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SS Zobrist Sent To Durham

Published: May 11, 2007

BALTIMORE - The move the Devil Rays made Thursday was less about acquiring IF Josh Wilson than about finding regular playing time for SS Ben Zobrist.

That could only come at Durham, where Zobrist will be able to play every day and, the Rays hope, rediscover the stroke that made him a .324 career hitter in the minors. That wasn't going to happen on the Rays' bench, and that's where Zobrist would have stayed. He started only twice in the past 17 games as his .159 batting average gave Manager Joe Maddon little reason to bump Brendan Harris out of the lineup.

Considering the struggles he has endured this season and the fact he essentially skipped the Triple-A level, playing just 18 games there last season, Zobrist had no trouble finding a positive spin after being informed following the game that he had been optioned down.

"I'm actually really glad about that, because there are some things I need to work out," Zobrist said. "I think it'd be good for me to go down there and play every day and get them worked out."

Wilson, a 26-year-old with a .069 career average in the majors and five errors in seven games for the Nationals this season, is a means to an end for the time being. He was claimed off waivers after being designated for assignment two days earlier, and was pleased to end up with Tampa Bay. He said his choice on which team to sign with as a free agent last offseason came down to the Rays and Nationals.

"It was a tough decision to make," Wilson said. "It turns out I'm going to get a chance here after all."

The Rays are firm in their belief that Wilson is a more useful player than his sliver of big-league experience would indicate, but he doesn't figure to play much. He'll be the 25{+t}{+h} man Zobrist had become, giving the man he replaces time to develop and retain his place in the Rays' long-term picture.

"One big reason to make this claim is to get an opportunity for Zobrist to go play every day and have some success," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "He's still very much in our plans."

Wilson was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Tuesday, and the Rays grabbed him off waivers figuring he was a better alternative as a utility player than, say, Durham SS Jorge Velandia - at least when it comes to the possibility of being able to contribute.

He intends to do so, hoping to impress his new employers with whatever playing time he gets. He said Maddon indicated he might get a start during the weekend in Toronto.

"For a guy like me, with not much big-league experience, and the time I do have, my playing time has been few and far between, certainly I'm going to have to earn it," Wilson said. "You take what you're given and make the most of it, and that's certainly what I intend to do. Yeah, sure, you start out at the bottom, but you work your way up and I fully expect to do that."

The Rays did not need to clear a spot for Wilson on the 40-man roster because suspended RHP Juan Salas does not count against the limit while he is on the restricted list.

NOTEWORTHY: RHP Shawn Camp left the game in the seventh inning with tightness in his left hamstring. Further exams showed nothing serious, and he's considered day-to-day. … Greg Norton made his first appearance in the field for Double-A Montgomery, starting at 1B Thursday night. … Durham RHP Mitch Talbot bounced back well Thursday after failing to retire any of the 10 batters he faced in his previous outing. Talbot allowed three hits and two runs in six innings while striking out seven. Ruddy Lugo followed him and allowed a run in his first appearance since being optioned down Sunday.

Marc Lancaster