By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Tampa Bay Rays further reduced the field of pitchers competing for spots in their bullpen, sending RHPs Chris Bootcheck and Mike Ekstrom and LHP R.J. Swindle to minor-league camp.
Ekstrom, who is on the 40-man roster, had the best chance of the three to win an opening-day spot, but had a miserable spring. Bootcheck and Swindle were non-roster invitees who could end up helping the Rays later in the season.
The moves leave 37 players in camp, with the roster due to be cut down to 25 in advance for the opening day roster.
