Longoria Prepared To Fight For Place

ST. PETERSBURG - The onus is on Evan Longoria to win a spot on the Opening Day roster, and that's exactly what the young third baseman wanted.

Before he was asked about it by reporters Wednesday afternoon, Longoria was unaware that the Rays had decided to let his situation play out on the field rather than choose a course of action before spring training began. He didn't seem to mind.

"That's basically what I came into spring hoping would happen," Longoria said. "If they would have made the decision early, obviously if I was in the big leagues it'd be good, but I feel like now it just puts a little more added pressure on me, which I like. It's going to make me work harder and actually earn the job."

Longoria participated in his first workout at the Naimoli Complex since arriving in town Monday night and said he had spent the last two weeks anxiously awaiting his departure for spring training. The 22-year-old said he has been working out consistently for about the last two months and tried to report as close to game-ready as he could.

He knows there are numerous variables that could keep him from opening the season with the Rays in Baltimore, but he's confident about his chances.

"I couldn't come in thinking I wasn't going to get the job," Longoria said. "All I can do is stay positive and have a good spring and put the pressure on them to make the decision."

JOB SECURITY: Matt Garza's offseason regimen changed as soon as he left the Twins to join the Rays.

He entered the fall assuming he would have to battle for a spot in Minnesota's rotation in spring training just as he had, unsuccessfully, last year. Once he was dealt to Tampa Bay and installed as the No. 3 starter, though, he decided to take a more measured approach.

"My whole mentality was 'win a spot, win a spot, win a spot' and now it's to get ready for that spot and take it to the next level," Garza said. "Everybody wants to be that Johan Santana, so I want to take it to that next level."

Garza allowed two runs in 12 innings over six spring training appearances last year but lost out when the Twins decided to open the season with a more experienced rotation.

The 24-year-old said his locked-in rotation spot with the Rays is the opportunity he has been waiting for and he's "ready to rock."

"I'm just excited to be down here and start working," he said.

JUST A TASTE: The Rays are curious, just like everyone else, to see what LHP David Price will do when given a chance to get on the mound in a game situation. But he won't be featured prominently once Grapefruit League games begin.

The Rays will need plenty of innings to sort out the remaining spots in their rotation and bullpen and won't have many left over to showcase Price and their other prospects slated to open the year in the minors.

"We'll get him some work," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Price. "He's a guy that people will probably want to see him more over there, but you're not going to see him that much because there's just not going to be the innings for him."

NOTEWORTHY: Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report today with the first workout of spring on Friday at the Naimoli Complex. Of the 35 players in that group - 28 pitchers and seven catchers - only one is not expected to report on time. Reliever Juan Salas has been delayed by visa issues in the Dominican Republic, just as he was last spring when he showed up to camp a week late. The majority already have made their way to the complex, checked out their new blue uniforms and jumped into the fray.

Marc Lancaster