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Rays In Market For Power

Tribune File Photo (2008)

Yankees slugger Jason Giambi is reported to have drawn some interest from the Rays to fill the need for power at DH.

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: December 5, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - If the Rays could emerge from next week's winter meetings with one item on their wish list, it would be a big bat to slot into the middle of their lineup.

Based on a market that seems to be developing at a glacial pace, they might not be able to fill that need next week, but they at least hope to continue conversations that might bring such a player to Tampa Bay.

"We'd like to add a guy that improves our offense," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Thursday. "There's certainly a lot of names out there. There's guys on the free-agent market that we're talking to, there's trade options as well, and it's something that we're going through and trying to find the best fit."

That fit likely will come in the form of a right fielder or a designated hitter - or one player who can fill both roles. While in a perfect world the Rays might like to land a pair of high-level bats to handle those positions, they probably don't have the resources to make that happen.

"I don't think it's realistic to add two impact-type guys," Friedman said.

Still, the Rays will do what they can via trade or free agency, with the latter a more prominent option than in recent offseasons, according to Friedman. Rather than focusing on acquiring players they will be able to hold on to at a reasonable cost for several years, the Rays are open to short-term deals as they look to defend their American League championship.

The flagging economy could help them on that front, as players who a few months ago might have expected to sign lucrative multiyear deals could feel compelled to accept short-term offers from teams like the Rays that are expected to contend. That could lead to a player who never would have given Tampa Bay serious consideration in previous winters - veteran sluggers Pat Burrell and Jason Giambi have been mentioned in various media reports - finding a temporary home at Tropicana Field.

"We're not necessarily tied to any one attribute," Friedman said. "But all things being equal we'd like to add some power."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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