Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

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All Star players set for big game
Pedro is lone Devil Rays rep for Mid-Summer Classic
July 10, 2000

HOUSTON — Tomorrow night will be the night when the best of the best take the field together in the grandest All Star Game in all of professional sports.

The American League pitching staff boasts a number of big name pitchers, including a couple of very tough left-handers. The club has Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees, Pedro Martinez of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Randy Johnson and Sean Depaula of the Seattle Mariners, John Smiley of the Minnesota Twins, Mike Sirotka and Ben McDonald of the Detroit Tigers, Robb Nen of the Toronto Blue Jays, Troy Percival of the Anaheim Angels, Hipolito Pichardo of the Kansas City Royals, Keith Foulke of the Chicago White Sox, and Steve Karsay of the Oakland Athletics.

The National League's staff is not to be outdone, however, including living legend Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves, Matt Morris and Lance Painter of the St. Louis Cardinals, Kevin Brown of the Florida Marlins, Brad Penny and Jason Christiansen of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Carl Pavano of the Colorado Rockies, Ugueth Urbina of the Montreal Expos, Felix Heredia of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bob Wickman of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Todd Erdos of the San Diego Padres.

The American League position players are a mix of young superstars and old, familiar names. Dave Nilsson of the White Sox and Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox will be the team's catchers. Will Clark and Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez and Eric Young of the Seattle Mariners, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, and Luis Gonzalez of the Blue Jays, Jim Thome and Ellis Burks of the Cleveland Indians, Ben Grieve of the A's, Steve Cox of the Detroit Tigers, and Roosevelt Brown of the Baltimore Orioles will round out the roster.

On the National League side, Houston Astros outfielder Bobby Abreu will be the lone hometown representative. He will share time in the outfield with Lance Berkman of the New York Mets, Brian Giles of the Cardinals, Chris Singleton of the Pirates, Barry Bonds and Magglio Ordonez of the San Francisco Giants, and Vladimir Guerrero of the Expos. The rest of the roster is made up by Jasom Giambi of the Dodgers, Jose Valentin of the Milwaukee Brewers, Eric Chavez of the Marlins, Jose Vidro of the Expos, Todd Hundley of the Mets, Todd Helton of the Rockies, and Ramon Hernandez, Chipper Jones, and Fred McGriff of the Braves.

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Bonds' bombs not enough for NL
Late surge propels American League to All Star win
July 11, 2000

HOUSTON — Barry Bonds hit two home runs and drove in four runs for the National League, but the American League scored eight runs in the final two innings to pick up a 10-7 victory in the annual All Star Game.

The Senior Circuit seemed well on its way to victory as St. Louis Cardinals left-handed reliever Lance Painter took the mound to start the eighth inning, backed by a 7-2 lead. Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox led off the inning as a pinch-hitter, and singled on the very first pitch of the inning. After a Nomar Garciaparra popup, Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners drew a four-pitch walk, and Cleveland Indians slugger Jim Thome reached on an error to load the bases. Seattle's Eric Young came on as a pinch-hitter and picked up a bloop RBI single. After a Roosevelt Brown strikeout for the second out, New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams drew a four-pitch bases loaded walk to score Rodriguez. Chicago White Sox catcher Dave Nilsson and Painter battled in a nine-pitch at bat that the Australian-born backstop won with a two-run single, knocking Painter out of the game. Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Bob Wickman struck out Oakland's Ben Grieve to end the inning, but the National League's lead was now just one run.

Wickman stayed on the mound for the ninth inning, looking to pick up a save as Ellis Burks of the Indians, Garciaparra, and Rodriguez were scheduled to hit for the AL. Burks struck first, hitting a 320-foot flyball that just cleared the leftfield fence for a solo home run to tie the game, 7-7. Garciaparra followed with a double, and was advanced to third base by a Rodriguez ground out. Thome drew a walk in hopes of setting up a double play and Atlanta Braves ace Greg Maddux was called on for the Senior Circuit. Maddux struck out Williams for the second out but fell behind Nilsson and gave up a two-run double, giving the American League a 10-7 advantage.

Now working with the lead, Toronto Blue Jays closer Robb Nen came on for the American League and worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close out the game.

Anaheim Angels closer Troy Percival was credited with the win for the American League while Wickman was tagged with the loss. Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike Sirotka got the start for the AL, throwing two innings of one-hit ball. Pittsburgh Pirates ace Brad Penny made the start for the NL, giving up two runs in two innings.

