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Rays In The Market For Relievers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2007

ORLANDO - When it comes to the Devil Rays' bullpen, it seems the work is never done.

Executive vice president Andrew Friedman and his staff spent much of the summer addressing issues that weren't resolved last offseason, and the Rays ultimately did get more out of their relievers as the year wore on. But even with the influx of new arms led by Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour, the Rays still have ample room to improve from a mind-boggling 6.16 bullpen ERA.

If you're looking for the one area the Rays intend to address through free agency this winter, the bullpen would be it. Though Tampa Bay has a promising stream of starting pitchers coming up through the ranks - some of whom no doubt eventually will be moved into relief duty - there is a decided lack of polished relievers in the high minors. That puts the impetus on the Rays to jump into the open market and fill some holes.

"We're in a situation right now where we're not really self-sustainable," Friedman said. "We don't really have guys that are on the verge of pitching in the big leagues or who got some experience last year who will be around for a lot of years. We're looking to acquire or develop those types of relievers, but in the meantime, finding stopgaps ... will continue to be a focus."

There are numerous current or former closers on the market, including Todd Jones, Francisco Cordero, Eric Gagne and Troy Percival. Of that group, Percival would seem the most likely Rays target, considering his ties to Manager Joe Maddon.

More tempting are the setup men on the market, who figure to be in as much demand (or more) as those with experience working the ninth inning. Pitchers like David Riske, Scott Linebrink, Rudy Seanez and Luis Vizcaino figure to be in demand, along with their left-handed counterparts. That group includes Ron Mahay, Mike Myers, Jeremy Affeldt and Ron Villone.

Friedman didn't place any added emphasis on finding a reliable lefty, but it's a void he wouldn't mind filling.

"We're not going to have one just for the sake of having one," he said. "It always gets back to a specific name, but all things being equal, sure, we'd love to have a lefty out there that gets out lefties. And while we're at it, why not let him get out righties as well?"

DUKES STILL ON TRACK: Elijah Dukes was back in town during the weekend in a pre-planned visit to deal with issues surrounding his pending divorce, but he has since returned to winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Through Tuesday, Dukes was hitting .333 (8-for-24) and led Licey with five extra-base hits and four walks.

Friedman said Rays officials have been in contact with their Licey counterparts about Dukes.

"The reports have been very good," Friedman said. "And obviously, on the field, he's having a tremendous amount of success, but that was to be expected."

Dukes' future with the Rays is still far from assured. A trade remains a possibility, and Friedman wouldn't say whether Dukes would be in the mix for a big-league roster spot in the spring.

"It's too early to answer that," he said. "There's a lot more that we want to go through, but I will say there have been a lot of positive strides in the last couple of months. But we've still got a ways to go."

LEAVING A HOLE: Rays officials had mixed feelings when a Sarasota referendum that would have provided funding for the Reds to renovate Ed Smith Stadium failed by a narrow margin Tuesday. Reds officials said following the vote they would definitely leave Sarasota, with Orlando, Vero Beach and Arizona some possible options.

With Tampa Bay moving its spring training base to Port Charlotte in 2009, the Rays had hoped to have the Reds as regular opponents. Sarasota would have been the next-closest trip behind Fort Myers, home of the Red Sox and Twins. Then again, the lack of a team in Sarasota might drive local fans down the road to Rays games.

Marc Lancaster

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