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Clubs Start To Feel Each Other Out

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

ORLANDO - Most of baseball's power-brokers had assembled at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress by Monday night, but the opening of the general managers' meetings served mostly as a reminder that little comes quickly when it comes to remaking rosters.

So there sat the stage erected in a lower-level ballroom, with a backdrop bearing the Major League Baseball logo optimistically awaiting the kind of big announcement that usually doesn't occur at these meetings.

And there was Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, clad in an orange T-shirt, checking in around 4:30 p.m. and telling a disappointed pack of reporters he had nothing new as he made his way to the elevators. Minutes earlier, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein moved through the lobby in workout gear, headed out for an afternoon run.

Yes, it was a slow day, but the general managers will get down to business today. Along with the anticipated discussion of whether to bring instant replay into the game, trade talks should commence in earnest.

By now, everyone should have a good feel for other teams' areas of surplus and need - though the crapshoot that is free agency will affect plenty of teams' plans.

"I think the free-agent market is always unpredictable," said Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman. "Between the wide variety of players available and the differing priorities and resources of all 30 clubs, there's a lot of variation throughout the winter."

It will be a while before the market begins to sort itself out. It won't really open for business until a week from today, the first day teams can officially talk dollars with any available player.

The marquee attractions, you already know. Alex Rodriguez and Andruw Jones, despite all the gnashing of teeth that surely will ensue, are certain to land monstrous multi-year contracts. Barry Bonds and Curt Schilling will be short-term additions somewhere. Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada will re-up for the final season at Yankee Stadium or head for the door.

The price tags those players will command should eliminate a hefty number of teams before the bidding even begins - the Rays likely among them. It isn't just stinginess that will keep teams away; the revolving list of World Series participants lately has taught everyone that throwing millions at every All-Star up for sale is no guarantee of success. It's not as if any of those players will go unsigned, but filling holes via trade figures to be more of a priority this winter.

"When you have depth," said Friedman, "obviously trades are a much more logical route."

With a surplus of young talent on hand, the Rays probably will figure prominently in the rumor mill, even if many of those mentions turn out to be dubious at best. To wit: a New York Post story Monday that suggested Scott Kazmir might be on the trading block.

That's not to say all of the Rays' young cogs are untouchable. It's just going to take a heck of an offer to pry away one of the affordable cornerstones the Rays have awaited for so long and finally possess.

While most possibilities remain on the table at this stage, the most likely avenues the Rays will use to fill holes in the coming months don't figure to include any blockbusters.

They'll try to find a starting shortstop, perhaps using a pitcher or two from the group that excelled at Durham and Montgomery this year as part of the bait rather than dipping into a week free-agent class at that position. And they may hit the open market for a seasoned reliever or bench player.

Just don't expect any of the newcomers to be on hand in time to walk down the runway Thursday when the Rays unveil their new uniforms.

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

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