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Rays Are Still Mulling Outfield Possibilities
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Published: March 16, 2008
LAKE BUENA VISTA - For now anyway, Rays manager Joe Maddon's right field/designated hitter triangle is missing a side. That might not be the case for long.
The Rays already were kicking the tires on additional outfield possibilities before Rocco Baldelli clarified his situation Wednesday. Now that everything is out in the open, the Rays can ramp up their efforts to bring in a player to join Jonny Gomes and Cliff Floyd at those positions - preferably someone who could back up B.J. Upton in center field.
"As Rocco's situation started to become clearer, we expedited some conversations to try to bring someone in from the outside," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Saturday. "We're always looking to upgrade, and if we can upgrade over what we have internally, we'll do so. If we can't, obviously we won't."
Friedman said the Rays were more likely to seek an answer via trade than by signing a still-available free agent.
The team has discussed free agent Kenny Lofton at various points, and still could sign him without giving up anything but cash, but some outfielders figure to become available as teams near final cuts in the next couple of weeks.
The Angels could deal either Juan Rivera or Reggie Willits. In Boston, Coco Crisp won't be an everyday player after the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury. But Crisp is banged up, and two other outfielders who might otherwise be good fits for the Rays - Toronto's Reed Johnson and Cincinnati's Ryan Freel - have had trouble staying healthy at times.
If the Rays find a player they like, they probably would be willing to part with one of their sudden surplus of young starting pitchers to get him. Keep in mind that Jason Hammel and Edwin Jackson are out of options and likely will make the Opening Day roster if they're still around, even though Andy Sonnanstine and J.P. Howell have looked very good this spring. There doesn't appear to be room for all four of them on the pitching staff - unless Scott Kazmir opens the season on the disabled list.
Even if the Rays hold onto all of those players, they might consider dealing from their stock of arms at the Double-A and Triple-A level for the proper return. It's just a matter of finding someone with the right blend of skills at the right price.
"We're going to continue over the next two-plus weeks to try to identify someone that can come in and help us both offensively and defensively," Friedman said.
For the time being, the Rays are giving more playing time to potential fifth outfielders John Rodriguez and Jon Weber. Baldelli's injury has opened the door for one of them potentially breaking camp with the team. With a new chance available, they're trying to state their cases.
"You have to come out here and try to impress everybody, because in this game you never know what could happen," Weber said. "You always want to impress everybody - not only our coaching staff and front office, but there's 30 other teams that are in the stands as well."
ON THE RIGHT TRACK: Brian Anderson's career-ending elbow injury will keep him from playing for the Rays, but one aspect about his time with the team this spring jumped out at him. He was pleasantly surprised by the camaraderie among players battling for the same spots.
"Everybody pulls for everybody," Anderson said. "You may be in direct competition with this guy, but when he pitches well, it seems genuine when you're patting him on the back. Whether or not it's eyewash ballplayer-speak for something that's just for show, who knows? But you know what? Most teams, they don't even fake the eyewash. If I'm in competition, you just kind of stay to yourself. But everybody here is pushing towards that common goal to win and do well, even if you're pitted against each other. ...
"That says something. That really says something for how this clubhouse is looking at things, and it's impressive. They've got something pretty special going on here, and it seems like it's finally a situation where everybody's on the same page, there is a plan and we're going to force it down this way, which is the right way to go about it."
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