after the season.

Elsewhere

BLUE JAYS: Spring training tickets are on sale for games at Dunedin Stadium. Tickets are $9-$15. Call (800) 707-8269 or mail Blue Jays Spring Training Tickets, P.O. Box 957, Dunedin, FL 34697. (Schedule, see below.) ... Second baseman Mickey Morandini agreed to a minor-league contract.

BRAVES: First baseman Andres Galarraga turned down the team's most recent offer and is drawing interest from several other teams. Neither agent Jim Bronner nor the team would say what the offer was.

CUBS: With today's deadline looming and no offer from Chicago, Mark Grace is resigned to leaving the team he loves. The deadline to offer arbitration is at midnight, and team president and general manager Andy MacPhail said he'll wait until late today to announce his decision. The free-agent first baseman has spent his 13-year career in Chicago.

D'BACKS: Arizona kept its pitching rotation intact by agreeing to a $6.5-million, two-year contract with right-hander Armando Reynoso. The team also hired Bob Welch as pitching coach to complete the staff of new manager Bob Brenly.

DODGERS: Right-handed pitcher Andy Ashby signed a $22.5-million, three-year contract. Ashby, 33, was 12-13 with a 4.92 ERA and three complete games in 31 starts for the Phillies and Braves last season. He accepted an offer from Los Angeles on Tuesday, then wavered, and the team withdrew the deal. Talks resumed after a brief break.

METS: New York finally signed a starting pitcher, agreeing to a $21.75-million, three-year contract with right-hander Rick Reed. "I said it a million times probably over the last couple of years: I enjoyed my time in New York and I wanted to stay," Reed said. Reed, 36, was 11-5 with a 4.11 ERA in 30 starts last season.

SCHEDULE APPROVED: Players approved the 2001 schedule, which gives the American League its first unbalanced schedule, in which teams play division rivals more often than others, since 1976 and the National League's first since 1992.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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