Are the Rays going to make any more additions to their roster before the start of spring training?

Executive Andrew Friedman, appearing tonight on 620-AM, wouldn’t commit. But he made it clear they are going to continue to explore the possibilities – meaning you can expect more rumors over the next couple weeks – and shed a little light on their thought process.

“We have a responsibility and that’s to monitor the market. I think one of our biggest fears is to see someone’s name come across the ticker and they signed for “X” and it’s something we would have done,'' Friedman told Andy Freed and Dave Wills during the show.

"So we spend a lot of time - sometimes it’s stuff that’s not necessarily realistic and some that are more realistic. But you never know how things are going to unfold. I think after we signed (closer Rafael) Soriano we touched on how over-extended we were (financially) - that said we have to remain flexible and open-minded and try to get creative. So we’ve had conversations on a number of different fronts over the last couple weeks and I expect us to (continue). That said, it’s difficult to handicap the likelihood of it. But we’re going to continue to have those conversations and see if something lines up that in our minds make us even better for 2010.’’

Otherwise, Friedman said he expects catchers Dioner Navarro and Kelly Shoppach to compete in spring training,  that the addition of Soriano will have a big impact on the entire pitching staff, that top prospects RHP Jeremy Hellickson and OF Desmond Jennings aren't in the picture to make the season-opening roster, and that he is looking forward to getting B.J. Upton's arbitration hearing behind them.