Wade Davis remains focused despite trade rumors

RHP Wade Davis spent the offseason dealing with trade rumors. Now that he's reached camp with the Rays, he's hearing talk about his being moved to the bullpen.

Just as he had with the trade talk, Davis said Tuesday he's not concerned or upset about the new set of rumors.

"I understand the situation," he said. "I want to be a starter, but I want to do what's best for the team, to help us win and get to the postseason. For myself, my personal goals, I want to succeed as a starter and excel the best I can."

The Rays have seven pitchers for five spots in the bullpen. Davis performed well as a reliever during the 2011 American League Division Series against the Rangers, allowing one hit in 21/3 scoreless innings over two appearances.

Davis said executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon told him a week before the playoffs he would be moved to the bullpen.

"They explained what they were going to do, and we talked about it, and I explained I definitely wanted to participate in, hopefully, an important role," Davis said. "When I was in the bullpen last year I enjoyed it, it was fun. The anticipation was interesting. Everybody getting antsy when the phone rings I thought was interesting, but I love routines, so starting has always been a lot of fun for me."

How much, Jose?

C Jose Molina is a career backup who has never started more than 81 games in any one season, and that came in 2008 when he also came off the bench 19 times for the Yankees. He hasn't played more than 57 games in any of the past three seasons.

Still, Molina said he prepares every day during the season as if he will start that day.

"I'm ready to catch 162 every year, because you never know when the starting catcher can get hurt and you have to come in and be ready," he said.

Maddon said he would like to see Molina start at least half the games this season.

"I don't think you want to push him much further than that, because you don't want to break the guy, so I would say that's a legitimate number, 80 to 90 games is legit," Maddon said. "And then who knows how many others he can become involved in, game-in-progress late in games?"

Back on the hill

RHP Brandon Gomes, who had surgery in November to clean up a disk in his lower back, threw off the mound Tuesday for the first time since the end of last season.

"The ball was coming out (of my hand) good. I kept the ball down," Gomes said. "… It's a good starting point to build off of."

Gomes called the injury "nagging," and when it continued after he stopped pitching, the team decided it was time to correct it surgically.

Gomes said he is behind where he normally is at this point of the year, but expects to make up ground quickly, since he only needs to build enough arm strength to pitch a couple of innings.

"That's the nice thing about it. I don't have to build up arm strength like the starters to four or five innings," he said.

Good start

The Rays hit the fields Tuesday as pitchers and catchers worked out for the first time this spring. Not only were all 30 pitchers and all eight catchers in camp, so were 14 of the 21 position players.

3B Evan Longoria reported in the morning, leaving 1B Carlos Peña and UTL Ben Zobrist as the only players of note yet to report.

"Nobody liked losing in the first round last year," Maddon said.

Noteworthy

With Bobby Ramos no longer with the team, Rays minor-league roving catching instructor Jamie Nelson is serving as the catching coach during spring training. Maddon said he will work with the catchers during the season. … Maddon said C Chris Gimenez is very much in the mix for the second catcher's spot. That he can also play first and third base makes Gimenez an attractive prospect. … RHP James Shields, LHP David Price and LHP Matt Moore are among the pitchers throwing today.

Roger Mooney