C.C.: "I just couldn't imagine" being elsewhere

There have been no official talks, and may not be any for years as he is under Rays' control through 2010, but Carl Crawford made it clear Wednesday he would prefer to never leave the team.
"Most definitely, I would like to stay here with the Rays. This is the only organization I know. I don't know nothing different. It would be nice. I'm just taking it year-to-year right now,'' Crawford said. "I've always said that - I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good. You've been around for all the bad stuff you want to be around for the good part, too. And it looks like the good part is coming ahead, and you definitely want to be a part of that. So I hate to be out right when the team starts to win more games.'''
The Rays on Tuesday picked up Crawford's $8.25-million option for 2009, and hold a $10-million option for 2010, after which he can become a free agent. The Rays have recently signed Carlos Pena, James Shields and Dan Wheeler to long-term deals, and Crawford has noticed.
"I'm still a long ways away in my mind,'' he said. "I've got this year, next year and the year after that, they have another option. I honestly wasn't really thinking about an extension or nothing like that because in my mind it is so far away that I never really thought about it. But I just couldn't imagine seeing myself being anywhere else though.''
Crawford said he hadn't discussed the situation with his agents: "I'm just kind of waiting around, seeing what happens. ... My time will come, and I'm just going to try to wait until I get to that time.'' 
But if the Rays came to him? "Of course I'd want to listen,'' he said. "Everybody's getting extended these days it seems like. So I'd definitely listen.''

Manager Joe Maddon made his first lineup change, starting newcomer Nathan Haynes in rightfield tonight ahead of Eric Hinske, who homered in the opener but is 3-for-21 against Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera. He has Haynes hitting eighth, moving Dioner Navarro up a spot, on what will be a cold night.

The lineup, as the Rays seek to be 2-0 for just the second time in franchise history:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Upton, cf
Floyd, dh
Aybar, 3b
Navarro, c
Haynes, rf
Bartlett, ss
Matt Garza makes his Rays debut on the mound.

3 years for Wheeler; C.C. option picked up, Rocco declined

The Rays did as expected Tuesday in picking up OF Carl Crawford's 2009 option for $8.25-million and declining OF Rocco Baldelli's $6-million option by giving him a $4-million buyout and making him a free agent after the season, but what was unexpected was a three-year, $10.5-million contract for reliever Dan Wheeler with an option for 2011.
The Rays had signed Wheeler to a $2.875-million one-year contract before the season to avoid arbitration, but the new three-year deal replaces that. Wheeler will get $2.8-million this season, $3.2-million in 2009, $3.5-million in 2010 and either a $1-million buyout or a $4-million salary in 2011. He will also make a donation of at least $150,000 to team charitable foundation.
"We've worked hard to try to address our bullpen situation and we feel like Dan will be an important part of our bullpen going forward and getting important outs late in games for us,'' executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "I think he'd be the first to say last year was not a typical Dan Wheeler season and all parties agree this year and future years will be much better and he'll be an important part of our bullpen going forward.''
Wheeler, 30, started his career with the Rays and after stints with the Mets and Astros came back to Tampa Bay last July in a trade from Houston, going 0-5 with a 5.76 ERA in 25 games. He is targeted primarily for seventh-inning setup work this season, but does have 25 major-league saves. In 327 games, he is 12-26 with a 4.09 ERA.
In a statement released by the team, Crawford, 26, thanked principal owner Stuart Sternberg and indicated he would be interested in staying beyond 2010, for which the Rays hold another option.
“I'm very happy,'' Crawford said. "I would like to thank the Rays organization and Stu Sternberg for believing in me. I'm grateful for the opportunity for this day. I'm looking forward to being here for a long time because I think we're at the start of something great going on here. I want to do well for them and represent the team in a classy manner.”
Baldelli's playing status is uncertain as he remains sidelined by a rare disorder that leaves him fatigued. Friedman said the Rays would hope to keep him in the organization. "The most important thing right now is to address Rocco's health situation and once we're able to move beyond that we'll do everything in our power to keep him in a Rays uniform,'' Friedman said.
Declining the 2009 option saved the Rays about $4-million, since they not only would have had to pay him a $6-million salary but would have been on the hook for another $2-million buyout for future options.

