The run to the World Series threw a bit of a wrench into the offseason plans of Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman. Normally, he's working on assembling next year's team by Oct. 1. This year, he had to wait another month before he could even think about 2009.
Not that he's complaining. "The offseason for us is incredibly busy," Friedman said. "We're prepared, but not as prepared as we'd like to be being how late we played. It's a problem we'd like to have every year."
Unlike in past years, when Friedman fretted about improving a last-place ballclub, this winter he will be faced with the challenge of ensuring the American League champion Rays are contenders in 2009.
His to-do list is long and starts with finding a right fielder, a designated hitter and a closer, providing the Rays are not comfortable with the oft-injured Troy Percival finishing games.
Eight players are arbitration-eligible: Jason Bartlett, Dioner Navarro, Gabe Gross, Grant Balfour, Willy Aybar, Edwin Jackson, Jonny Gomes and Dan Johnson.
There will be new faces in Boston and New York, which means for the first time in franchise history, what the other teams in the division do in the offseason will greatly impact the Rays.
Friedman has his work cut out for him as he sets out to retool a team that won the AL East and the AL pennant.
Some familiar faces may be gone in 2009. Don't be surprised if Friedman makes a trade similar to the one that sent right fielder Delmon Young to Minnesota last November for Bartlett and right-hander Matt Garza.
"The nature of the game is there will be some turnover," Friedman said. "What that is, it's way too early to tell right now."
