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Top Pick Price Eager To Start Making Way Up

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Marc Lancaster, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Rays remain rigidly noncommittal when asked when LHP David Price might break into the majors, with Manager Joe Maddon throwing out the possibility that it might occur in 2008 and executive Andrew Friedman unwilling to go that far.

For what it's worth, Price has a specific target date in mind. The Rays' final series before the All-Star break, July 10-13, is at Cleveland. If Price is in the majors by then, he'll be able to reunite with his former Vanderbilt University roommate, Indians reliever Jensen Lewis.

"That's definitely my goal," Price said Tuesday.

He drove across town to make an appearance at the Opryland Resort, where he was honored as Baseball America's 2007 College Player of the Year. Price has been working out at Vanderbilt, following a regimen set out for him by the Rays' training staff. He began throwing again a couple of days ago.

Price, who has not pitched in a Rays uniform after signing a deal during the summer that could net him $11.25 million, is eager to get on the mound.

"I've met a lot of the guys, my future teammates, but pitching-wise, I really haven't done anything," Price said. "Everybody's like, 'They're paying you and you haven't even thrown a pitch yet?' I'm like, 'Yeah, I guess so.' I'm ready to get started."

Price will be in big-league camp with the Rays during the spring, but will "absolutely" begin his first professional season in the minors, according to Friedman. From there, how quickly Price advances is up to him.

"He's very polished, he's a great competitor," Friedman said. "We'll figure out where he will start the year, and we expect him to develop quickly. What that means in terms of timing is difficult to say, and we're not going to rush the process, but as soon as we feel like he is ready, he'll be in the big leagues."

STILL TALKING: Tampa Bay remains firmly in the mix for free-agent LHP Ron Mahay, who has narrowed his list of serious suitors to the Rays, Yankees, Royals, Giants and Astros.

Mahay, 36, split last season between Texas and Atlanta. He probably will command a contract along the lines of the three-year, $12 million deal J.C. Romero got from the Phillies last month.

As for the left-handed-hitting outfielder the Rays seek, the most popular names mentioned around the lobby are Shawn Green, Brad Wilkerson, Geoff Jenkins and Darin Erstad.

Friedman confirmed the Rays have made some offers and counteroffers, but said nothing was imminent as of late Tuesday afternoon.

STICKING AT SECOND: The Rays already have said they intend to play Akinori Iwamura at second base throughout spring training, and Maddon said Tuesday he would prefer to keep Iwamura there even if Evan Longoria doesn't make the Opening Day roster.

"Right now, our conventional wisdom is just to put Aki at second base and leave him there even if we don't feel Evan is ready to start the season, then try to mix-and-match at third base so that we're not bumping Aki all over the place," Maddon said.

The only other player on the roster who is capable of playing third is Joel Guzman, so the Rays likely will add a utility player with experience at third.

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