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Offseason Work Now Begins

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman share an overriding objective - making the Devil Rays first a winning, then a contending team. As they headed into the offseason, each had a working list of what steps should be taken between now and March 31 - Opening Day - to make that happen.

For Friedman, who is responsible for putting the pieces in place, it includes continuing to scour the globe for quality, affordable pitching and finding a solution at shortstop.

For Maddon, who is charged with getting the most out of the talent at hand, the focus will be on defense, situational hitting and base running when the players and coaches reconvene to open spring training.

The focus for the next few months will be on Friedman's part of the equation, as he and his staff attempt to best take advantage of the 20-percent payroll increase (to about $35 million) principal owner Stuart Sternberg said he had budgeted for this winter.

'I think we have a lot fewer questions going into this offseason than we did last,' Friedman said. 'That being said, we still have some moves that we would like to make and that we've prioritized that we feel will significantly help us in '08 and beyond.'

The Rays' executive vice president wouldn't delve too deeply into specifics, but the team's primary needs are clear. It's just a question of how to meet them. The consensus on this year's potential free-agent class is that it will be one of the weakest in memory, especially when it comes to starting pitching.

Adding a rotation piece isn't nearly as high a priority for Tampa Bay as it has been for most of the team's history, as the Rays feel confident in the talent they have coming up through their system and those already in place. However, they wouldn't mind adding a more seasoned starter to a young group if they can find the right fit.

The list of shortstops available on the open market isn't awe-inspiring, either. The likes of David Eckstein and Juan Uribe lead the way, with the apparently timeless Omar Vizquel the biggest name. The dearth of frontline options could force the Rays to fill that hole through trade, potentially dealing away some of those younger pitching prospects they finally have in surplus in the minors.

Bullpen help is hit-or-miss. The Rays feel like three players who joined the team in the middle of this season - Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour and Scott Dohmann - are keepers heading into next season. Al Reyes and Gary Glover also will be back. A veteran lefty would seem the most pressing need unless the Rays decide to go for broke and try to pick up an established closer.

That would be an expensive move that wouldn't seem compatible with the payroll parameters Sternberg has established, but Friedman said he has some wiggle room when it comes to adding salary.

'I'm confident that if we can find the right player, whether it be in a trade or free agency, that makes some money, there's creative ways we can move things around to make it work,' he said. 'If it's the right piece, we will have some flexibility.'

In the meantime, it's defense that has Maddon's full attention. Toward the end of 2007, he began to see his maturing group of young players make fewer mental mistakes - less throwing to the wrong base, more hitting the cut-off man - and he promises to hammer home the importance of that aspect of the game in spring training.

'I really want to make a strong push on the defensive side of the ball going into next year,' Maddon said. 'Next spring that's going to be so heavily emphasized, because I think that's going to be the difference. ... Everybody looks for the offense and the pitching, that's obvious, but when you can really improve your defensive side of the ball, you'd be surprised how many games you pick up.'

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

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