The Rays operated last year with a payroll of the mid-60's (in millions), which puts them in the lower half of MLB. Now before the "cheap" accusations start flying remember that in 2007 the payroll was right around $25 million. The ownership stated after that season that they were committing to about $40 million in 2008, and from there would adjust as needed. So in 2009 the Rays had more than doubled the payroll of 2007, just two years later. Just something to think about in forming a perspective...

Now if the Rays are operating with the same mid-60 million payroll this year, here are some thoughts:

Navi was an All-Star catcher in 2008, and was the guy behind the plate all the way to the World Series. The Rays offered him $2.1 million in arbitration for that. With that in mind is there really any debate that Zaun is not worth $2 million?

If CC had not been as good as he was in 2009 I believe he would have been traded, but the Rays must have figured that his production was worth the $8 million. With his contract this year over $10 million I wonder if he can ever be considered "good value" at that price.

Kaz was making $6 million and had an ERA over 5, and will make $8 million this year. He was not a good value so had to go. Trading a LH starting pitcher who is 25 is not easy, and I was a Kaz fan, but the trade made sense and by most accounts the Rays did very well with the return for him.

Adding Rodriguez in that trade meant Aki (and his almost $5 million for 2010) was expendable.

Adding Chavez in the Aki trade means at least one of the old arms in the bullpen can be let go.

This is the way the Rays have to operate, and it does seem that there is a sold logic to it, although we as fans love to be loyal the same does not carry over to the business of sports. And it goes both ways. Not to pick on CC, but he could sign a five year contract with the Rays for $4 million per year if he chose, but on the free market he will earn in the $15 million range per year so it would be a foolish business move. Now in CC's loyalty defense he signed a very team-friendly deal that is in the last year, so that should be mentioned as well.

Longo & Price have very club-friendly deals and that is what the Rays will need to do to lock up players for those arbitration years to avoid having to "non-tender" the guys who are not at the top of their game by their mid-twenties. But not all players will do it, Upton & Garza being two examples.

Sorry to ramble, just was thinking about this as the deals around MLB are starting to flow.

Thanks for the great info, putting the salary increase the way you did makes it much easier to justify the "thrifty-ness" the Rays have shown. They obviously have spent what they felt was needed to make a competitive team.

Any player making $10MM+ per year becomes difficult to justify, and deserves extreme scrutiny. In the case of Crawford I think a strong contract is worthwhile. His numbers are on a steady rise, as is his fielding and presence. He keeps making smarter and smarter decisions each year. It is very reasonable to expect him to continue this improvement for several years. He helped bridge the gap from Durham Bulls fans to Tampa Bay Rays fans. I was lucky enough to live in Raleigh while he played there. He has a very strong following there, and many of those fans support the Rays for no other reason. He provides a strong marketing opportunity for the Rays, as he was quite the talk of the town during the All Star Game. His current contract has some steep payouts for trading him, and while his contract was probably a bit skewed toward the business, it does have clauses encouraging the Rays to keep him.

Were the Rays to not keep Crawford, they would have to put some sort of superstar in the mix to compensate. That of course, would cost money. I can't see any upside to trading him. Assuming payroll stays flat, where would the money be spent? I am expecting a three year deal with options, but hoping for 5 with options.

Maybe the upside to trading CC would be for CC himself..I wonder who the Rays could actually get to market better than CC that would be affordable?..On the other side of that coin they had him to market for a few years along with LONGO now Bartlett a top ten hitter, A pretty decent pitching staff..Results= ?????..What one player could pack this stadium if a defending League Championship team could not do it ?.Maybe PUJOLS????? We all said winning would bring out the fans...To an extent it did ...Some...But not enough to warrant three players taking up half the total team payroll...If we want a team to stay in this area they have to put a team on the field economics dictate...Attendence is half the problem...More so called non bandwaggoners have to stop voicing their opinions sitting at the computer and find a seat at the park..

Payroll and attendance will always be issues with this team and i think RFO does a good job with the balancing act of fielding a good team on a tight budget,its the reality we have to accept,like it or not and it brings us back full circle to the nagging questions of ballpark location and cap on payrolls, re-allignment,etc.We can argue till doomsday and nothing gets done.For the Rays to win a championship in the A.L.East it will take a minor miracle,which is what we witnessed in 08.Everything has to fall into place,players have to stay healthy and the breaks have to fall our way.We have a good team here with a very good pitching rotation (bullpen needs attention) and a potentially great offense,and excellent defense,sounds like the making of a champion to me.The intangibles are the difference,and everyteam must deal with these,the experienced teams like the Yankees and Red sox handle them better at this point.Keeping the core group together is how to build a great team over time and that is where the Rays and other small market teams are challenged the most.

You hit the nail on the head with pointing out the challenges of playing in the AL East, since in addition to the payroll disparity with the top two, the other two teams (Baltimore & Toronto) are making management and/or personnel changes every year to try to compete as well. (And all four other teams have World Series Championships and strong fan bases.)

The past three AL Champions have been different teams, but all from the AL East. That also says something about the division.

A little kool-aid might help you wash down that bitter pill that your holding onto.

C'mon even you have to admit that more than doubling payroll at a time when most other teams have been lowering theirs is a big plus for the organization.

The Rays went to the World Series with a payroll of $40 million, so a payroll in the $60's just means the team has very little room for mistakes, as this year proves.

Edit: And if you come down to Spring Training (where hope springs eternal) this year I will take you to Joe Crackers for some Kool-Aid!

Is that Kool Aid Cherry, Grape or Fruit Punch??

I admitt I am drinking most of the Rays Kool Aid but not all of it. Never liked Fruit Punch.

At least they chipped in the extra ten cents for the real Kool-Aid, not the Walmart Great Value fruit punch

UMMM-BEER!!

It's more the market than the attendance that's the issue.

Yes, more people in the stands mean more income for the owners, and thus the team can afford more high-priced players. But both the Sox and Yanks have a bigger fan base and as a result, a much better TV deal. That is the reason they can afford to spend as they do, not selling out their respective stadiums.

The Rays could sell out every game and still not be able to afford to have a payroll in the 100 million range. Given the realities of this market, I think the owners are making every effort to put a quality product on the field, but obviously not at the expense of bankrupting themselves.

Has anyone here ever talked to either Sternberg or Friedman? They LOVE baseball, and you can tell they are the ultimate fans.

Hunsicker is a god. Follow him unflinchingly.

<<<<$60 Million Payroll Logic = Tampa Bay Generals

Every division needs a lovable loser, so GET USED TO IT!

...and pass the Kool-Aid.>>>>

Over the past few years Son, you're drinking something stronger than Kool-Aid.

<<<<Hunsicker is a god. Follow him unflinchingly. >>>>>>

Don't worry Ed Wade will lead you to the promised land!

And I was hoping that this thread wasn't going to turn into a pizzing contest...

Trading players who are being paid more than they are worth is poor business and it appears that there are plenty of other organizations willing to let players walk for now to see their value on the FA market.

Look around the league and see the number of players now FA because their options were not picked up or the team did not even try to negotiate with them during this period where you have exclusive time with your potential FA. Throw these in with the "non-tenders" coming up in December/January and it sure seems the league is going the direction of the Rays rather than the other...