Gomes suspension reduced

Update: Now it's been changed and Gomes has to sit out tonight's game.

Still trying to sort out exactly how this happened, but in brief, Gomes, through the players association, negotiated a deal in which he'd drop his appeal in return of having his suspension cut from two games to one. Originally he was to be suspended Friday, then he and his representatives tried to get it switched to Sunday since the Rays lineup had already been posted (and he was in it). There was then some type of official communication that it would be Sunday, and then the Rays heard from MLB officials that it indeed would remain Friday. So, Gomes is out of the lineup, replaced in right by Nathan Haynes, and also lost is one of manager Joe Maddon's best lines. At the time Maddon did his media pre-game, he thought Gomes was in and the Yankees would be without Melky Cabrera, and Maddon said: "We're on the power play.''

The new Rays lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Upton, cf
Floyd, dh
Navarro, c
Hinske, 3b
Haynes, rf
Bartlett, ss

And for the Yankees
Damon, cf
Jeter, ss
Abreu, rf
Rodriguez, 3b
Giambi, 1b
Cano, 2b
Posada, dh
Matsui, lf
Molina, c

Jonny Gomes' suspension was reduced from two games to one and will be served Sunday. Suspensions of Yankees' Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan also reduced, from three games to two. Cabrera is out tonight and Saturday, Duncan Sunday and Monday.

Gomes deal done

The Rays completed their one-year deal with OF/DH Jonny Gomes on Thursday, and it ended up right about where it was last night  - a salary of $1.275-million, with the chance to make another $25,000 in incentives for making 500 plate appearances.

Gomes made $407,800 last season, hitting .244 with 17 homers and 49 RBIs in 107 games.

The Rays are continuing talks with their two remaining arbitration-eligible players, ace Scott Kazmir and 1B Carlos Pena, against a team-imposed Friday noon deadline.

Talking baseball ...

Executive VP Andrew Friedman said last week he would "be surprised" if remaining arbitration cases with OF Jonny Gomes, LHP Scott Kazmir. 1B Carlos Pena and RHP Dan Wheeler weren't settled before the upcoming Friday (Jan. 18) date to exchange figures.
And he appears to be working hard at it.
Both Gomes and Wheeler said Sunday night they knew talks with their representatives had been ongoing through the weekend, but didn't know exactly where things stood. Kazmir and Pena didn't respond to messages.
Friedman and the players are operating under something of a deadline, given a team policy to break off negotiations - and proceed to a hearing - if there is no deal by the time figures are exchanged. The team's thinking behind that policy is to avoid settling at or near an artificial midpoint that is created by the filed figures - one by the team and one by the player. If a case proceeds, the arbitrator has to pick one of the salary figures.

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.

Ready to rock

The Devil Rays are set to open full squad workouts on Thursday morning at the Raymond A. Naimoli complex, 7901 30th Ave. N in St. Petersburg. Save for a few players delayed in the Dominican Republic by vias issues, the full group will be together and welcomed by manager Joe Maddon, who will deliver the keynote address.

High on the list of things to watch will be Japanese 3B Akinori Iwamura, who will participate in his first official major-league workout. Also, look for DH/OF Jonny Gomes, who reported in tremendous shape; CF Rocco Baldelli, who is fully healthy; LHP Scott Kazmir, whose left shoulder is a big key to what success the Rays will have; and RHP Seth McClung, who is making a big push for the closer's job.

Gomes, Zobrist report

The position players continued to file in Tuesday morning, with the most recent additions to Rays spring training camp being outfielder Jonny Gomes and shortstop Ben Zobrist.

Gomes, a popular clubhouse guy, made quite an entrance. He also appeared to have lost about 15 to 20 pounds. He said he was the same weight -- 238 pounds -- as he was this time last season, but it was just in the "right places now."

Gomes, whose season was cut short last year with right shoulder surgery, said his throwing shoulder feels the best it has since his junior college days. He's been throwing long toss and hitting live batting practice, not bad for a guy who couldn't physically swing the bat without pain in August.

"I’m full go," Gomes said. "There’s no exercise, no hitting, no throwing that I have to hold back."

With a crowded outfield, the Rays asked Gomes in December if he would be willing to try playing first base. Gomes said he happily obliged, even borrowing Rocco Baldelli's first base mitt in order to get a feel for it. But on Tuesday Rays manager Joe Maddon said that if Gomes is healthy enough to throw and run well, he'll remain an outfieder.