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Rays Have 1st Pick In Rule 5 Draft

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - By virtue of their place at the bottom of the 2007 major-league standings, the Rays once again will have the first pick in today's Rule 5 draft.

The Rays sold the top pick in last year's draft to Oakland for $100,000, and Wednesday night they were still determining whether to take the same route again today. The Rays also were scouring their scouting reports on the unprotected players available but weren't focused on any particular position.

"If we take someone, it'll be the best available player," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.

Because Rule 5 selections must remain on the major-league roster all season or be offered back to their former teams for $25,000, teams usually focus on players with a chance to stick. Usually that means a reliever or a player who can be brought along slowly as a fourth or fifth outfielder or extra infielder.

Reliever Joakim Soria was the success story of last year's draft, as he tallied 17 saves and a 2.48 ERA in 62 appearances for the Royals. Josh Hamilton wasn't far behind, as the former Rays top overall draft pick stuck with the Reds throughout the season and is expected to take on a more prominent role in 2008.

Baseball America, the authority on Rule 5 matters, reported earlier in the week that the Rays were focused on Indians OF Brian Barton, then came back later the same day with a report saying Barton wouldn't be the pick.

Other players expected to receive strong consideration in this year's draft are Royals OF Chris Lubanski and RHP Dusty Hughes, White Sox RHP Fernando Hernandez, Red Sox RHP Lincoln Holdzkom and Reds RHP Carlos Guevara.

THE NEW GUY: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire believes the key to success for the newest member of the Rays' rotation is control - and he's not necessarily talking about Matt Garza's ability to find the strike zone.

Gardenhire praised the 24-year-old right-hander, acquired by the Rays last week in the Delmon Young deal.

"He's an emotional kid, but you've got to control the game, not let the game control you," Gardenhire said. "Those are the things that we talked over and over with him about. Not getting too frustrated on the mound when it doesn't go your way and controlling the game. As far as talent, it's all there. It's a package that's hard to find and it's hard to get rid of guys like Garza."

Garza was 5-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 16 appearances after being called back up to Minnesota last season. He is known as something of a live wire, but Gardenhire called him a "great kid" and noted that his arm has never been in question.

As for Jason Bartlett, the Rays' new starting shortstop, Gardenhire said he saw improvement during the course of last season, despite Bartlett's struggles in the field.

"We kind of had a lot of things that we worked on and talked about and he made a lot of adjustments, I thought," Gardenhire said. "He got better as the year went along. He knows how to play now, he knows the league. He's a speed guy, knows how to run the bases. He's an aggressive person as to where he was passive before."

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays were named the Topps Organization of the Year for 2007 Wednesday. The award is based on a points system, with credit given for players earning various Topps-sponsored awards in a season. The Rays had 12 players earn various Topps honors ranging from a place on minor-league all-star teams to player of the month awards. ... The Reds cut former Rays IF Jorge Cantu on Wednesday to clear a spot on their 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft. Cantu hit .298 with a homer and nine RBIs in 57 at-bats for Cincinnati last season. ... Rays IF Ben Zobrist, who lives in Nashville, dropped by the Opryland Resort on Wednesday and spoke briefly with Manager Joe Maddon.

Marc Lancaster

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