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At GM Meetings, Expect A Lot Of Talk, Little Action

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By Mark Lancaster, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - There was no breather between the postseason and the offseason this year, with the ill-timed Alex Rodriguez opt-out segueing into high-profile managerial moves in New York and Los Angeles by the time the Red Sox had a chance to throw their parade.

Despite that early start, this week marks the semi-official opening of the Hot Stove League. Representatives from all 30 teams will gather outside Orlando on Monday through Thursday for the general managers' meetings, the traditional time to lay foundations for deals that might be consummated at the winter meetings in December or later in the offseason. Or, not at all.

The Rays' braintrust already has spent more than a month preparing for whatever moves the winter might hold, so executive vice president Andrew Friedman doesn't necessarily anticipate any groundbreaking revelations this week.

"I think it helps getting face to face to get things a little more pointed," Friedman said. "But we've had conversations with basically every team already this offseason and down the stretch in the regular season, so we've got a pretty good feel for potential ideas."

From the Rays' perspective, those discussions with other teams probably will play a larger role in reshaping the roster than any talks they might have with agents concerning players on the open market. Yes, the Rays could dip into free agency to find a couple of reasonably priced bullpen arms - a description that may very well become an oxymoron - but they may be better off seeking a starting shortstop via trade. And as for signing a free-agent starting pitcher, forget it.

So don't expect much action this week; the proceedings will focus mostly on talk. The Rays will continue to gauge trade interest and perhaps try to pry Scott Boras away from whatever bounty he'll be attempting to exact for the services of A-Rod and Andruw Jones to discuss a deal with the arbitration-eligible Carlos Pena.

PLAY IT AGAIN? The most noteworthy item on the fixed agenda at the meetings is an expected discussion of whether to incorporate instant replay into the game.

The GMs must decide what type of plays will be eligible for review and how the system would work. The most likely instance to gain approval likely would limit replays to whether home runs are fair or foul and whether they actually clear the fence. But would it be an NFL-style challenge system? And who would review the play - on-field umpires or a replay official in the press box?

"In theory, I'm an advocate of using replay," Friedman said. "But the execution of it is important to me in helping me determine how we'll vote."

GOING INTERNATIONAL: Top Rays prospect Evan Longoria kept on hitting during his stint in the Arizona Fall League, building on an already impressive first full season as a pro.

Longoria hit .308 with four homers and scored 14 runs in 18 games between Scottsdale and Team USA as the latter group geared up for the IBAF World Cup in Taiwan. The 22-year-old is expected to start at third base for Manager Davey Johnson's team, which opens competition Wednesday against Mexico.

Rays OF Justin Ruggiano, a late addition to the USA squad, hit .176 in five AFL games.

WINTER-BALL WATCH: Rays RHP Brian Stokes opened the winter in Mexican League club Mexicali's rotation, but has since moved back into relief. He's 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA overall. ... Two coaches in the Rays minor-league system are working with Venezuela's Magallanes team this winter. Princeton pitching coach Marty DeMerritt is doing the same job for Magallanes, while Vero Beach pitching coach R.C. Lichtenstein is spending several weeks as an instructor, working mostly with the team's minor-league players.

NOTEWORTHY: Carl Crawford was tabbed as the second-best defensive left fielder in baseball (behind Arizona's Eric Byrnes) in the 2007 Fielding Bible Awards. ... Chamberlain High product Dave Miley and former Rays coach Jose Cardenal reportedly are candidates to join Joe Torre's Dodgers coaching staff.

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