Bonds hit a pair of two-run home runs, the first off Oakland pitcher Steve Karsay in the fourth inning, and then again off Seattle's Randy Johnson in the fifth inning.

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Devil Rays eye strong second half
Team sits in third place, hope to make pennant push
July 13, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The All Star break officially comes to an end tonight as the second half of the season kicks off across the league. For the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the hope is for a healthier and more productive end to the season than beginning.

The Devil Rays currently sit in third place in the American League East, 14 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees — owners of the best record in baseball. Tampa Bay is 9 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who sit in second place in the East but lead the Wild Card standings.

Mike Hampton, Scott Erickson, and Rickey Henderson are the only players on the disabled list for Tampa Bay, after months of numerous players suffering injuries. Hampton was lost for the season during spring training, while Erickson is out until at least early August with a strained rotator cuff. Erickson is 3-3 with one save and a 7.22 ERA in 13 games with Tampa Bay, including nine starts. Henderson, 41, is on the disabled list with a herniated back, something that will likely keep him on the shelf for a couple more weeks. Henderson has hit .290 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 26 runs, and six stolen bases in 124 at bats.

As for the guys who are healthy and ready to go, there is some reason for optimism. Kevin Millwood will start tonight's game against the Montreal Expos. Millwood, 6-7 with a 5.20 ERA, has been inconsistent but has also shown great ability at various points of the season.

Pedro Martinez (9-3, 3.56 ERA) is on pace for a fine season while Livan Hernandez (1-2, 4.01 ERA) looks to continue improving after missing more than a full year of baseball due to an injury suffered in his second start of the 1999 season.

Bruce Chen has pitched better than his 3-7 record indicates while Chad Ogea (6-5, 5.06 ERA) looks to keep his job with a good second half.

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Devil Rays make two trades
Acquire Coggin then ship him to Philadelphia
July 28, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays made a pair of trades today, one this morning with the Boston Red Sox and another later in the afternoon with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Right-handed pitcher Dave Coggin was involved in both trades, acquired from Boston for thirdbaseman Tim Naehring and then shipped to the Phillies for pitching prospect Roy Halladay.

Coggin went 6-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 18 starts for the 45-58 Red Sox. He will be replaced in the rotation by Dave Borkowski (2-1 with a 3.25 ERA in eight games, four starts). Press reports out of Philadelphia have placed Coggin in the Phillies bullpen, as the team's fifth starter, and even as the team's third starter. Philadelphia manager Terry Francona said in a conference call that he has not yet had a chance to think too much about how best to use Coggin with the last-place Phillies.

Boston acquired Naehring from Tampa Bay, reuniting the thirdbaseman and his long-time team. Naehring, 33, broke in with the Red Sox in 1990 and had spent his entire career there before signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in December. Naehring has hit .256 with four home runs and 26 RBI in 160 at bats for the Devil Rays. He hit .268 with nine homers and 59 RBI in 150 games for Boston last season. Red Sox manager Cito Gaston indicated Naehring would take over as the club's starting thirdbaseman and that the veteran would bat in the lower half of the lineup.

The Devil Rays bring in 23-year-old right-hander Roy Halladay, who has three big league starts under his belt this year with Philadelphia. In those starts, he is 1-1 with a 5.89 ERA in 18 1/3 innings of work. He was 8-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 20 starts with Philadelphia's AAA affiliate this year, 14-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 23 starts there last season.

While the team has not yet assigned Halladay to a team, it appears he will be heading to the minor leagues as infielder Lou Merloni has been called up to fill Naehring's roster spot.

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Ogea dealt for infielder Kennedy
Devil Rays trade pitcher for Colorado secondbaseman
July 29, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays made their third trade in roughly 36 hours, swapping pitcher Chad Ogea to the Colorado Rockies for secondbaseman Adam Kennedy.

The deal, consumated shortly after midnight, just hours after Tampa Bay's 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals, clears room on the pitching staff for newly-acquired Roy Halladay, and brings in an offensively-talented Kennedy.

Kennedy, 24, hit .304 with 30 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 37 RBI, 60 runs, and 26 stolen bases in 102 games with the Rockies. Last season, he hit .331 with 14 home runs, 73 RBI, and 87 runs scored in 135 games for Colorado. The left-handed hitting Kennedy is expected to take over as the team's starting secondbaseman and will bat somewhere along the top of the order, either first or second in the lineup.