Crawford to Delmon: Shut up and play

UPDATE (2:16 p.m.):
The volleying between Carl Crawford and Delmon Young appears to be over, or at least on hold, as Young declined to respond much to Crawford's Friday morning comments.
Asked about Crawford's comments after Friday's workout in Minnesota, Young told reporters: "I don't need to say anything. I responded back to his first thing. .. I'm not worried about anything."
Young said there was no need for him to talk with Crawford: "Not at all. I'm down in Fort Myers playing with the Twins. I'm not part of the (Rays) organization anymore.''
As for making the trip to St. Petersburg on March 4 for the first of three Rays-Twins games of the spring: "I ain't going to worry about any of that stuff. Why should I be scared to go.''
Crawford after the Rays workout said he, too, was done with the exchange, and had no interest in clearing things up with  Young. "I don't want to talk to him at all.''

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Carl Crawford has a message for former teammate Delmon Young: Shut up.

Irritated at Young's reaction to his comments about the Rays having a calmer clubhouse without Young and Elijah Dukes, Crawford spoke out early Friday morning.

"These are exactly the the kind of distractions we were talking about with the Rays, a young guy popping off at the mouth, talking too much,'' Crawford said. "He needs to just shut up and play baseball.''

Crawford said that if Young didn't fully understand his comments about the Rays benefiting from having fewer distractions, Crawford said he will be more than willing to explain it. After reading Young's comments in the Times early Friday morning, Crawford was animated in his response:

"Nobody even mentioned the word losing, losing games. We know we've been a losing franchise. He just wanted to say something back like he's always running his mouth. That's what he does. He runs his mouth all the time. Nobody was blaming him for anything. For him to come back at me was a personal attack. I feel that if there is anything that he is unsure about, tell him I would be more than happy to say it in his face, or any kind of other way, that would make him understand."

After reporting to camp Tuesday, Crawford said he looked forward to the calmer environment the Rays would have without Dukes and Young and said that if the two young outfielders hadn't been traded he thought they would have contined to cause problems. He also said they lacked maturity and didn't act the way rookies are supposed to act.

Young volleyed back Thursday when he reported to Twins camp in Fort Myers, saying he discounted the comments because he's seen other players say things like that then turn around and trash the Rays when they leave, invoking the name of former Rays catcher Toby Hall. Young also said he and Dukes shouldn't be blamed for the Rays' poor record since they were a losing franchise before the two arrived.

Crawford's return volley:

"Nobody ever said he was the reason why we lost games. We know that. We said it was a more at-ease enviroment, which is true. And second of all, I have no problem with coming directly to his face and telling him whatever it is he needs to know. Nobody's waiting till he leaves. Nobody cares about him leaving. For him to say we want to act like Toby Hall and leave, nobody's doing that. Trust me. Me personally? Tell him this is a direct statement from me; I will come say it directly to his face. If he wants to know, if he is not sure about anything, I'll say it directly to his face. I'd be more than happy to say it to his face. Make sure he gets that.''

Crawford also questioned why Young aligned himself with Dukes: "He always wants to feel like if he can say him and Dukes, he feels protected that Dukes has his back or something like that.''

Crawford also offered what sounded like a message to the Twins:

"Tell them, this is exactly the kind of thing Crawford and the Rays were talking about. It hasn't happened much (in Minnesota yet), but at some point it will and they will see what we were talking about over here.''

CC: No more drama

Carl Crawford was here before 8 Tuesday morning, reporting early on day the before full squad workouts. He looked to be in spectacular shape, said he's changed his diet and intensified his workouts.|
And, most telling, he thought the Rays have changed for the better this season - on and off the field.
"I'm really excited this year,'' Crawford said. "I just feel like it's going to be a little more peaceful this year, more at ease. I think it will be more at ease. Not so much crazy stuff. You just get the feeling it's about everybody wanting to come out and play good baseball this year. I'm done, you know I'm not really a drama person, so I'm kinda glad stuff just seems a little smoother right now.''
Crawford said he was "surprised" the Rays traded Delmon Young to Minnesota (for Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza) but that the deal should work for both teams. The Rays also traded Elijah Dukes, whose off-field troubles were a major distraction.
Crawford added a gym to his house in Arizona, made his workouts more intensive and concentrated on making his legs stronger, which should combat the fatiguing effects of the turf at Tropicana Field. He said the change in diet - including cutting out his favorite, Taco Bell - has given him more energy.
Crawford is confident the Rays will be better this season but wasn't quite as overly optimistic as some of this teammates, saying they were "a long way from October" and should focus first on a .500 season.
"This is probably the best team they've ever put together and we all know that and I think we want to go out and show people,'' he said.
OF Jon Weber and INF Elliot Johnson also reported, leaving only Carlos Pena, Jonny Gomes, Willy Aybar and Juan Guzman to arrive, along with RHP Juan Salas, who has been delayed in the Dominican Republic by visa problems.

