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Floyd Is Healthy, Ready To Work

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Cliff Floyd, elder statesman of the Rays' position players, showed up for his first day of camp Saturday carrying his gear in a black garbage bag.

No need to get too fancy, the 35-year-old insisted as he stocked up his locker.

"No special treatment here," he said. "I'm the same as everybody else. I just want to see these guys play as well as I've seen them play on TV and in person. I want to be able to help, I want to be able to contribute, and I want to make sure at the end of the day we all feel good about going home."

More important to Floyd at the moment is the way he feels heading into spring training. He has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, but there are no warning signs at the moment.

"In terms of health and in terms of my feet and in terms of my knees and everything, I feel great," he said. "I'm not worried about anything coming into camp."

That's a far cry from last spring, when Floyd didn't make his debut with the Cubs until March 12 as he worked his way back from offseason surgery to remove a bone spur from his heel.

"It was tough, and I had to battle," he said. "I think I had to hurry up instead of gradually getting myself ready for the season."

Floyd admittedly is "not a spring chicken anymore," and he indicated he would prefer to serve primarily as the Rays' designated hitter. But with Rocco Baldelli likely to spend at least the early part of the season in that role if healthy, Floyd could get a bit more time in right field than he had planned.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he would talk with Floyd before determining how the veteran would be used. No matter how it occurs, the bottom line is the same to Floyd.

"I think the important thing is, when I do get the opportunity to play in the field, play well," he said. "Not try to be Superman, because that's going into the danger zone. Plus, we have guys who are Superman. I'm sitting next to one right here."

He was referring to Carl Crawford, whose locker is alongside Floyd's in the Rays' clubhouse. The two haven't spoken since Floyd signed, but they'll get to know each other well in the coming months.

Floyd is looking forward to it, but as someone who has been on playoff teams the past two seasons, his goals are of the bigger-picture variety.

"I think we have what it takes to win here," he said, "and that's what I'm looking forward to, really."

NAVARRO UPDATE: Rays C Dioner Navarro hopes to fly home from Venezuela today and be on the field Monday, according to his agent, Kendall Almerico.

Navarro went to Caracas last week after his mother suffered a brain aneurysm. Almerico said word from Navarro was doctors hoped to move his mother out of intensive care Saturday night, and if that happened, the catcher would head for Tampa today.

NOTEWORTHY: Akinori Iwamura is expected to make his first appearance of the season this morning. Saturday, he served as grand marshal for the Central Sarasota and Venice Little League opening day parades and made a $500 donation to each organization. ... In addition to Floyd, IF Ben Zobrist also reported and worked out Saturday. ... Aubrey Huff will wear No. 17 for Baltimore this season to honor his former Rays teammate, Joe Kennedy, who died at age 28 in November. Kennedy wore that number during his time with the Rays. ... The Durham Bulls announced the team and local fans have raised more than $27,000 toward medical expenses for Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo's infant son, Alexander, who has been hospitalized with a heart defect since his birth in October.

Marc Lancaster

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