Balfour Expecting A Battle To Make Roster

ST. PETERSBURG - A love for competition drives most athletes, but Rays RHP Grant Balfour would rather save it for April through October. The 30-year-old reliever longs for the day he doesn't have to come into somebody's spring training camp and win a job.

"Maybe this year I'll make the team, and hopefully one year I don't have to come in and try and make a team," he said. "It'd be nice, obviously, but competition makes it all the more fun, I guess."

Balfour has quite a battle on his hands during the next month or so. He was impressive at times last summer after the Rays acquired him from the Brewers in exchange for Seth McClung. His August was particularly impressive, featuring a 0.79 ERA as opponents hit just .184 against him. But when the Rays beefed up their bullpen crew during the winter, the hill grew that much steeper for Balfour.

"That's the way it is - everyone's trying to get better all the time," he said. "I feel like I've gotten better as far as my health issues and stuff like that. I'm definitely better."

Balfour had nowhere to go but up on that account after a remarkable double shot to his right arm in 2005. In a span of 4 1/2 months that year, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament and surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his shoulder. He didn't really work his way back up to full strength until last season, which began with a couple of stops in the Brewers' farm system.

He said he feels completely healthy now after splitting the winter between a home in Minnesota and his native Australia. His early work in camp has focused on refining his command, which has come and gone during his career. He always has had a high strikeout rate, though, and that might come in handy for the Rays - if Balfour wins a job.

"As long as I get a good opportunity to make the team, I can go out there and if I pitch well, hope to be on the team," he said. "If I don't pitch well, then, fair enough."

GIDDY-UP: The notable performance as the rest of the pitchers threw live batting practice for the first time Friday came from RHP Matt Garza.

The offseason acquisition was airing it out on Field 2, buzzing fastballs in on Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena. Most got the impression he was playing to the audience as well.

During the session, Longoria turned to executive vice president Andrew Friedman and asked him to move away because Garza really began cranking it up when Friedman arrived on the scene.

"The closer the GM got to the back of the cage, the harder he threw," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

DIPLOMATIC POUCH: The Rays expect absent infielders Willy Aybar and Joel Guzman to be in camp by Wednesday at the latest as their visa problems finally move toward a resolution.

Still unclear is the status of RHP Juan Salas, whose case likely has been complicated by the 50-game suspension he drew last season for violating MLB's drug policy.

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays will play intrasquad games at the Naimoli Complex on Tuesday and Wednesday, then have a light day of practice Thursday before opening their Grapefruit League schedule Friday against the Reds in Sarasota. ... LHPs J.P. Howell and James Houser, RHP Chad Orvella and IF Elliot Johnson signed one-year contracts. Eleven players remain unsigned. ... Rays Fan Fest will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Tropicana Field. Admission and parking are free. Rays players and coaches will be available for autographs; the full schedule is on TBO.com, keyword: Rays Report.

Marc Lancaster