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Rays Plotting Move, But It Might Not Be A Big One

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 6, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - ST. PETERSBURG - In attempting to get a read on what the Rays might do in the days leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the first statement that can be made is that the parameters have changed at Tropicana Field.

It's apparent by now that the Rays should have plenty to play for in the final two months of the season, and there is no question they have the ability to pay - in terms of both dollars and desirable prospects - for any upgrades they might seek before the end of the month.

Those new realities, however, don't oblige the Rays to go out and make a big splash in the coming weeks. And the way the Rays have gone about their business en route to the top of baseball's most top-heavy division has given their leaders reason to stop and think very seriously about the impact any new addition might have on a clubhouse that has been humming along rather nicely to this point.

Manager Joe Maddon spoke Friday about the need for it to be "visible to the entire group that this person would make you better," rather than making a move to grab another piece simply because the Rays can, and Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman agreed.

"We feel like we have a very good mix of veterans and young players, and think that that has contributed some to our success and are sensitive to altering that unless it's a player we feel like clearly makes us better," Friedman said. "We have a responsibility to examine the market to try to find that, but we have a lot of confidence in the guys we have - which is a great feeling because we're not in a desperate situation here."

Would the addition of Indians ace C.C. Sabathia make the Rays a better team? Of course. But he also would almost certainly be a two-month rental, and even though the Rays would get a couple of draft picks in compensation if he walked following the season, they would then have to wait a few more years for those picks to, hopefully, become players the caliber of Wade Davis, Reid Brignac, or whoever they had to deal to get Sabathia.

That would be quite a departure from the way the Rays have gone about building the franchise to where it is at the moment. That's not to say they'll hold on to all of their prospects indefinitely.

It's more a matter of ensuring that whoever the Rays get in return for an elite prospect in a trade is worth the cost. The history of trade-deadline deals that turned out to be poor ones for the team giving up the prospects is lengthy, and the Rays have a ready reminder of that in Scott Kazmir.

So when you're thinking about moves the Rays might make, think less Sabathia (who, if you believe the buzz heading into the weekend, appears far more likely to join the Brewers) and more Xavier Nady or Brian Fuentes.

Nady would provide an upgrade as a right-handed bat who can play all three outfield spots and first base, if needed, while providing pop. While the Rays have been mentioned in connection with the likes of Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, Nady could be a better fit at a reasonable cost.

The left-handed Fuentes likewise could slot into a number of roles in a Rays bullpen that seems destined to adjust on the fly because of the tenuous health status of Troy Percival and Al Reyes.

All of those names already have been tossed around, and more undoubtedly are to come during the next couple of weeks. By now, it probably would be viewed as a disappointment by many if they didn't make a headline-grabbing move in July - especially if they ultimately broke down in September.

Friedman, however, dismissed that sort of pre-emptive second-guessing as "outcome-based instead of the process," saying the Rays need to figure out now how they would fill potential holes in the coming months and move accordingly.

"If we do our job right," said Friedman, "the decisions we make in the next month will hold for us throughout the season."

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