C.C.: "I can't wait to get to spring training."

Rays LF Carl Crawford has kept a low profile during the off-season but told ESPN.com's Amy K. Nelson he can't wait to get to spring training and likes the direction the team is headed, especially the deal to get RHP Matt Garza and SS Jason Bartlett from Minnesota for Delmon Young.
"That move, for Garza, spoke volumes," Crawford said. "For the first time I felt like this organization was serious about winning. That's the reason why I think everybody is excited because everybody sees that."
Crawford also details how he has changed his diet and intensified his workouts, having built a private gym in his Arizona home.

Crawford's season over

All-Star LF Carl Crawford will not play again this season, manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday's game against the Yankees. Crawford has been sidelined since straining his left groin on Sept. 16 in Seattle and has not improved enough to where he or the Rays are comfortable with him returning to the field.

Crawford strains groin

Just when it looked like a good news day for the Rays with an easy win at Seattle, All-Star LF Carl Crawford pulled up running to first base in the top of the ninth and had to leave the game with what the Rays said was a left groin strain.

Crawford will reevaulated on Monday, and said he doesn't know how long he will be out, but hopes it is not for the final 12 games of the season.

”Of course I want to play again,'' Crawford said. "I just don’t know what’s going to happen. I have to wait and see. I don’t see myself being out for two weeks. I don’t think it’s that bad. I hope not. But it’s definitely uncomfortable for me, being a guy who uses his speed for everything.’’

Crawford said he first tweaked the groin on Saturday and was trying to be cautious on Sunday but went all out trying to beat out an infield hit in the ninth inning of what at the time was a 9-1 game.

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Crawford has "mild" left ankle sprain, Hammel new address

Rays All-Star LF Carl Crawford was removed from Saturday's matinee after the fourth inning due to what the team said was a "mild" left ankle sprain and seems likely to be sidelined until Tuesday. Also, the Rays made something of a surprise move after the game, sending RHP Jason Hammel back to Triple-A to return to starting, and keeping RHP Jae Kuk Ryu to work out of the bullpen.
Crawford said x-rays were negative but he "probably" wouldn't play until Tuesday - meaning he'd miss the Saturday night and Sunday games in New York. Monday is an off-day and the Rays play Tuesday in Baltimore.
"I don't think it's bad or nothing,'' Crawford said. "I don't think I'm going to be on the DL or nothing like that, that's for sure.''
Crawford appeared to jam his left ankle beating out an infield single in the third inning, and when he later advanced to third base Rays manager Joe Maddon and trainer Ron Porterfield came out of the dugout to check on him, but he waved them off. Crawford played the field in the third and fourth innings, but when his turn in the order came up in the fifth, with a man on second and no outs, he was removed for pinch-hitter Greg Norton, who also replaced him in leftfield. Jonny Gomes will play left in Saturday's night game.
"It was throbbing and aching both - just uncomfortable,'' Crawford said.
The Rays are already short on position players, opting to go with a three-man bench and a 13-man staff for the four-games-in-three days weekend in New York.

Crawford homers in All-Star game

In his first at-bat at Tuesday's All-Star Game, Devil Rays outfielder Carl Crawford hit a two-out solo home run to give the American League a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning.

After fouling off four pitches, Crawford hit a 3-and-2 pitch from Francisco Cordero of the Brewers over the rightfield wall.

It is Crawford's second All-Star appearance. It was the second hit by a Devil Ray in an All-Star Game. Randy Winn had a double in 2002.

Promo time

The second full squad workout of the spring ended without any casualties on Friday, which is something of a success given the schedule featured live batting practice - with pitchers who have been in camp for a week throwing to hitters who just showed up.

Jonny Gomes had another big day, knocking a number of balls over the fence. J.P. Howell looked impressive on the mound.

The front office was busy too, announcing a promotional schedule that includes a team-record 37 giveaways. Highlights include a replica of Tropicana Field (April 7), Akinori Iwamura Thunderstix (June 14), Don Zimmer Turn Back the Clock bobblehead on June 23, a Carl Crawford Action Figure (July 29), a Scott Kazmir baseball card with a piece of a game-used jersey (Aug.4), figurines of Rocco Baldelli (Aug. 18) and Delmon Young (Aug. 25).  There are giveaways for children at all Sunday home games.