Reliever Dohmann added

The Rays made a move to bolster their bullpen depth on Monday by signing reliever Scott Dohmann, a 28-year-old righthander, to a one-year deal.

Dohmann pitched in 48 games last season, going 2-4 with one save and a 7.08 ERA. He started the season with the Rockies, was sent to Triple-A, then traded to the Royals on July 31 and nontendered after the season.

The Rays had space on their 40-man roster by releasing injured reliever Shinji Mori, who on Monday agreed to a minor-league contract. He is working his way back from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss all of last season.

$24-million questions

To follow up on the article in today's Times, the Rays' projected opening day payroll of about $24-million looks like it will be the lowest in the majors, pending how the Marlins come out on a few arbitration cases and what moves either team makes over the next 10 weeks.

The Rays are guaranteeing about $16-million to 11 players, only five of whom make more than $1-million - Carl Crawford ($4-million), Ty Wigginton ($2.7-million), Casey Fossum ($2.7-million, after a salary escalator based on his number of 2006 starts), Akinori Iwamura ($1.8-million) and Jae Seo ($1.2-million).

Got a number of e-mails this morning from people asking about Rocco Baldelli, and why he wasn't on the list since he had a long-term deal similar to Crawford. Baldelli's contract, though, includes much less guaranteed money. In 2007, for example, his salary is only $750,000, but he can earn an additional $1.75-million through plate-appearance incentives.

The others players with set salaries include Greg Norton ($800,000), Seth McClung ($750,000), Dan Miceli ($650,000), Josh Paul (either $625,000 or $940,000 through arbitration), and Delmon Young ($600,000). The Rays also have to pay guaranteed salaries to Jeff Niemann and Shinji Mori.

Dukes charged with marijuana possession

Troubled Devil Rays prospect Elijah Dukes was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop in Tampa on Monday night.

Tampa police stopped Dukes and a passenger, Willie Evans, for a loud music violation and, according to police, officers noted "a distinct odor of marijuana" coming from inside the 2006 Dodge Charger. After searching the vehicle, police found what they said was less than two grams of marijuana in the center console.

Dukes, 22, was expected to come to spring training next month with a strong chance to make the major league team as a reserve outfielder. The Rays initially had no comment on the arrest.

Dukes has been arrested several times previously, and also has been in trouble with the Rays, having been suspended several times last season for on- and off-field incidents. He also made headlines for criticizing the organization, including a much publicized line that "Those guys up there (in the big leagues) shower in Evian. Here, we use sewer water."

Also the Rays avoided arbitration by working out deals with infielder Ty Wigginton, who will make $2.7-million plus incentives, and reliever Seth McClung, who will make $750,000 plus incentives. They are headed to a hearing next month with a third player, backup catcher Josh Paul.

Seeking compromise ....

Nothing says spring training is around the corner like the exchange of arbitration figures.

The annual number fest, which is usually good for a few moments of amazement and entertainment, is the first item of the new year on the baseball calendar.

The Rays head into Tuesday's deadline looking to make a deal with any or all of their three remaining arbitration eligible players - closer candidate Seth McClung, backup catcher Josh Paul and versatile infielder Ty Wigginton.

But if they don't settle by the late afternoon exchange of figures, they are going to suspend negotiations and take the cases to hearings next month. That is a new policy for the Rays, though other teams have done things similarly.

Wigginton was one of the game's biggest bargains last season, hitting .275 with a team-high 24 homers and 79 RBIs while starting at five positions. He will be rewarded well, likely in excess of $2.5-million.

    McClung is an interesting case study in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He made $343,000 last season in which he went 2-10 with a 6.81 ERA as a starter and 4-2, 4.43 with six saves as a reliever, and - despite the overall struggles - is in line to more than double his salary, probably making in excess of $750,000.

     Paul's strategy is hard to figure. He went to a hearing last year and lost, making $475,000 instead of the $750,000 he sought. Now he appears headed there again after hitting .260 with one homer and eight RBIs in 58 games.

Regardless of what happen in the negotiations, the players remain the property of the Rays. It is only their salary that has to be determined.

Hall of Fame

Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn were elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on Tuesday while controversial slugger Mark McGwire fell way short.

Ripken was named on 537 of the 545 ballots cast, his percentage of 98.53 ranking third highest behind Tom Seaver (98.83 in 1992) and Nolan Ryan (98.79 in 1999). Gwynn received 532 votes for 97.6 percentage. A player needs to be named on 75 percent of the ballots to be elected.

"For me it's kind of validation for being the type of player I was,'' Gwynn said on a conference call.

McGwire received only 128 votes, for 23.5 percent.

Here are the totals: Ripken 537 (98.5%), Gwynn 532 (97.6%), Rich “Goose” Gossage 388 (71.2%), Jim Rice 346 (63.5%), Andre Dawson 309 (56.7%), Bert Blyleven 260 (47.7%), Lee Smith 217 (39.8%), Jack Morris 202 (37.1%), McGwire 128 (23.5%), Tommy John 125 (22.9%), Steve Garvey 115 (21.1%), Dave Concepcion 74 (13.6%), Alan Trammell 73 (13.4%), Dave Parker 62 (11.4%), Don Mattingly 54 (9.9%), Dale Murphy 50 (9.2%), Harold Baines 29 (5.3%), Orel Hershiser 24 (4.4%), Albert Belle 19 (3.5%), Paul O’Neill 12 (2.2%), Bret Saberhagen 7 (1.3%), Jose Canseco 6 (1.1%), Tony Fernandez 4 (0.7%), Dante Bichette 3 (0.6%), Eric Davis 3 (0.6%), Bobby Bonilla 2 (0.4%), Ken Caminiti 2 (0.4%), Jay Buhner 1 (0.2%), Scott Brosius 0, Wally Joyner 0, Devon White 0, Bobby Witt 0.