Acquiring a free agent still an option for Rays

It 'is still more than two months away, yet the Rays have a pretty good idea of how their Opening Day roster will look. You can write the names of the 25 players you think will be introduced before the April 6 season opener against the Orioles and be reasonably sure you will be 25-for-25. Or, at least 24-for-25.

The one wild card is in the bullpen, where the Rays are still looking for another arm.

"We like our team right now," Rays vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "But if we can do things that we feel will make us an even better team, we'll work hard to do that."

Which means rumors of the Rays having interest in a free agent will pop up from now through the first week or two of spring training, just as it did early last week with Jim Thome.

For the record, Friedman did not confirm the rumor. Nor did he deny it.

But why would the Rays, who crave versatile players, have an interest in a one-dimensional designated hitter? Don't they already have one of those?

Because, as Friedman said, he and his staff are constantly looking for ways to improve the roster.
We know Friedman tried to move Pat Burrell to the Cubs for Milton Bradley in December, so it's a good bet he's still open to moving Burrell, which, if he does, would clear a spot for a DH. So, yeah, it's not a stretch to think Friedman and his staff have at least considered Thome.

It's their job to look at every free agent and determine if they are a good fit for the Rays. It's Friedman's job to talk to an agent to learn how much money - or how little - it would take to sign a player.

Freidman talks to a lot of agents. In some cases, there is a real interest in a player. In others, he's just kicking the tires.

Hey, if the price comes down ...

Also, Friedman does not deny rumors, which means agents are free to include the Rays among the names of teams interested in their client.

Why not? The Rays are a contender, and Friedman has a history of signing low-cost, low-risk free agents this late in the winter.

So, where there is a free agent still looking for work this season, there's a good chance the Rays will have an interest, real or imagined.

Donating to Haiti
Carlos Peña participated in the WFTS, Channel 28/ABC telethon Tuesday night and helped raise more than $100,000 for the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

The Rays will donate proceeds from Fan Fest, Feb. 20 at Tropicana Field, to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund and Save the Children. Parking and admission is free, but fans can get autographs from players and coaches by making a $20 donation. Kids under 14 and season ticket-holders can receive autographs without making donations.

The Rays Baseball Foundation will donate more than $50,000 to the Red Cross and Save the Children funds. Peña will contribute $15,000 to that donation.

Spanning the globe

The Rays have high hopes for Stepan Havlicek, the 16-year-old left-hander signed out of the Czech Republic. John Gilmore, the Rays' Europe and Australia scout, expects Havlicek to fill out to 6-foot-3, 190 pounds by the time he is 18.

"He's got all the intangibles," Gilmore said. "In two years he easily projects as a first- or second-round pick."

Golfing with Upton

B.J. Upton's second charity golf tournament, the B.J. Upton Celebrity Golf Classic, is scheduled for Monday at Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa. Proceeds will benefit The Society of St. Vincent de Paul.