The plans to build a new waterfront stadium won’t directly affect the plans to build the Rays team.

     But executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Wednesday that the focus this off-season had shifted to making the team better sooner rather than the usual later.

   “I think we’re at a point, a lot of our focus in ‘06 and ‘07 was on the future, and I think right now our M.O. is changing in that we have a lot fewer questions this off season than we did last offseason and next offseason we expect to have even fewer,’’ Friedman said at a pre-winter meetings luncheon.

    “So this is a good opportunity for us to start being more aggressive to focus on the now than we were able to in the previous years. It gets back to the personnel we have in upper minors and at the major-league level that we feel like it’s the right time to really start moving this thing forward.’’

    Friedman reiterated that the Rays were seeking to acquire a shortstop as part of an effort to improve their defense, and were aggressively looking for bullpen help. They remain unlikely to splurge on the free agent market, but are discussing a number of trade possibilities.

  One that made its way into Internet rumors that they are not discussing involves Minnesota pitcher Boof Bonser, a Gibbs High product.