What it means ...
So with RHP Seth McClung - who didn't know he contractually could be sent down - and RHP Chad Orvella optioned to Durham, the Rays have cobbled a seven-man bullpen quite different than predicted at the start of spring:
Al Reyes
Shawn Camp
Ruddy Lugo
Brian Stokes
Gary Glover
Juan Salas
Jae Kuk Ryu
Only Camp and Lugo were regulars last season.
The Rays still have some more roster moves to make, plus a decision on whether C Dioner Navarro and CF Rocco Baldelli will be recovered enough from hamstring problems to be on the active roster for Monday's opener.
McClung was disappointed and surprised with the decision since he he wasn't aware he had an unsual fourth option. He said he was pitching this spring with a plan to be ready for the season and felt he was judged on results.
"I'm disappointed,'' he said. "To the layman, you look at may spring and you see numbers that are ugly. But for me what I see out of my spring is an individual who took an intelligent approach to a spring training situaiton where I knew I hard to work on some things.''
The final roster moves may include a decision between 2B Jorge Cantu and DH/OF Jonny Gomes for the final spot.
Follow the Rays through spring training and the season with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
It looks like Reyes will be the closer (assuming the Rays are ahead and need such services). The reality is the Rays did the best with what they had this Spring. What can be considered disappointing is that they have made no attempt to improve from outside the organization. Spring is for optimism...bring on the Yankees.
Posted by: Kevin | March 30, 2007 at 04:44 PM
GET REAL GOMES AND CANTU BOTH NEED TO STAY
Posted by: ED | March 30, 2007 at 07:24 PM
I think a lot of players better check to see if they are due one more option to the minor leagues. Silverman has a quick knife, so Devil Rays players watch out.
Posted by: daw | March 30, 2007 at 09:12 PM
mcclung is an idiot; incidentally, he can't pitch worth a damn. good riddance.
Posted by: jim | March 31, 2007 at 04:03 AM
McClung, in one of his comments, hit the nail on the head. McClung said he was angry at his agent, Scott Boras, since Boras should have made him aware of the whole 4th year option possibility.
McClung may be a crappy pitcher at this point, but at least he singled out Boras for the a** that he is.
Posted by: Tyler | March 31, 2007 at 04:10 PM