Roger Mooney
Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.
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Friedman still not willing to move a starting pitcher this winter
Posted Dec 17, 2010 by Roger Mooney
Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 11:35 PM
BY ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG Matt Garza’s name is quite popular these days in trade rumors.
The Cubs, Nationals, Rangers, Brewers and Rockies have been mentioned as possible destinations for the Rays right-hander, according to mlbtraderumors.com.
Not likely going to happen any time soon.
Rays VP of baseball Andrew Friedman said during the Winter Meetings that he was going to hold on to his six starters – Garza, David Price, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann and Jeremy Hellickson.
He said again Friday night during a conference call to announce the Jason Bartlett trade that he hasn’t changed his mind.
“I’ve said before it’s not a situation we look at like having two first basemen,” Friedman said. “We were very fortunate last year until August that all of our guys took the ball every five days. It doesn’t always happen that way. Depth on the starting pitching front is more valuable than anywhere else. At this time our focus is on making deals that fit in our short term and long term objectives, and without pinning it to anyone area, we’re always going to be open minded to something that fits that criteria. But as far as our motivation? No, that remains the same.”
In other words, Friedman has other more pressing needs to answer this offseason.
Unless someone blows him away with a deal for a starter, expect all six to report Feb. 15 the Charlotte Sports Park.