TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

2005 finish: 67-95, 5^th place in AL East

Manager: Joe Maddon (1st year)

Free agents: 1B Travis Lee, IF Alex Gonzalez, 1B Eduardo Perez

On the block: RHP Danys Baez, OF Aubrey Huff, RHP Jesus Colome, OF Joey Gathright, IF Julio Lugo

Looking for: Starting pitching, third baseman

What’s going on: Few teams are going through more changes than the Rays, starting right at the top with Stuart Sternberg taking over control from Vince Naomoli, and putting the tandem of 28-year-old novice Andrew Freidman and veteran GM Gerry Hunsicker in charge of the baseball operation. The new manager is Joe Maddon, and don’t be surprised if he is a success. They exercised an option on closer Danys Baez, but he could be dealt for young starting pitching. Aubrey Huff’s value is down after a sub-par season, so he could go in the right deal — i.e. for quality young starting pitching. They probably will bring back the first-base platoon of Travis Lee and Eduardo Perez — both free agents — but might not re-sign Alex Gonzalez. Inconsistent Jesus Colome asked to be traded in August, and the Rays probably will do so rather than offer him arbitration. They believe Rocco Baldelli is over knee and elbow problems enough to guarantee him $9 million over three years in a new deal, so Joey Gathright — arguably the fastest man in the game — could be dealt for young pitching. Julio Lugo could go if and when B.J. Upton is ready, but probably not this winter.

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