Ogea, 29, went just 6-7 with a 5.50 ERA in 21 games for Tampa Bay, including 16 starts, this year. The right-hander was 8-15 with a 5.28 ERA in 31 starts for the Devil Rays last season. He will join the Rockies' rotation and is expected to make his Colorado debut later this week.

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Devil Rays end season with win
Pedro picks up 19th win in season finale
October 1, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays head to the offseason on a high note, picking up an 8-4 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox in front of 35,819 fans at Tropicana Field.

The Devil Rays exploded for a seven run fourth inning, chasing Boston pitcher Sidney Ponson from the ballgame, while Pedro Martinez shut down the Red Sox lineup.

Martinez improved to 19-6 on the season, holding the Red Sox to two runs, one earned, on one hit and four walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Offensively, the bottom of the Tampa Bay lineup made the most noise. Raul Mondesi, batting fifth, hit a three-run home run — his 47th of the season — off Ponson in the fourth inning. Carlos Beltran, batting sixth, was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, while September callup Aubrey Huff and backstop Charles Johnson had two hits each. Huff hit a solo homerun off reliever Heathcliff Slocumb in the eighth inning — the first of his big league career. Johnson hit a three-run shot off Ponson in the fourth inning, his ninth homer of the season.

Veteran outfielder Rickey Henderson went 1-for-4 batting in the leadoff spot in what may be the final game of his Hall of Fame career. Henderson will turn 42 in December, but has been quiet regarding his plans for the future.

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Giants top Dodgers in playoff
Pujols homers gives SanFran NL West crown
October 2, 2000

LOS ANGELES — The National League West divisional race couldn't be settled in 162 games, so it wasn't until Albert Pujols and The San Francisco Giants took on the Dodgers in a one-game playoff that the west was won.

Pujols went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs of Dodgers starting pitcher Sterling Hitchcock while Barry Zito held Los Angeles batters to two runs on six hits and one walk, striking out five, over seven innings of work.

Zito also contributed offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Giants shortstop Alex Gonzalez also had two hits for San Francisco.

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Devil Rays make first decisions
Tampa Bay offseason kicks off with option calls
November 1, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have started working on the 2001 season, making key decisions on a number of roster options.

The team picked up its option on firstbaseman Paul Konerko, starting pitcher Livan Hernandez, closer Paul Quantrill, outfielder Mike Cameron, and left-handed reliever Gabe White.

Konerko will earn $1.5 million in 2001, and may earn an additional $1 million by winning the MVP award. He hit .293 with 31 home runs and 115 RBI in 155 games with Tampa Bay last season.

Hernandez, 25, has struggled to stay healthy over the last couple seasons, but will earn $1 million next year and could earn up to $1.2 million based on various incentives. He went 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 10 starts this past season after making just two starts in 1999. He went 14-15 with a 4.08 ERA in 33 starts as a 23-year-old rookie with Tampa Bay in 1998.

Quantrill will earn $6.6 million after both sides agreed to a mutual option for the 2001 season. The 31-year-old saved 33 games with a 3.56 ERA in 53 games this year, following a 30-save and 1.86 ERA performance in 1999.

White is back at just $405,000 for the 2001 season after going 5-4 with three saves and a 3.56 ERA in 62 appearances. The southpaw went 6-4 with two saves and a 3.35 ERA in 47 games in 1999.

Cameron will earn $465,000 as an extra outfielder in 2001. He hit .277 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 83 games this past season.

The team declined to exercise its contract options on infielder Dave Berg and outfielder Ryan Radmanovich.

Berg would have been paid $400,000 if the option had been picked up by Tampa Bay, but the team decided to let him go after hitting .230 with one home run and 13 RBI in 75 games. He is a .257 lifetime hitter with nine homers and 73 RBI in 285 games.

Radmanovich would have earned $405,000, but will be a free agent instead. He hit just .171 in 25 games this year, but did hit five home runs and 10 RBI in 35 at bats with a .629 slugging percentage. Radmanovich is a career .236 hitter with 20 homers and 72 RBI in 160 games.

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Sweet Lou is without a job
Dodgers one of many clubs to dump skippers
November 2, 2000

LOS ANGELES — After losing a one-game playoff to the San Francisco Giants last month, the Dodgers fired general manager Chuck LaMar and field manager Lou Piniella.

Piniella spent just one season with the Dodgers, leading Los Angeles to an 80-83 record. He has previously managed the New York Yankees (1986-88), Cincinnati Reds (1990-92), and Seattle Mariners (1993-1999). His career record as a manager is 1,219-1,075, making the playoffs four times in 14 seasons, including a World Series win with the Reds in 1990.

