MLB Report: Why The Tampa Bay Rays Will Be All Right In 2011
As a diehard Rays fan, last night's Game 5 loss hurt especially hard. Yes, it was an elimination game that ended what I thought would be a season ending with the World Series coming to Tampa.
But it also means the likely end to 1B Carlos Pena, LF Carlos Crawford and closer Rafael Soriano.
Crawford—the heart and face of the franchise for the past nine seasons, will likely (and rightfully so) seek greener pastures next season. But contrary to popular belief, the Rays will be just fine come next season.
The Replacements
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Carl Crawford
Replacement: Desmond Jennings
Jennings is a five-tool super athlete, who has been dubbed as Carlos Crawford Lite. Jennings, who has played over a year at Triple A, is only 23 years old, and would have been on the roster this season if not for the glut in the outfield. A top 25 prospect in baseball, Jennings will be able to replace Crawford.
Carlos Pena
Replacement: Ben Zobrist/Sean Rodriguez
Look, Pena is an absolute power machine. With 144 homers over the past four years, Pena can mash with the best of them. Throw in that he's a great teammate and an excellent fielder, it would seem as if Pena would be tough to replace.
Until you look at his .196 average this season. Or how he hit 44 homers in 2006, and only 28 homers this season. He strikes out way too much, and at 32-years old, is showing way more signs of slowing down than have a resurgence. He's a great player, but can easily be replaced by Zobrist or Rodrigeuz.
Rafael Soriano
Replacement: J.P. Howell or Jake McGee
Howell was the Rays top reliever the past two seasons before Soriano joined this season. Unfortunately, he missed all of this season due to shoulder surgery. But he's closed before, and is still young (27 years old).
Jake McGee is one of the top pitching prospects the Rays got, and if he can't crack the rotation, there's a good chance he ends up in the pen. Even Joaquin Benoit is more than capable for taking over for Soriano.
The Pitching
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This is, top to bottom, the best staff in the AL. David Price, James Shields, Matt Garza, Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson and Jake McGee. They have seven starters I'd have no problem trotting out every fifth day. Oh, and they're all under 30.
Price is a top-five pitcher in the AL. Garza is arguably a top-10. Price is locked up long term. The Rays control Hellickson's and McGee's rights for at least the next six years. The point is, with good pitching, you will always have a chance, and that's what the Rays have. The bullpen is still very strong, and pitching coach Jim Hickey is one of the most respected minds in the game.
Money Shall Not Be An Issue
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Simple economics.
Rays Salary this Year: $72 million
Combined Salary of Carl Crawford, Carl Pena, Pat Burrell and Rafael Soriano = $35.375 million
That solves that mystery. Those four players comprised approximately half the Rays payroll this season. Throw in that Dioner Navarro and his $2.1 million dollar contract is probably gone; coupled with that, Jason Bartlett ($44 million) is now expendable with the emergence of Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez. The Rays don't have nearly as many money issues as people think. The fact is, they are in no rush to trade away guys like Bartlett if they don't need to. With one of the lowest payrolls in baseball next season, they still should be very competitive.
Evan Longoria
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A week into his major league career, Evan Longoria signed a 9-year, $44 million dollar deal with the Rays. That means his contract won't be up until after 2016.
Longoria is going to be a lifer—and he has stated that he enjoys playing in Tampa. Yes, he did have comments about the lack of fan support a few weeks ago, but Longo enjoys the weather of the area, and the general youth of the team. Having one of the best players in baseball will certainly help make up for the losses of others.
Joe Maddon
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This is the best manager in baseball. Period.
His players love playing for him, and he always seems to know just how to motivate his guys. He's a winner, and a guy who's respected throughout baseball for his sharp mind and innovative ideas.
He has a great relationship with the front office and is totally in line with their thinking. One of the most animated managers in baseball, he has overseen the great transformation taking place in Tampa Bay and will do so for many more years.
The Front Office
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This is probably the best front office in baseball. They have a very "Moneyball"-esque thinking strategy, routinely relying on advanced statistics and metrics to make their decisions.
It is why so many of their roster moves have turned out so well.
It was why they made the correct assessments and handed super stars David Price and Evan Longoria big deals early in their careers, only to realize the great discounts they're getting now.
It is why over the offseason they turned back-up 2B Akinori Iwamura into Rafael Soriano- who statistically had the best season of any closer in baseball.
It is also why the Rays have the top-rated farm system in baseball, with prospects galore.
When you draft so well for so many years, you are able to make up for losses in free agency. And with the team prepared to collect high supplemental picks with the (potential) losses of Crawford, Pena and Soriano, the Rays will only add to their great farm system.
They're Already In The Red Sox and Yankees' Heads
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Over the past three years, the Rays have won more division title than both the Yankees and Red Sox combined. They've been to the postseason as many times as both teams. This season, they took the season series against both teams and have shown that they can compete with the best competition in baseball.
Michael Perchick is the writer/editor of TheJockosphere, a sports/Twitter site, reporting the top tweets and news directly from athletes. Follow him on Twitter @TheREALPerchick, and at http://thejockosphere.com/.
