Rays' bullpen starts to take shape for 2011

Rays vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman wanted Joel Peralta for his bullpen from the moment he assumed the role of general manager in October 2005.

"Right after (owner Stuart Sternberg) took over, the first transaction we attempted to make was to claim Peralta on waivers, and Kansas City had a higher waiver position and claimed him ahead of us," Friedman said.

Patience being one of his virtues, not to mention business plans, Friedman waited until this week to get the 5-foot-11 right-hander that Manager Joe Maddon compared to an undersized boxer who just doesn't quit.

Peralta, who was a member of the same 2005 Angels team as Maddon, will pitch at the back end of the Rays bullpen, perhaps filling the setup man role vacated by free agent Joaquin Benoit.

"He's one of those guys who can slip under the radar somehow," Maddon said. "I've always liked him, and I think people are going to be surprised just how he good he is."

It is less than two months until pitchers and catchers report to Port Charlotte, and the Rays bullpen - their biggest need this offseason - is beginning to take shape.

There's Peralta, who turns 35 this spring, and Adam Russell, a 6-foot-8, hard-throwing right-hander acquired from the Padres on Friday in the Jason Bartlett trade.

Lefty Cesar Ramos, who also came over in the Bartlett trade, has a chance to compete for a job this spring.

There are the returnees Mike Ekstrom, Andy Sonnanstine and Jake McGee, if the Rays decide to let him continue his career in the bullpen.

There will be more arriving in the coming weeks.

"I think in an ideal world we'd like to add one to two more guys," Friedman said, "and whether that comes in the form of four to five we add on minor-league deals who come in and compete or one major-league free agent, it's too hard to say right now. Another trade? I don't know."

Keep in mind that none of the new guys or holdovers have been pegged as a closer.

Don't expect any of the six pitchers who started last season to move to the bullpen. Also, don't expect any of those six to be traded.

When talking Friday night about the Bartlett trade, Friedman again said he's not eager to break up the rotation.

"Depth on the starting pitching front is more valuable than anywhere else," he said.

Perhaps rebuilding the bullpen would be easier if Friedman didn't have to work with less money than he's had in years. The big contracts being awarded to middle relievers isn't helping, either.

"It's been a very good offseason to be a reliever," Friedman said.

It's hard to attract quality major-league relievers when Benoit can get $16.5 million over three years from the Tigers and the Red Sox are willing to pay Bobby Jenks $12 million over two years and Dan Wheeler $3 million in 2011 and another $3 million in 2012 if he appears in 65 games this season.

"It's not something that we anticipated, especially in an offseason where we have to remake our bullpen," Friedman said. "It's not necessarily ideal. But you have to react accordingly and do what you can with some of the guys we added in this trade and with Peralta and what else we hope to accomplish, I think, will reflect that fluid process that we had to put in motion after some of these early signings."

So, expect more help in the form of Peralta and Russell. And don't be surprised if someone who comes to the Rays on a minor-league contract plays a significant role in 2011. That was the story of Randy Choate and Benoit.

Under-the-radar guys.

The Rays are looking for pitchers who fit that label.

"We are," Maddon said, "and those are the guys we get who hit it big."

rmooney@tampatrib.com

(813) 259-7227