The Atlanta Braves also parted ways with both its general manager and manager. John Schuerholz is out of the front office while long-time Braves skipper Bobby Cox is now without a job. The Braves finished in fourth place at 78-84, 13 1/2 games behind the New York Mets.

Cox first managed the Braves from 1978-1981 before taking over as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982-1985. He returned to the Atlanta dugout in 1990. As Braves manager, Cox has gone 1,318-1,084 with seven playoff appearances and two World Series titles in 16 seasons. In his big league career, his teams have gone 1,673-1,376 in 20 seasons.

In Cincinnati, Jim Bowden has been fired as general manager of the Reds while skipper Davey Johnson has also been let go. Johnson's Reds finished last in the National League Central with a 75-87 record after winning the division with an 82-80 record the season before. In his second stint as Cincinnati manager, Johnson has led the Reds to a 281-286 record with one playoff appearance. He also managed the Reds from 1993-1995, leading the team to a 204-172 record in that time. In his career as a big league manager with the New York Mets (1984-1990), Reds (1993-1995, 1997-2000), and Baltimore Orioles (1996-1997), Johnson has put together a 1,184-980 record with six playoff appearances and a World Series title with 1986 Mets.

The Texas Rangers fired manager Bill Russell, ending his two-year stint with the club. Russell's Rangers went 73-89 this past season and 149-175 in his time with the club, finishing fourth each season. Russell managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1996-1998 and owns a career record of 469-427, making the playoffs three times in five seasons.

In Miami, the Florida Marlins fired Pedro Manuel as manager. The rookie skipper went 79-83 with the Marlins this season, finishing third in the National League East.

Elsewhere, the Colorado Rockies fired general manager Dan O'Dowd.

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Devil Rays' Johnson wins award
Tampa Bay catcher claims fourth Gold Glove
November 11, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For the second consecutive season, and fourth time in his career, Tampa Bay Devil Rays catcher Charles Johnson has been recognized with a Gold Glove award.

Johnson, 29, won the award in 1995 and 1996 with the Florida Marlins, and also won the award in 1999 with Tampa Bay.

"I'm really honored by this," Johnson said in a press conference at Tropicana Field. "I really take a lot of pride in my defense and my job as the catcher, so to be given this award is really great."

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Rookie honors handed out
Pujols, Meluskey take home awards
November 12, 2000

SAN FRANCISCO — Albert Pujols was an easy choice for the National League Rookie of the Year Award this year.

Pujols, 20, was a versatile player defensively for the San Francisco Giants, making 65 starts at firstbase, 13 starts at secondbase, playing in 16 games at thirdbase, and four games in rightfield.

More impressive was what he did with a bat in his hand. In 349 at bats over 69 games, Pujols hit .330 with 23 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 58 RBI, and 67 runs scored.

While not part of the considerations for the award, Pujols hit .448 with six doubles and two homers and seven RBI in 29 post-season at bats.

In the American League, it was Seattle Mariners rookie catcher Mitch Meluskey who took home the Rookie of the Year award.

Meluskey hit .293 with 18 homers and 87 RBI in 145 games as the team's starting catcher.

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Pedro is AL's best pitcher
Martinez, Morris win Cy Young awards
November 13, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez was tabbed as the most dominant pitcher in the American League this year as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays ace was named the Cy Young winner for the second consecutive season.

Martinez, 29, went 19-6 with a 2.68 ERA and 303 strikeouts in 33 starts for Tampa Bay this past season. That performance follows a 19-3, 3.04 ERA campaign in the 1999 season.

"It's no surprise to me," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "The guy is the best pitcher I've ever been around and he shows every time out there that he's giving his team a damn good chance of winning."

In the National League, it was St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Matt Morris that won the award.

Morris, 26, went 23-8 with a 2.82 ERA in 35 starts for the Cardinals.

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Thome, Berkman hit way to MVPs
Combined 108 home runs between two sluggers
November 14, 2000

CLEVELAND — Jim Thome of the Cleveland Indians used his big bat to earn the 2000 American League Most Valuable Player award.

Thome hit .319 with 57 home runs, 140 RBI, and 128 runs in 160 games. The big left-handed hitter set career highs in a number of offensive catergories, including batting average, home runs, RBI, and runs scored.

