Rays Begin Extensive Rebuilding and Say Sayanora to Notable
Aug 30, 2022 16:49:11 GMT -5
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Post by nbarron on Aug 30, 2022 16:49:11 GMT -5
St. Petersburg — The Tampa Bay Rays announced extensive budget-cutting measures as the team begins what some Major League insiders expect will be a long, arduous rebuild.
In the Tropicana Field press room, Rays General Manager Nick Barron spoke to the media about the team’s offseason plans. It was Barron’s first time addressing the media since the team’s season ended in October.
The Rays finished the season 55-107, losing the third most games of any team in the major leagues. They finished last in their division. Barron said that result, and what the organization spent on player salaries to achieve it, is a big part of why the club’s making drastic cuts before next season’s Opening Day.
“Obviously, our on-field performance wasn’t what we and our fans expect,” Barron said. “And looking at dollars spent, we clearly didn’t achieve what our payroll indicates we should’ve achieved.”
The organization only had the league’s 23rd-highest payroll out of 30 teams. But just five players accounted for nearly 60 percent of the team’s $106 million payroll.
Those five players are starting pitcher Brent Honeywell, right fielder Mason House, third baseman Christopher Torres, first baseman Lewin Diaz, and catcher Logan Ice. None will wear a Rays uniform next season, according to Barron.
Diaz notified the team he’s voiding the last year of his contract and will enter free agency. In addition, the Rays declined to extend Torres, Ice, House, and Honeywell, who will also hit the open market when free agency filings begin on Dec. 1.
Barron also announced the team would not extend arbitration to shortstop Livan Soto. The 2028 All-Star was by far the club’s most productive player last season, finishing with a .700 OPS (on-base plus slugging) percentage and a 3.0 WAR (wins above replacement). But Soto could receive as much as $9 million to play next season, which Barron said the Rays couldn’t afford.
“If we can move Soto before the arbitration deadline, we will,” Barron, who’s entering his first offseason as the Rays’ general manager, said. “But we’re at the start of a total restructuring of our organization, top to bottom, and that means we need to get lean.”
Barron declined to give a timeline for the restructuring.
“It’s not about hitting a target date,” he said. “It’s about building the right organization, an organization that plays good, sound baseball at every level, and that does so in a responsible financial manner.”
In the Tropicana Field press room, Rays General Manager Nick Barron spoke to the media about the team’s offseason plans. It was Barron’s first time addressing the media since the team’s season ended in October.
The Rays finished the season 55-107, losing the third most games of any team in the major leagues. They finished last in their division. Barron said that result, and what the organization spent on player salaries to achieve it, is a big part of why the club’s making drastic cuts before next season’s Opening Day.
“Obviously, our on-field performance wasn’t what we and our fans expect,” Barron said. “And looking at dollars spent, we clearly didn’t achieve what our payroll indicates we should’ve achieved.”
The organization only had the league’s 23rd-highest payroll out of 30 teams. But just five players accounted for nearly 60 percent of the team’s $106 million payroll.
Those five players are starting pitcher Brent Honeywell, right fielder Mason House, third baseman Christopher Torres, first baseman Lewin Diaz, and catcher Logan Ice. None will wear a Rays uniform next season, according to Barron.
Diaz notified the team he’s voiding the last year of his contract and will enter free agency. In addition, the Rays declined to extend Torres, Ice, House, and Honeywell, who will also hit the open market when free agency filings begin on Dec. 1.
Barron also announced the team would not extend arbitration to shortstop Livan Soto. The 2028 All-Star was by far the club’s most productive player last season, finishing with a .700 OPS (on-base plus slugging) percentage and a 3.0 WAR (wins above replacement). But Soto could receive as much as $9 million to play next season, which Barron said the Rays couldn’t afford.
“If we can move Soto before the arbitration deadline, we will,” Barron, who’s entering his first offseason as the Rays’ general manager, said. “But we’re at the start of a total restructuring of our organization, top to bottom, and that means we need to get lean.”
Barron declined to give a timeline for the restructuring.
“It’s not about hitting a target date,” he said. “It’s about building the right organization, an organization that plays good, sound baseball at every level, and that does so in a responsible financial manner.”