Casanova Call Up

TORONTO -- It may have taken longer than expected, but Devil Rays catcher Raul Casanova finally arrived in Toronto on Tuesday morning in preparation for his season debut with Tampa Bay.

The Rays purchased Casanova's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday after placing backup catcher Shawn Riggans on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow tendonitis.

Casanova was scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Monday, but his connecting flight in Cincinnati was cancelled because of severe thunderstorms. Despite the late arrival, Casanova arrived at Rogers Centre and found his name already inserted into the starting lineup in place of starter Dioner Navarro.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon says he decided to give Navarro a day off because of Casanova's experience catching 24-year-old right-hander Andy Sonnanstine, who was set to make his Major League debut on Tuesday night against the Jays.

"He's caught [Sonnanstine] several times already this year," Maddon said. "Dioner's been catching a lot. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to put Sonnanstine into more of a comfort zone and get Casanova involved."

Casanova hasn't seen extended time at the Major League level since a 31-game stint with the Brewers in 2002. He spent most of 2006 rehabbing from a bad back and still experiences back spasms from time to time that require heat pads and massages before and after each game. The 34-year-old was hitting .258 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 29 games for Durham.

Casanova says his experience with Durham this season is why he was expecting to get the call behind the plate for Sonnanstine's start.

"I was prepared to play because I knew Sonnanstine was starting today and I was catching him down there," Casanova said. "I always come to the park ready to play every day. So, I wasn't surprised."

Casanova's Minor League experience this season should make his transition to the big leagues a little bit easier. In addition to catching Sonnanstine, Cassanova has already worked with relief pitchers Tim Corcoran and Chad Orvella, and starter J.P. Howell.

Tampa Bay is the fifth different organization Casanova has played for since the start of 2002, and he says the Rays' up-and-coming pitching staff is one of the best he has seen.

"I've been in the Minor Leagues quite a bit, and I think these are the best arms I've seen in the time I've been in Triple-A the last four or five years," Casanova said. "They have pretty good arms in this organization."

Bullpen stepping up: After a rough start to the season, the Rays' bullpen is starting to establish itself