In the National League, it was New York Mets outfielder Lance Berkman who won the MVP. Berkman, 24, hit .372 with 51 homers, 136 RBI, and 155 runs in 155 games.

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Offseason Transactions
Trades, signings, and more
Winter of 2000-2001

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays traded infielder Dave Berg to the Montreal Expos for right-handed reliever Jack Cressend.

The Chicago White Sox traded outfielder Darryl Hamilton to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Darrin Fletcher.

The Houston Astros signed veteran lefty Dan Plesac to a two-year contract.

The San Diego Padres traded outfielder Chris Richard to the Kansas City Royals for Freddy Garcia.

The Toronto Blue Jays traded outfielder Raul Ibanez to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Rob Ryan.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays traded pitcher Kip Wells to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Ken Cloude.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays traded reliever Danny Graves to the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Julio Lugo, then traded Lugo to the Texas Rangers for left-handed pitcher Mark Mulder.

The Boston Red Sox traded infielder Placido Polanco to the Montreal Expos for pitchers John Halama and Jeremy Powell.

The Houston Astros signed closer Billy Wagner to a two-year deal.

The Atlanta Braves traded infielder Chris Stynes to the Kansas City Royals for infielder Felix Martinez.

The Toronto Blue Jays traded outfielder Alex Ochoa to the Minnesota Twins for left-handed starter John Smiley and minor league reliever Brian O'Connor.

more to come...

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Offseason Transactions
Trades, signings, and more
Winter of 2000-2001

The St. Louis Cardinals traded reliever Mike Buddie to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Derek Bell.

The Texas Rangers traded pitcher Francisco Cordova to the Oakland Athletics for Einar Diaz.

The Minnesota Twins re-signed left-handed reliever Travis Miller (2-10, 42 Sv, 4.04 ERA) to a two-year deal.

The Texas Rangers traded pitching prospect Matt Wise to the Seattle Mariners for veteran outfielder Devon White.

Darryl Kile re-signed with the Houston Astros for three years.

The Detroit Tigers traded infielder David Lamb to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Mark Quinn.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays lost catcher Randy Knorr, and pitchers Paul Byrd and Graeme Lloyd in the Rule V Draft.

The Houston Astros have re-signed 2B Craig Biggio (.271, 13 HR, 73 RBI, 106 R) to a two-year deal worth $17.37 million.

The Kansas City Royals signed utility man Lenny Harris to a two-year deal.

Pitcher Bobby Jones (18-5, 3.67 ERA) re-signed a three-year deal with the New York Mets.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed secondbaseman Mark Grudzielanek to a one-year deal.

The San Francisco Giants traded firstbaseman Damon Minor to the St. Louis Cardinals for reliever J.D. Smart.

The Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent infielder Bill Spiers to a three-year contract.

The Philadelphia Phillies traded minor league catcher Wiki Gonzalez to the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Adrian Brown.

The Chicago White Sox sent utility man Melvin Mora to the New York Yankees for reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki.

The Yankees sent Jon Lieber to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Marlon Anderson.

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded minor league outfielder Dave Roberts to the Cincinnati Reds for reliever Rich Croushore.

Outfielder Garret Anderson and the Cleveland Indians agreed to a six-year contract with a player option for a seventh season. He hit .308 with 30 homers and 96 RBI in 142 games for Cleveland last year.

The Anaheim Angels traded outfielder Darin Erstad to the Philadelphia Phillies for firstbaseman Todd Zeile.

Firstbaseman J.T. Snow has signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Expos.

The Cincinnati Reds traded reliever Jeff Shaw and cash to the Philadelphia Phillies for infielder Desi Relaford.

Catcher Jorge Posada has left Yankee Stadium by signing a five-year deal worth more than $58.8 million with the Cleveland Indians.

The Chicago Cubs re-signed left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes to a one-year contract, and right-handed reliever Rich Garces to a one-year deal.

Left-hander David Wells (18-13, 4.71 ERA) inked a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Longtime Mariner Edgar Martinez (.327, 29 HR, 99 RBI) has agreed to a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays re-signed outfielder Rickey Henderson to a two-year contract worth $3 million plus incentives.

The Seattle Mariners re-signed ace hurler Randy Johnson (21-7, 3.45 ERA) to a two-year contract.

The Texas Rangers and slugger Juan Gonzalez have agreed to a three-year extension with a player option for a fourth season.

Jason Schmidt (14-8, 3.55 ERA) signed a five-year deal with the New York Mets.

