'New life' for Clyburn

After seven years in minors, new Ray faces odd role: making someone else the odd man out.

By JOHN ROMANO

ST. PETERSBURG -- Even before Danny Clyburn's arrival Tuesday morning, his presence was felt in Tampa Bay's clubhouse.

Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild tracked down outfielders Bubba Trammell and Mike Kelly, whose futures might change because of Clyburn, to discuss the situation with them.

Danny Clyburn went through three organizations before joining Tampa Bay and had 2,706 minor-league at-bats.
[Times photo: Cherie Diez]

Too many outfielders, too few jobs. Clyburn can empathize. He has been through it himself. As recently as the weekend.

A day before being traded to the Devil Rays on Monday for pitcher Jason Johnson, Clyburn had been optioned to Triple A by the Orioles. So he began the week looking at an eighth straight season in the minors. By week's end, he's hoping his career will change in a majors way.

"It's the best feeling for me," Clyburn said. "I needed a change. I feel like day one of a new life. It's a fresh opportunity to start all over."

The Rays have all but guaranteed Clyburn a spot on the roster when the season begins next week. It's time, they say, to see if his potential for power can become a reality.

Trammell has shown home run pop and is a more polished hitter, but Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said Clyburn has more power than any of the team's younger outfielders.

"The question has been whether he was going to be able to use his power at the major-league level," LaMar said. "We feel that question will be answered with an opportunity. In Baltimore, with B.J. Surhoff, Brady Anderson and Albert Belle, it would be hard now and in the future to get that opportunity. So we plan on giving it to him."

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Clyburn, 24, has not had many opportunities. Of his 2,734 professional at-bats, 2,706 have been in the minors. Tampa Bay is his fourth organization after he went through three trades since 1994.

The Rays say Clyburn has shown signs of a hitter ready to make the jump. He's making better contact. He's handling tough pitches with more consistency.

"I know I can produce," Clyburn said. "I'm just like a thousand other kids around the minor leagues. You see it every year, kids not getting the opportunity to play. I think if you've been down, you deserve at least one opportunity to play if you've paid your dues."

Trammell, Kelly, Rich Butler and Randy Winn played with the Devil Rays last season.

Yet it's not inconceivable that three of them -- or even all of them -- could begin 1999 in the minors or elsewhere.

The outfield could include Quinton McCracken in center, a platoon with Dave Martinez and Clyburn in rightfield and Paul Sorrento in leftfield with one other outfielder on the team.

Trammell, Butler and Winn have minor-league options remaining and could be sent to Triple A. Kelly would have to clear waivers before the Rays could demote him.

"The ace in the hole, not so much for the players but the organization, is some of the outfielders in question have options left," LaMar said. "We like their talent or they would not be in this organization. We're going to try to hold on to as many of them as we can unless there's a trade to be made that's advantageous. We're not just going to trade a player away who has options left, just to make room. We need depth."

Trammell declined to talk about the situation. Kelly said there wasn't much to say.

"I can't worry about it because I don't have any control over it," Kelly said. "Larry said he'd let me know as soon as he could tell me anything."

Rothschild said he feels an obligation to inform the players as much as possible when rosters are being decided.

"It's not easy for them and we know that," Rothschild said. "We're in the business of trying to get better and if (a new) player gets us better, there may be some unpleasant things. If that's the situation, so be it."

Clyburn is just happy to be on the other side of the scenario. Having been sent to the minors less than 48 hours earlier, he said he could better appreciate the chance he is getting.

"I was down; I was going back to Triple A," Clyburn said. "I had been down there two years in a row and had done good. Going back to the same city ... after a while you need a change. You hear the same questions about why you're not up there. It takes a toll on you. I needed a change from the organization."

-- Staff writer Marc Topkin contributed to this report.