Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Rays have no plans to buy improvement

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 28, 2001

PHOENIX -- Because they share a birthday, the Rays always will be measured against the Diamondbacks. Because they share a division, a spring base and the loyalties of at least some of Tampa Bay's baseball fans, the Rays always will be compared to the Yankees.

And as the D'backs and the Yankees play this week for a world championship, the Rays will set about the business of improving a team that, while showing some youthful promise, lost 100 games.

For general manager Chuck LaMar, that once again won't be an easy task. Under orders from ownership, LaMar must pursue the difficult daily double of making the payroll lower and the team better.

"We'll carry on the theme we've had since the trade deadline, looking for any opportunity we have to get younger and less expensive," LaMar said. "I think that will be our theme not only this offseason but all of next year."

In other words, even after last season's salary dumps, the Rays still don't have any money to spend.

"I'm going into the World Series and the GM meetings and the offseason thinking that the payroll has to stay at least where it ended up last year, and if we get an opportunity to reduce it, we will," LaMar said. "I don't think there's any scenario where it will be increased."

Factoring in anticipated arbitration awards (with Randy Winn and Doug Creek among the first-time eligibles), the Rays are looking at a payroll in the $33-million range for 2002. If LaMar can make a deal or two, they could end up under $30-million, which would be second- or third-lowest in the game.

The two highest salaried players they could move are Greg Vaughn and John Flaherty, but both are coming off injuries and probably couldn't be traded until they prove their health in the spring.

Assuming that despite the labor situation there is a normal offseason (and a next season), they will have to decide by mid-December whether to offer contracts to Bryan Rekar and Jose Guillen, both million-dollar spare parts. If they keep them, it could be to trade them later.

The Rays would like to re-sign shortstop Chris Gomez, probably to a one-year deal, but may risk letting him explore the free-agent market. If they lose Gomez, their top priority will be finding a new shortstop.

LaMar also has interest in acquiring (yet another) third baseman, which would allow Jared Sandberg more time to develop at Triple-A (and apparently means Aubrey Huff will be backup at first and DH).

"The left side of our infield is in question," he said.

Also on the wish list are another athletic outfielder and whatever quality young arms they can get their hands on.

Even though the Rays "won't be very active at all" in the free-agent market, LaMar said he anticipates a high volume of discussions. And for the first time in the organization's history, LaMar said he would consider trading some of the Rays' prized young players for other young players.

"One of the plusses of last season was that we called our young players up early and we got to see them," LaMar said. "We were happy with a lot of them, but not so happy with others."

As usual, it should be an interesting couple of months.

TICKET TOTALING: In dropping the price of 9,500 seats and keeping 13,700 others the same, the Rays claimed they reduced their average ticket price from $17.86 to $17.79.

That's technically correct, but also a little misleading.

The Rays plan to close the upper deck unless there is a significant advance sale or a special promotion. And without the lower-priced upper deck seats, the average ticket price will be $22.53, an increase of nearly $5.

What's likely to be even more of an issue is that when the upper deck is closed, there are less than 1,350 seats available for under $14.

WHAT A RELIEF: How much of a burden did Larry Dierker shed by resigning as Astros manager? The day before he quit, he played golf and shot 104. The day after, he shot 80. "The first good round I can remember," Dierker said. "I guess I finally loosened up. It was like letting the steam out of a pressure cooker."

RUMOR MILL: Florida GM Dave Dombrowski is said to be the first choice for the Texas job. ... Pat Gillick told writers he "probably" will return as Seattle's GM, but that hasn't doused talk that he's headed back to Toronto, where his wife and daughter live. ... Dodgers coach Jim Riggleman and A's coach Ken Macha may get interviews for the Marlins manager's job.

MISCELLANY: According to ESPN radio, Larry Rothschild got a hefty salary of at least $250,000 a year, for at least two years, to become the Cubs' pitching coach. ... Contraction pains? ESPN's Peter Gammons has done a mock dispersal draft of the Expos and Twins. The Rays get shorstop Cristian Guzman. ... The coming season will mark the 10th anniversary of the Brewers' last winning season and the 20th anniversary of their last playoff appearance. ... Texas owner Tom Hicks has so much money, he is paying an executive search firm in excess of $333,000 to assist in hiring a general manager.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright