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Rays Bolster Bullpen

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays added another experienced arm to their bullpen mix Friday, signing Lance Cormier to a one-year deal. The major-league contract guarantees the 28-year-old at least $675,000 while allowing him to earn up to $175,000 more in incentives.

The Rays also announced they agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.4 million deal with Grant Balfour, avoiding arbitration with one of last season's most effective relievers.

Cormier went 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 45 appearances (all but one in relief) for the Orioles in 2008, his fifth season in the majors. The right-hander previously pitched for the Diamondbacks and Braves, working primarily out of the bullpen. To open a roster spot for him, the Rays designated for assignment reliever Dewon Day, who they had claimed off waivers from the Red Sox last week.

Adding Cormier and free agent Joe Nelson to the bullpen could clear the way to trade a higher-priced reliever, such as Chad Bradford. The Rays already have Balfour, Dan Wheeler, J.P. Howell and Troy Percival coming back, though Percival might not be ready by Opening Day.

The team also has said Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann could be in the mix for a bullpen spot, and relievers Juan Salas and Dale Thayer remain on the 40-man roster as well. Finally, the Rays took reliever Derek Rodriguez in last month's Rule 5 draft, so they appear to have their bases fairly well covered.

ANGELS: Reliever Darren Oliver avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $3,665,000.

CUBS: Utility infielder Ronny Cedeno avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $822,500.

ORIOLES: Catcher Gregg Zaun reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with Baltimore, where he would fill the starting role vacated by the trade of Ramon Hernandez. The contract is dependent upon Zaun passing a physical, Orioles president Andy MacPhail said Friday.

PHILLIES: Pinch-hitting specialist Greg Dobbs agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year contract that avoided arbitration.

RED SOX: Announced infielder Kevin Youkilis' $41 million, four-year contract extension.

CLEMENS CASE: The prosecutor seeking an indictment of Roger Clemens got his first chance to question the former baseball star's chief antagonist, personal trainer Brian McNamee, during a five-hour session in Washington that included FBI investigators.

McNamee has told federal agents, baseball investigator George Mitchell and a House of Representatives committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-01.

This, however, was McNamee's initial meeting with Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Butler, who is presenting evidence to the federal grand jury determining whether Clemens should be charged with lying to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

McNamee did not speak to reporters, only shaking his head when asked if he would comment, as he arrived Friday morning at the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington accompanied by his lawyers, Richard Emery and Earl Ward.

"It went very well," Ward said. "I think there will be additional meetings. They told us they would get in touch with us."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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