The Boston Red Sox have inked left-handed pitcher John Halama to a two-year contract.

Outfielder Bobby Higginson signed a five-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Florida Marlins have signed veteran pitcher John Burkett to a three-year deal.

The New York Mets have signed thirdbaseman Dave Magadan to a two-year deal.

The New York Yankees will keep left-hander Andy Pettitte (17-7, 4.21 ERA) in the Bronx for another four years.

The Seattle Mariners have signed infielder Jeff Kent (.326, 37 HR, 115 RBI) to a four-year deal.

Tony Clark signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Twins.

Outfielder Johnny Damon signed a three-year deal, with a team option for 2004, with the Los Agneles Dodgers.

The Atlanta Braves signed pitcher Brad Radke to a three-year deal.

The New York Yankees have signed reliever Antonio Osuna to a one-year deal, and reliever Terry Adams to a two-year contract.

Troy Percival (7-6, 33 saves, 2.84 ERA) has signed a three-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Pedro Astacio (12-4, 3.65 ERA) signed for three years with the Cincinnati Reds.

Reliever Mike Remlinger will stay in Ohio but switch teams, signing a two-year contract with the Cleveland Indians.

Shortstop Kevin Elster has signed a three-year deal witht he Toronto Blue Jays.

Ugueth Urbina (4-4, 37 saves, 2.55 ERA) signed a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.

The Atlanta Braves signed pitcher Frank Castillo (10-7, 4.32 ERA) to a five-year pact.

Veteran southpaw Chuck Finley will likely end his career with the Angels, re-signing with the team for two years.

The Colorado Rockies made a surprise signing, inking shortstop Derek Jeter through the 2004 season.

The Rockies signed infielder Keith Lockhart to a one-year deal.

Left-handed starter Mike Sirotka has signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.

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Hope springs eternal
D-Rays to open exhibition games
February 27, 2001

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will open up their spring training exhibition schedule this afternoon against the Baltimore Orioles, bringing game situations to evaluate players fighting for roster spots and jobs.

"We're optimistic about this year's ballclub," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We have some good pitching, some good hitters, some good ballplayers."

One spot that will not be subject to competition is the role of ace of the pitching staff. Pedro Martinez is coming off his second consecutive Cy Young award season and will be on the mound come Opening Day. Who will take the ball in game numbers two, three, four, and five — that is yet to be determined.

The Devil Rays have eight starting pitchers in camp to compete for a spot in the starting rotation, or perhaps a bullpen spot as a long-reliever or spot starter.

Right-handers Kevin Millwood and Roy Halladay will compete with lefties Matt Beech, Bruce Chen, Mike Hampton, Mark Mulder, and Randy Wolf.

Millwood, 26, went 10-13 with a 4.74 ERA in 33 starts for the Devil Rays and is a top candidate for a spot in the top half of the starting rotation. Another candidate is Halladay, a promising 23-year-old. Halladay went 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 15 games, 14 starts, at the big league level between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay.

Chen is a leading left-hander after posting a 13-8 record and 4.18 ERA in 31 starts for the Devil Rays last season. He went 7-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 16 starts in 1999.

Hampton was touted as a big piece of the team's rotation for the 2000 season but that was derailed late in spring training when he tore a tricep muscle. He has rehabbed over the winter and figures to be a big piece of the team's rotation in 2001. Mulder has failed to live up to the promise and potential that scouts have said he has. The 23-year-old went 8-18 with a 5.73 ERA in 33 starts for the Texas Rangers last season and owns a career record of 17-23 with a 5.73 ERA in 52 big league starts.

Also fighting for a spot in the rotation will be Wolf and Beech. Wolf went 4-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 12 games, 11 starts, with the Devil Rays last year. Beech was 3-1 with one save and a 5.52 ERA in 27 relief appearances for Tampa Bay.

O'Neal believes the lineup will be equally deep. Charles Johnson won his second straight Gold Glove as catcher, with Paul Konerko (.293, 31 HR, 115 RBI) and Erubiel Durazo (.299, 32 HR, 97 RBI) work together at first base and as designated hitter.

Acquired in a trade last July, Adam Kennedy returns as the club's starting secondbaseman. Rookies Aubrey Huff and Jimmy Rollins hope to capture starting jobs at third base and shortstop, respectively, but Tony Graffanino (.297, 8 HR, 70 RBI, 108 R) will be fighting to keep himself in the starting lineup at some position. Secondbaseman Mark Grudzielanek (.282, 7 HR, 55 RBI in 122 games for the Cleveland Indians), infielders Shane Halter and Lou Merloni, and utility man Wilton Guerrero will also fight for roster spots and playing time.

