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Rays Could Be Close To Making Another Deal

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Rays may have one more move up their sleeve before the winter meetings come to an end today.

There were indications Wednesday that Tampa Bay was close to making another deal, but nothing official came down the pipe after another day of discussions that included some previously unforeseen possibilities.

"We had some productive conversations today, a couple that we didn't necessarily anticipate and cropped up more recently," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We thought we really didn't have anything to talk about with these teams and a couple things have popped up today that at least have some legs and we'll continue to flush out. I certainly wouldn't characterize anything as imminent, but all in all it's been a productive day."

The landscape may have changed with some recent moves by other teams. In the wake of their mega-deal with the Marlins, the Tigers are believed to be shopping Brandon Inge, who could conceivably be the super-utility player the Rays are seeking even though he has been a full-time third baseman the last three seasons. Also new on the block is outfielder Laynce Nix, a formerly well-regarded prospect for the Rangers who was designated for assignment Wednesday by the Brewers to clear a roster spot for free agent David Riske.

Not that the Rays are focused completely on trades. They continued to check in with the representatives of various free agents as they look for a utility player, outfielder, reliever and possibly a veteran catcher.

"We're trying to explore things on simultaneous paths," Friedman said.

That approach has left both the team and its targets in a holding pattern.

Take Geoff Jenkins. The veteran had spent his entire career with the Brewers, but he's on the open market now. The Rays made contact with his agent, Damon Lapa, early in the free-agent period and touched base again immediately after the Delmon Young trade created an immediate need in right field. The parties met in person this week in Nashville.

But as of Wednesday afternoon, there was still nothing to report but mutual interest.

"It seems like the majority of the suitors for Geoff, the Rays included, have multiple irons in the fire," Lapa said. "Until some of these dominoes start to fall, I think Geoff and some of the other free-agent position players and some of the other free-agent pitchers are going to kind of be in this weird limbo where we have several clubs interested and all are legitimately interested but we have to wait for everything to really crystallize over the next few days."

The same could be said for other players the Rays have or are believed to have contacted, including Shawn Green, Rob Mackowiak, Eric Hinske, Cliff Floyd, Darin Erstad and Wednesday's new addition according to ESPN.com, Tampa native Luis Gonzalez.

The Rays have said all along that they don't feel any pressure to finalize deals during the winter meetings just to make a splash; they'd be just as pleased to welcome the players they want next week or next month. But there remains a chance they will finish with some sort of flourish today, with Friedman putting 50-50 odds on one more deal getting done before he heads to the airport this afternoon.

"We've had talks that are mature enough that we think there's a chance to get something done," he said.

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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