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Maddon: Chances For Deal 50-50

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 26, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Yankees made the first big move in the division Friday by acquiring OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte from Pittsburgh for four minor-leaguers.

Will the Rays respond, especially now that two of their potential trade targets not only are off the table but headed for the AL East? Stay tuned.

A few hours before word of the deal between the Yankees and Pirates began to leak out, Rays manager Joe Maddon said it was even money whether his team would make any kind of move before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline.

"I'm not overtly confident that something's going to happen, so I'd have to say it's 50-50 at best," Maddon said. "I can't sit here and tell you that, 'This sounds really good and I think it's going to happen any day now.' I can't tell you that. I don't get that."

Nonetheless, Maddon said he knows executive vice president Andrew Friedman has been "really active" in feeling out the possibilities for the Rays. But it all comes down to two factors: How much would a potential addition help and how much would he cost?

"I would be fully on board if this person was somebody we really thought gives us a much better chance of making it to the last game of the season," Maddon said. "I would be on board with that, no question."

But Maddon made it clear there is a limit when it comes to talented players the Rays would give up in return. He didn't mention any names, but any conversation that starts with LHP David Price figures to end quickly - and RHP Wade Davis might not be far behind.

"I understand that you don't totally want to mortgage the future just for that one moment," Maddon said. "I hate when you start playing people two or three years from now and you get beaten up by the prospects you used to have. It's really a fine line."

That said, the Rays may be willing to move players from their next tier of prospects (SS Reid Brignac?) or their current major-league roster (RHP Jason Hammel?) if a significant addition can be made without jeopardizing their long-term plans. And if such a move would lead to a reduction in playing time for someone already in-house, so be it.

"Listen, you're not worried about hurting anybody's feelings right now," Maddon said. "This is a legitimate opportunity that we're in, and it's a chance to do something that the word 'special' doesn't even come close to describing. I am loyal, disgustingly loyal, and I do believe in our guys, but it's about the big picture and it's about everybody involved and if we have a chance to make ourselves better, we'll do that."

FEELING FINE: LHP Trever Miller, who has retired just one of the nine batters he has faced in his past three appearances, walking five of them, said a check of the video didn't reveal any problems with his delivery.

"I didn't think there was - there never is," Miller said. "My mechanics have always been pretty solid."

With that confirmed, Miller concluded it was just a rough stretch he'll have to get over.

"It happens, man, playing 162 games a year and pitching in 75 of them," he said.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: Fox announced Friday it has picked up the Rays-Orioles game from Tropicana Field on Aug. 30 for its national telecast. The game time will move up from 7:10 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. to accommodate the change. Fox had previously picked up the Rays' Aug. 23 game at the White Sox.

Those two Fox appearances in eight days will equal Tampa Bay's exposure on the network in the franchise's first 10 seasons.

REHAB WATCH: Rocco Baldelli went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer as the DH for Montgomery. He is set to play five innings in the outfield today.

THREE WEEKS LATER...: Major League Baseball reviewed a play in the July 1 Rays-Red Sox game and decided an error charged to J.P. Howell should have been scored a hit for Jacoby Ellsbury.

Marc Lancaster

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