Even though the position players don’t need to be in camp yet, most all of them are, including B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett, and newly additions Pat Burrell and Gabe Kapler.

Upton, who is coming back from left shoulder surgery, has been swinging the bat some during soft toss drills, but will not put a timetable on when he’ll be ready for game action. Right now most speculation says he’ll miss the first week of the season.

Willy Aybar stood at his locker pleased about signing a new deal with the Rays. The team is expected to announce any day now that they have signed Aybar to a two-year deal with a club option pending the results of his physical.

Clubhouse manager Chris Westmoreland seems to have a good sense of humor by putting the locker of Lance Cormier, who attended Alabama, next to that of Gabe Gross, who attended Auburn.  There will be a lot of good-natured jawing by those two about SEC football bragging rights.

–Bill Chastain