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Family Rejoices At Trade News

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: December 12, 2008

LAS VEGAS - Matt Joyce Sr. had been waiting all week for his son and namesake to be traded by the Detroit Tigers. First, there were rumors the 24-year-old Armwood High graduate might be headed to Pittsburgh. Then, Seattle.

"Last night, I went to bed and I just prayed that he stayed basically on the East Coast, because I like to watch him play," the outfielder's father said Thursday afternoon. "I was asleep, and my stepdaughter woke me at 12:15 last night saying he got traded to Tampa Bay."

The news set off a celebration at Joyce's Riverview home, and father and son finally spoke on the phone around 2:30 a.m. That in itself was an accomplishment, as Joyce has been playing winter ball in Mexico and Andrew Friedman hadn't even been able to get in touch with him as of midday Thursday.

"He was ecstatic," Joyce Sr. reported. "He was real happy."

Joyce is scheduled to return from his winter ball stint Monday, eager to be with his family for Christmas after missing Thanksgiving. Best of all, he'll get to stay home indefinitely, aside from a side trip to Port Charlotte for spring training.

That's where the Rays will get their first extended look at him, though they like what they have seen to date.

"I like the thunder in his bat, I like the effort with which he played," said Manager Joe Maddon. "He's a very good outfielder, he throws well and he's young. He's the kind of guy I think, as he learns more about himself at the plate, is going to be a very productive offensive player, too."

Maddon added that several baseball people had approached him since the trade was made to tell him how much they thought of Joyce as a person, and Friedman heard the same thing.

"We've gotten really good reports on his work ethic, on his makeup, on the intangibles that elevate his tools in terms of being a baseball player," Friedman said. "That's kind of the ultimate compliment for us as we're going through and looking at guys."

PLUS-MINUS

The odds are against any Rule 5 draft pick making a big-league roster and sticking through the season - even more so when the team in question is expected to contend. But the Rays believe the reliever they nabbed from the White Sox organization Thursday, RHP Derek Rodriguez, has a chance to make an impact.

The 25-year-old went 5-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 49 outings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2008, his first season working out of the bullpen full-time. He allowed just 54 hits while striking out 88 in 791/3 innings. Rodriguez's fastball runs between 87 and 92 mph, Friedman said, and much like Andy Sonnanstine, he uses a variety of arm angles to keep hitters off-balance.

"I don't think we would have taken him if we weren't intrigued enough to give him a real opportunity," Friedman said. "What will happen remains to be seen, and some of that will be dictated by what we do between now and spring training. But as we stand here today we're excited to add him and feel like he's got a very legitimate chance to come in and earn a job."

On the other side, the Rays weren't surprised to lose RHP Eduardo Morlan, who was selected by the Brewers. Morlan will have to remain on Milwaukee's roster or be offered back to the Rays.

CUT DAY

The Rays must tender 2009 contract offers to all of their players by midnight tonight. Jonny Gomes is the most likely candidate to be non-tendered.

Marc Lancaster

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