Rays seeking moves under the radar

As the Rays' brain trust makes its final preparations for baseball's annual Winter Meetings, which begin Monday in Indianapolis, think Eric Hinske.

And Willy Aybar, too.

Those are the types of players Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman and his staff seeks, players similar to those two offseason pickups who proved so valuable in the Rays march to the 2008 World Series.

Under-the-radar moves that became more than blips during the Rays' championship season.

"You can pencil in 90 percent of the (2010) team, 85 percent of the team, and the others won't be anything to break the bank. They can't be," Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said.

With a payroll that will hover around $60 million, the Rays can't afford any misses. Every player, from Carl Crawford to the backup catcher to the long man in the bullpen, has to contribute or 2010 will look a lot like 2009.

"I'm a firm believer in the importance of depth and how guys 1 through 25 play a role in a team's success or failure," Friedman said. "I think, for the most part (the focus is) more on the periphery than big core players, but it's important to get it right."

Friedman got it right when he signed Hinske to a minor-league contract on Feb. 6, 2008, with an invitation to major-league spring training. All Hinske did was make the Opening Day roster, play five positions and hit 20 home runs for the low, low price of $800,000.

Same with Aybar, who came to the Rays on Jan. 17, 2008, in a trade for minor-league pitcher Jeff Ridgeway. Aybar played every position in the infield, filled in for an injured Carlos Pena at first base and an injured Evan Longoria at third and gave Manager Joe Maddon plenty of options off the bench in the late innings. For this, Aybar was paid $401,200.

Take Aybar off that team, take away Hinske and Cliff Floyd and even Gabe Gross and the 2008 Rays were probably not the 2008 Rays.

In fact, every move Friedman made before the '08 season seemed to work. Floyd was a huge presence in the clubhouse. Troy Percival and Trever Miller helped develop confidence among a young group of relievers. Jason Bartlett solidified the infield. Matt Garza was the American League Championship Series MVP. Gross won a couple of games with his bat and more than a couple with his glove.

As the general manager of a small-market team, Friedman can't afford an off offseason.

Yet, Friedman couldn't repeat his '08 magic before the '09 season.

His biggest offseason move, signing designated hitter Pat Burrell, was a bust. Relievers Jeff Nelson and Brian Shouse were expensive (for the Rays) misses. Gabe Kapler didn't offer much help offensively. Jason Isringhausen didn't pan out.

Still, the Rays' bullpen came away with Randy Choate and Lance Cormier.

The same bullpen will be the main focus this week and every week until the Rays open the 2010 season April 6 against visiting Baltimore.

"We have a fairly long list of guys," Friedman said. "Some are free agents. Some we'd have to acquire in trades."

Friedman is searching for more Choates and Cormiers.

What Friedman learned most from last season was he can never expect to win a division that includes the Yankees and the Red Sox. But, he does expect to compete for a playoff spot, and he believes he still has a team that can make a run at another postseason.

"I think it's one of the most important jobs for the executive vice president, is to be objective and to crucially analyze the team," Friedman said. "It's my firm belief that we were better than an 84-win team last year, and we're going into the offseason operating accordingly. We feel like we got the nucleus in place to compete in the American League East in 2010, and our focus right now is on making the requisite improvements to put us in position to play competitive games in September."

Friedman will move Burrell to the first team that asks.

He also could move Crawford if he believes it is the right deal.

But given the payroll limitations and the fact that the nucleus of the 2008 AL champs is still in place, Friedman is searching more for those under-the-radar moves that will turn out big.

He has no other choice.

"The bank is full," Sternberg said. "There is no $7 million closer showing up."