There are just six regular outfielders in camp this year: Rickey Henderson, Benny Agbayani, Carlos Beltran, Mike Cameron, Raul Mondesi, and Ryan Radmanovich.

Henderson, 42, hit .272 with eight home runs, 27 RBI, 49 runs and 13 stolen bases in 265 at bats last year, despite battling a couple of different back injuries. Agbayani hit .310 with 20 homers and 61 RBI in 137 games for Tampa Bay while Cameron hit .277 with seven roundtrippers and 24 RBI in 188 at bats.

Beltran suffered a fractured wrist and later serious back spasms, hampering his production to a .282, 11 homers, 47 RBI, 67 runs, and 22 stolen bases in 102 games. Mondesi had a monstrous season, hitting .295 with 47 home runs and 154 RBI. Radmanovich struggled in limited playing time last season — although he did display power when he did play — and may not be on the roster come opening day. Radmanovich hit .171 with five homers and 10 RBI in 25 games.

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Devil Rays make pair of swaps
Hampton sent west, Lo Duca coming to Tampa
March 24, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As spring training winds down and roster decisions become necessary, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made a pair of trades.

Mike Hampton's Devil Rays career ends after one season but no regular season pitching. Hampton, acquired for Andruw Jones prior to last season, suffered a tricep injury last spring and spent the entire 2000 season on the disabled list. He went 13-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 34 starts for the Houston Astros in 1999 and had been counted on as a big contributer for the 2000 season. He entered this year's spring training as a favorite to be second or third in the Devil Rays rotation but will now be suiting up for the Colorado Rockies.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of pitching at Coors Field," Hampton said. "I really enjoy National League ball and hitting, so its a good fit for me."

In return, Tampa Bay received 23-year-old shortstop Rafael Furcal from the Rockies. Furcal hit .258 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI and 104 runs in 155 games for Colorado last year, but his bat will not be present in Tampa Bay as the club traded him just as soon as they acquired him.

In their second trade of the day, the Devil Rays dealt Furcal to the Astros for catcher Paul Lo Duca and minor league pitcher Ben Weber. Lo Duca, 28, hit .274 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 84 games last year with Houston. He will likely open the year as the backup for Charles Johnson, a job that had appeared to be all but assured to Jason LaRue this spring.

Weber, 31, is a career minor leaguer but did pitch quite well with Houston's AAA affiliate last year, going 3-4 with four saves and a 1.77 ERA in 61 innings of work out of the bullpen. He will start the year in AAA again this season.

[Moriarty9]

Tampa Bay ready for opener
Pedro will take mound in season's first game
April 1, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Major League Baseball season officially begins tonight in Toronto, but the Tampa Bay Devil Rays still have a couple days before they play their first game of the year.

The front office today announced the club's opening day roster and manager Christian O'Neal made public the team's pitching rotation and lineup to start the season.

Fresh off his second straight Cy Young season, Pedro Martinez will take the mound for the first game of the year — that much everyone knew months ago. The rest of the rotation, however, has been a question mark as to who would make it in and who would pitch when.

Kevin Millwood (10-13, 4.74 ERA) will take the ball for the second game while left-hander Mark Mulder (8-18, 5.73 ERA with Texas last year) starts the year as the number three starter after an impressive spring training. Roy Halladay looks to break through as the club's fourth starter (3-6, 4.66 ERA in 12 games with Tampa Bay last year), while Bruce Chen's struggles this spring dropped him down to the fifth spot in the rotation.

Livan Hernandez will open the year in the bullpen as the team's long reliever and spot starter.

"Livan has great talent but he's really had a rough time staying healthy, plus he's coming off an injury now where he missed the first half of spring training," O'Neal said. "He'll start the year in the 'pen but we expect him to pitch his way into the rotation."

Also in the bullpen is Randy Wolf, who went 4-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 12 games, including 11 starts, for Tampa Bay last season.

"Randy is a strong lefty that will really help the bullpen for the time being," O'Neal said. "He's got a chance to make a number of starts this season, depending how the chips fall."

The rest of the bullpen will consist of left-hander Gabe White, closer Paul Quantrill, and right-handers Jack Cressend, Donne Wall, and Byung-Hyun Kim.

"We think we've got a good bullpen and a deep starting rotation with some back-up plans," O'Neal said. "I'm optimistic about what these guys can do."

