Rays forced into making severe cuts

Three most experienced pitchers let go as the team tries to slash its payroll.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published December 21, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- With ever-popular new manager Lou Piniella leading the way, the Devil Rays are trying hard to put their best foot forward. But as each day, and each dollar, goes by it is becoming more clear they are taking a big step backward.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Rays SS Rey Ordonez, flanked by wife Gloryann and GM Chuck LaMar, meets the media for the first time since he was acquired from the Mets.

With Friday's decision to let go of their three most experienced pitchers -- Tanyon Sturtze, Paul Wilson and Esteban Yan -- the Rays appear headed toward a significant cut in payroll, perhaps as much as 25 percent.

What was the lowest payroll in the majors last season at $34-million may be reduced to as little as $25-million -- about what they spent in the inaugural 1998 season.

"As the last two weeks have unfolded and our budgets have become close to finalized, it's become awfully clear we're going to go with even more young players than we did last year because the payroll has been reduced, and reduced significantly," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "It's a trend that started not this offseason, but has been in place for the last three years and is obviously going to continue in 2003."

Since being inflated to $63.4-million for the ill-fated 2000 season, the opening-day payroll was cut to $56.3-million in 2001, $34.4-million in 2002 and now is headed to around $25-million. About $6-million of that is deferred, meaning they could spend less than $20-million to put a team on the field.

Even though the Rays shed the hefty salaries of Wilson Alvarez ($8-million) and John Flaherty ($3.25-million) and will receive additional national TV revenue, LaMar was not only forced to let the three pitchers go but is severely limited in what he can do to further improve the team after adding shortstop Rey Ordonez.

If it wasn't for the $2.2-million netted from selling Steve Cox and Andy Sheets to Japan, LaMar might not have been able to make any improvements.

Of the approximate $25-million payroll, they'll pay $14.75-million to two players -- Greg Vaughn ($9.25-million) and Ben Grieve ($5.5-million) -- who don't fit into their plans, and $2-million to Ordonez (with the Mets paying the other $4.25-million of his salary).

That leaves about $8.25-million, with around $7-million needed for the 20 or so players who will be at or near the new $300,000 minimum salary (up from $200,000). That leaves LaMar about $1-million to $1.5-million to get the veteran outfielder (Todd Hollandsworth or Alex Ochoa), reserve infielder and/or experienced reliever he wants.

Managing general partner Vince Naimoli suggested, however, that the Rays may have more money to spend and that the cuts may not be as bad as they appear. "You can't say we're down until you see what we do the next couple days," he said Friday.

If Naimoli is serious, the Rays could take advantage of a buyer's market. Dozens of players were nontendered Friday and dumped into an already large free-agent pool, including name players who could help, such as outfielders Jose Cruz and Shane Spencer, infielders Frank Catalanotto and Marlon Anderson and reliever Kerry Ligtenberg.

What the Rays didn't have the money for was retaining Wilson or Yan, projected to make close to $3-million each through arbitration. A case could have been made to keep Sturtze for around $1.25-million, but LaMar decided against it in hopes of adding two players. (He didn't rule out re-signing Sturtze at a lower price, though Toronto is expected to be interested.)

"It's definitely disappointing," Sturtze said. "I was just fired from my job, basically. I don't know what's going to happen. I have to go out on a market that has a lot of people on it."

Wilson said he hoped to catch on with a contender: "I'd definitely like to be part of a ballclub that's close. That's not a knock on the Devil Rays, but the route they're going I don't see it happening."

Sturtze and Wilson were the anchors of the rotation last season, combining for 63 starts and 4172/3 innings, nearly half the innings pitched by starters. Yan, the last player left from the expansion draft, was the primary closer the past two seasons, converting 41 of 58 saves while going 11-14 with a 4.11 ERA.

Having drafted Yan and acquired Sturtze and Wilson in good trades, LaMar said he regretted having to let them go.

"From a baseball standpoint, it's tough," he said. "From a financial standpoint, we're not the only team in baseball nontendering players today, and feeling the same way about them. It's dictated by the economics of the game."

NOTES: During Ordonez's introductory media session Friday, LaMar said he talked to agent Adam Katz about the possibility of a contract extension and plans to revisit the idea early in the season. ... Reliever Dan Reichert, claimed off waivers from Kansas City in September, was tendered a contract. If kept, he is likely to make $450,000. ... Kevin Barr, who has worked with the Marlins, Royals and Reds, was hired as strength and conditioning coach.

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