Tampa Bay signed Travis Lee to a one-year, $1M contract that includes a $500,000 buyout on a $2.5M mutual option for 2004. He can reportedly earn up to $500,000 in additional incentives each year. Lee is expected to split time with Aubrey Huff at first base, while Huff also spends some time at DH and potentially 3B.

The 27-year-old Lee has a solid walk rate and I believe his loss of power last season was due to a minor but aggravating shoulder injury, so he should return to a .420 SLG and hit around 20 homers again in 2003. However, he needs to improve his contact rate to deserve a full-time job, and I don't expect his power to grow significantly beyond the peaks we've already witnessed. Given the other first base/designated hitter types who signed in the $1M range I think the Devil Rays made a poor choice, particularly considering the team could have focused the money they gave Lee on a temporary centerfielder. I highly doubt the club will want to pick up the option.

Dan Reichert, who the Devil Rays snatched off waivers from Kansas City, settled on a $510,000 one-year contract, avoiding arbitration with Tampa. The Royals drafted Reichert out of the University of the Pacific with the 7th overall pick of the first round of the 1997 draft. Despite the fact that he displayed command problems in the lower minors and needed to spend time on the DL due to diabetes complications, Reichert was in AAA by 1998 and in the majors by the end of 1999. He struck out over a batter per inning at AAA, but his walk rate was high and he had less than 150 innings at that level and less than 300 in the minors at the time of his major league debut.

This unfortunate set of circumstances has left Reichert with a barely acceptable strikeout rate, which is sometimes exceeded by his walk rate. I'd love to see his reaction to a reconditioning similar to the one Roy Halladay underwent, returning to the low minors and working his way back. However, I suspect the 26-year-old will spend most of 2003 in the Tampa bullpen, perhaps receiving a spot start or two. As a reliever he performs marginally better, but Reichert still fails to pitch like someone who deserves his roster spot. Once he reaches free agency, I expect him to cycle off into AAAA oblivion.

Considering the current state of Reichert's abilities, the Devil Rays shouldn't have bothered claiming him off waivers last season. Kansas City probably would have non-tendered him, allowing Tampa to sign him to a more appropriate minor league deal. The Devil Rays also could have non-tendered and re-signed him, but he doesn't merit this salary.

Tampa has signed several more players to minor league deals, including C-L Jorge Fabregas, 1B-L Lee Stevens, OF-R Ryan Thompson, LHP Jim Parque, and Bob Wells. Fabregas offers very little offensively, but the 32-year-old is considered a veteran, so he'll likely break camp as the back-up. The only upside here is that he shouldn't threaten Toby Hall's playing time.

Many scoffed at the Devil Rays acquisition of Lee Stevens, as his BA has taken a substantial hit in recent years. However, he still maintains a strong walk rate and offers solid power. The 35-year-old has always had a questionable contact rate, but either an improvement in that area or in the quality of his contact and he'll deserve a starting job again. With the acquisition of Travis Lee, I expect Stevens to spend most of the season in the minors, but he could be called up in the event of an injury to someone receiving at-bats at first base or as the DH. He can also play a little outfield at the corners.

Ryan Thompson has considerable power, but his poor plate discipline leaves him very exposed in the majors. The Devil Ray's bench looks rather full at the moment, so I expect the 35-year-old to spend the majority of the season in AAA with perhaps a brief appearance as roster filler before September.

Jim Parque will compete for a place on the pitching staff in Spring Training. Like Reichert, Parque was a first round pick and rushed to the majors, though fortunately the consequences haven't been quite as severe. He could provide the Devil Rays with decent left-handed relief, but they'll likely look to try him in the rotation, where he'll undoubtedly struggle with his command. Depending upon the success of other pitchers, the 26-year-old could also spend a good portion of the season in AAA.

Bob Wells will almost certainly receive an opportunity to add his veteran presence to the Tampa bullpen when the Devil Rays break camp. Wells was probably the worst reliever to receive significant innings in the Minnesota bullpen last season, and the 36-year-old will likely compete for that dubious honor with Tampa in 2003. His strikeout rate is down, his walks are up, and his homers are still too frequent though he improved in that area. The Devil Rays also have a weak defense and a poor pitchers' park, so he's very unlikely to improve this year. Hopefully, they'll use him primarily as a mop-up man to save the younger arms from overwork.