Catching the pitchers will be Charles Johnson, winner of the last two American League Gold Glove. Johnson hit just .213 with nine homers and 49 RBI last year, but newly acquired backup backstop Paul Lo Duca hopes to get some at bats and provide some punch. Lo Duca hit .274 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 84 games with the Houston Astros last year. He may see some time at firstbase or outfield to get some extra at bats.

At firstbase will be Paul Konerko, who hit .293 with 31 home runs and 115 RBI in 155 games last season. Erubiel Durazo may see some time at first base as well but the big slugger will spend most of his time as the designated hitter. Durazo hit .299 with 32 round-trippers and 97 RBI in 151 games in 2000.

Adam Kennedy will return as the starting secondbaseman, though Mark Grudzielanek will make some spot starts against left-handed pitchers. Rookie Aubrey Huff opens the year as the starting thirdbaseman while fellow rookie Jimmy Rollins will play a bench role behind shortstop Tony Graffanino. Graffanino hit .297 with eight home runs and 70 RBI last year, and plays all infield positions. Rollins struggled this spring and failed to win the starting shortstop job.

The team opens the year with just four outfielders: Benny Agbayani, Carlos Beltran, Rickey Henderson, and Raul Mondesi.

Agbayani will be the starting leftfielder, although the 42-year-old Henderson will get one or two starts each week. Carlos Beltran will return in centerfield with Raul Mondesi in rightfield.

The batting order to start the year, O'Neal said, will feature Beltran as the leadoff man, Kennedy second, Mondesi third, Durazo in cleanup, Konerko as the fifth batter, Agbayani sixth, Huff seventh, Graffanino eighth, and Johnson last.

"I think we've got a good ballclub," the skipper said. "If we stay healthy and guys do their jobs, we can give the rest of the division a run for the money. Yankees and the rest."

[Moriarty9]

Pedro struggles in Tampa win
K's nine but gives up six runs in six innings
April 3, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez looked like a guy who had won the last two Cy Young awards for the first couple innings but then found himself watching baserunners scamper along the basepaths.

Martinez struck out four of the first five batters he faced on Opening Day before a two-out error by Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop Tony Graffanino led to what would become a two-run inning. The Toronto Blue Jays went on to tack on some more runs with a two-run home run by Carlos Delgado in the fifth inning and a solo shot by Rob Ryan in the sixth inning. Martinez left the game after six innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits and one walk, striking out nine Toronto batters.

"He looked sharp out there early on but a couple of defensive miscues seemed to kind of knock him off his game," Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal said. "He pitched well and what he did up until that first error, that doesn't bode well for the competition."

Graffanino made up for the error in the home half of that same inning, hitting a Grand Slam off Toronto starter Kris Benson. Rookie thirdbaseman Aubrey Huff tacked on a three-run shot off Benson in the fifth inning, chasing the starter from the game. Benson gave up eight runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks, striking out three, over 4 1/3 innings.

Charles Johnson, 0-for-4 in the ninth spot, was the only Devil Ray in the lineup who did not get at least one hit in the team's 8-6 win. Blue Jays shortstop Kevin Elster, 0-for-4 in the sixth spot, was the only Toronto starter not to get a basehit.

Both teams' bullpens pitched very well. Kelvim Escobar pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for Toronto, holding Tampa Bay to two hits and one walk while not giving up any runs. Byung-Hyun Kim, Randy Wolf, and Paul Quantrill worked an inning each in relief of Martinez, giving up a total of two hits and no walks, striking out three, in three shutout innings of relief. Quantrill recorded his first save of the season.

[Moriarty9]

Millwood strong in Rays romp
Toronto's Smiley hit hard in 8-2 loss
April 4, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays picked up another eight runs tonight as Kevin Millwood put together a strong performance en route to an 8-2 win over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Millwood worked seven shutout innings, walking two and allowing seven hits while striking out five. The workhorse threw 110 pitches, 73 for strikes, as the Devil Rays offense provided him with ample support.

Carlos Beltran hit a solo home run off Toronto starter John Smiley in the second inning, and Erubiel Durazo belted a three-run homer off reliever Carlos Almanzar in the seventh inning to put the game away.

Beltran also picked up a double while catcher Charles Johnson had two basehits, and rookie shortstop Jimmy Rollins had two RBI.

Smiley was hit for seven runs, four earned, on six hits and three walks, striking out five Tampa Bay batters in 6 2/3 innings of work.