With the Rays lobbing volleys over the bow of the defending World Series champs, the Red Sox are making it clear they're willing to play.

The two teams will continue their series at the Trop with games on Tuesday and Wednesday and then play a pair of home and home three-game series in September, but the action will not only take place on the field.

If the season were to end today, it would be the Rays winning the American League East and hosting the White Sox with the Red Sox making the playoffs as the Wild Card and traveling west to play the Angels in Anaheim.

But teams don't play for the Wild Card berth, not at this point in the season, and instead eye a division title. Boston expects no less.

So despite a team that is built around pitching as much as an offense that ranks among baseball's best, the Red Sox are making noise that they're looking to improve their staff.

Up front is the addition of a reliever, possibly someone at the back end to help set up closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Hideki Okajima posted a 2.22 ERA in 66 relief appearances last season that included five saves. This year, though, the left-hander has a 3.15 ERA in 34 appearances and has blown six of his seven save opportunities.

There are a few relievers that might be available before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, including a pair of closers: Brian Fuentes of the Rockies and Baltimore's George Sherrill.

The Rockies are also seeing interest beginning to spike in left fielder Matt Holliday.

Fuentes' name has been getting plenty of play with the Red Sox, joining a host of suitors that includes St. Louis, Oakland, the Cubs, the Mets, Philadelphia, the Yankees and, of course, the Rays. Reports in both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News detailed wide interest in the left-hander.

In his two most recent outings, Fuentes has gone 0-2 including a five-run ninth-inning implosion at home against the Padres on Monday. Fuentes is making $5.05 million this year and will be a free agent at year's end.

The left-handed Sherrill came to the Orioles during the offseason from Seattle in the deal that shipped starter Erik Bedard to the Mariners. Sherrill has been a ninth-inning man in Baltimore, but in Seattle he was the primary setup man to closer J.J. Putz.

Sherrill is making $980,000 this season and has multiple arbitration years remaining, which would make him more than just a rental and provide the acquiring club with depth and options in future deals.

Other late-inning possibilities include Indians closer Joe Borowski and Sherrill's stablemate in Baltimore, right-handed submariner Chad Bradford. Right-hander Kyle Farnsworth and left-hander LaTroy Hawkins have also been rumored to be on the trading block, but Boston dealing with the Yankees is probably not likely.

Two experienced left-handers, Scott Schoeneweis of the Mets and Pittsburgh's Damaso Marte, may be available, while the Marlins may be willing to part with right-hander Kevin Gregg, who is a now a closer but has pitched in multiple roles in his career.

The Red Sox may also have interest in adding depth to their starting rotation.

Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield hold down four of the five slots, but the remaining starts have been scattered over Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Bartolo Colon. David Pauley had a spot start in April.

Masterson is currently in the rotation while Buchholz is in Triple-A Pawtucket, and Colon is on the 15-day disabled list. With the Rays possibly considering adding Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia, the Red Sox will likely at least test the waters and possibly take a look at Houston right-hander Roy Oswalt or Rich Harden, the talented but oft-injured A's right-hander.

Holliday's name has been linked to both Oakland and St. Louis. The Rockies control Holliday through 2009 and will post a steep asking price. The A's also reportedly like center fielder Wily Taveras while the Cards have some interest in Fuentes but are less enthused about pulling the trigger on a second-half rental.

One big name that apparently will not be on the move is Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez. The 13-time Gold Glove winner is a free agent at the end of the season, but with Brandon Inge on the DL with an oblique strain and Rodriguez hitting .333 in June, the Tigers are likely to keep him around.