Taking their swings
The Rays will leave the fields early today to hit the fairways as all 40-man rostered players and staff will take part in the team's annual charity golf tournament at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. With David Price traded and Jake McGee sidelined, the field seems wide open, with C Curt Casali, RHP Matt Andriese and C Rene Rivera considered among the Rays' best, though they compete with teams of corporate and community partners. "Since David's not here I think I have a good chance to win it," Casali said. "I'm looking forward to having some fun out there."
Quote of the day
"I can see three holes, probably, and then I'll get frustrated and just relax and watch a little bit. I might bring a fishing pole out there or something."
Rays manager Kevin Cash, who is not much of a golfer, on today's charity golf tournament.
International incident
A team of Rays minor-league prospects will face the Canadian Junior National Team on March 22 at the Trop as part of the St. Petersburg International Baseball Series. Tickets for the 1:05 game are $10 and go on sale today at the Trop box office and via Ticketmaster; parking is $5. The series will include 11 games involving the Blue Jays, minor-league teams from the Braves, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates, Tigers and Yankees, and squads from Puerto Rico and Clearwater Christian College. Games are at St. Petersburg's Walter Fuller Park unless noted:
3/13 Puerto Rico-Canada 1
3/14 Canada-Phillies 1
3/15 Canada-Jays (MLB)* 1
3/16 Canada-Orioles 1
3/17 Canada-Yankees 1
3/17 Puerto Rico-Canada 4
3/18 Canada-Braves 1
3/19 Canada-Clearwater CC 3
3/20 Canada-Tigers 1
3/21 Canada-Pirates 1
3/22 Canada-Rays# 1
* at Dunedin; # at Trop
The dish
Today's full-squad workout starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and will last 1½ hours. Admission and parking free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 South to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, stadium complex is on left. For more information: (941) 235-5025.
Heads up
With the team's annual golf tournament to follow, there won't be much of a workout, just some throwing for the pitchers and swings for some hitters.
On deck
Thursday: vs. Orioles, 1:05. Rays — RH Nathan Karns; Orioles — LH Wei-Yin Chen
Friday: vs. Twins, 1:05. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi; Twins — TBA
Saturday: vs. Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05. Rays — RH Alex Cobb; Pirates — RH A.J. Burnett
Exhibition sked
Rays tickets: Range from $10-$29, available at raysbaseball.com, via phone (toll-free 1-800-745-3000), CSP or Tropicana Field box offices, team Tampa Store (400 N Tampa St.), all Ticketmaster outlets.
All games 1:05 p.m. unless noted.
March
8 vs. Phillies
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Explore all your options9 at Yankees
10 at Red Sox (SS)
vs. Pirates (SS)
11 at Twins
12 vs Blue Jays
13 at Phillies
14 at Orioles
15 vs. Mets
17 at Phillies
18 at Blue Jays, 1:07
19 vs. Twins
20 vs. Blue Jays
21 vs. Twins
22 at Blue Jays, 12:37
23 vs. Pirates
25 at Twins
26 vs. Yankees
27 at Orioles
28 vs. Red Sox
29 at Red Sox
30 vs. Orioles
31 at Orioles (SS)
vs. Red Sox (SS)
April
1 at Yankees
2 at Phillies
3 at Tigers
4 vs. Tigers at Tropicana Field, 12:35
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer