AL East Notebook: Rays/Blue Jays

Some news and notes surrounding the Red Sox' AL East rivals, the Rays and Blue Jays, as spring training opens:

Rays
—LHP Trever Miller was signed by the Rays, who filled their final major hole and gained a reliable lefty reliever for the first time since, well, Miller left after the 2005 season. Miller has held lefties to a .238 average over parts of nine big-league seasons, compiling a career 12-14 record, eight saves and a 4.46 ERA. "Trever is going to add a lot to the bullpen on and off the field," Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "He's been very consistent getting out left-handed hitters, and his strikeouts [310 in 379 innings] are always above average. We have really missed having a consistent lefty in the 'pen the past couple years."

—INF Willy Aybar is expected to join the Rays in spring training after being freed from a Dominican Republic jail and having domestic-violence charges against him dropped. Aybar was behind bars for nearly a week but was let go when his wife withdrew the complaint and he apologized for his actions. The Rays acquired him from Atlanta in January knowing he had a troubled past (going AWOL last season and spending three months in rehab for substance abuse) but hoping he could fill a key role, potentially started at third base if prospect Evan Longoria needs more time and then becoming a "super utility" type player.

—INF/OF Eric Hinske provides the Rays insurance and a potential low-cost option at the corner outfield, first base and DH spots, as well as an alternative at third base, after signing a minor league deal. Hinske, the 2002 AL Rookie of the Year with Toronto, hit .204 in a reserve role for Boston last season.

—3B Evan Longoria hopes the Rays give him a chance to show he's ready for the big leagues. Team officials are considering deciding before the start of workouts whether he will be on the Opening Day roster, preferring not to evaluate against inconsistent spring competition and hoping to reduce the pressure and scrutiny. But Longoria, ranked among the game's elite prospects, said he would be "kind of a little disappointed" if he didn't get a chance.

—C Josh Paul's stay with the Rays looked to be over when they allowed him to become a free agent after the season, but—with a mutual lack of better options—he rejoined the team, though on a minor league contract. Paul is a favorite of manager Joe Maddon, and with the Rays having some concerns about the health of Shawn Riggans, the apparent frontrunner to take over the backup catcher's job, Paul could conceivably retain that role.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5—Relievers on the Rays roster with postseason experience (Grant Balfour, Trever Miller, Troy Percival, Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know that if I focus I can become a great baseball player, but also I want to be a good father, husband and citizen." —INF Willy Aybar, after being released from a Dominican Republic jail when domestic-violence charges were dropped.


Blue Jays
—INF Ray Olmedo was claimed on waivers by the Pirates after being removed from the 40-man roster.

—RHP Shawn Marcum, slotted in as the fourth man in the Jays rotation after a breakout season last year when he went 12-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 38 appearances, 25 of them starts, says his chief goal this spring is to perfect his two-seam fastball. "I can actually go into spring training and work on certain pitches, and that's what I've done this offseason," said Marcum. "I've taken my two-seam fastball and tried to get more movement on it and tried to get it located better. In the past it's been a pitch where one time I'll throw it and it will go up and in and the next time it will stay right down the middle. For me to go into spring training and be able to focus on that one pitch, well, it's exciting for me."

—Since GM J.P. Ricciardi assumed his position with the Jays in November 2001, the club hasn't gone to arbitration with a single player. The last time was in 1997 with RHP Bill Risley.

—As well as RF Alex Rios, the Jays will explore a long-term deal with 2B Aaron Hill. Hill, who hit .291 with 17 homers and 78 RBI in 160 games in 2007, isn't eligible to become a free agent until 2011 and doesn't reach his arbitration years until after this season.

—With the signing of RF Alex Rios, the Jays have 19 players under contract, and the remaining six all have less than three years of service. The Jays' payroll, meanwhile, will top $100 million for the first time in history and leave them with no wiggle room to add additional players. "We're done," GM J.P. Ricciardi said of any future acquisitions. "We don't have any more money. What we've got is what we've got."

BY THE NUMBERS: 21—The number of home runs surrendered by RHP Shaun Marcum from the 78 hits he allowed at Toronto's Rogers Centre in 2007.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Knock on wood, all our guys who had surgery or were hurt last year feel good." —GM J.P. Ricciardi.