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1999 was bad winter for Rays

Miscalculations made on expensive players have left the team out in the cold and wanting at baseball's meetings.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 13, 2001

BOSTON -- It seemed, at least to some, a good idea at the time.

Having drawn fewer fans than they expected and having lost more games than they hoped in their first two seasons, the Rays' top executives decided it was time for a change.

They went into the winter before their third season with a different philosophy, figuring that by spending more money to bring in more established players they would win more games and draw more fans.

It turned out, on several fronts, to be a tremendous miscalculation.

And, two years later, they are still paying the price.

Because of the $13-million they assumed when they acquired Vinny Castilla (who was released) and the $12-million they paid Juan Guzman (who pitched in one game and was released) and the $5.5-million they paid Gerald Williams (who was released) and the $34-million they still are paying Greg Vaughn (whom they would love to trade), the Rays can't afford to get better now.

There have been other glaring mistakes, such as the $35-million contract they gave Wilson Alvarez. But the movement that started Dec. 13, 1999, is what has hurt most.

"Going into Year 3 we made the decision to do what we did," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "And I think we still have another year of paying our debt, if you would, not only from the financial standpoint but from the philosophical standpoint."

That's why they have been forced to make less than even-value trades, like last season's dumping of Fred McGriff. They have had to release players whose salaries made it prohibitive to wait to see if they would ever realize their potential, such as Jose Guillen. They may cut loose a veteran pitcher because he could make too much money in arbitration, such as Bryan Rekar.

And, perhaps worst of all, they are in the untenable position of being unable to make any additions to a team that lost 100 games without first subtracting an equal, or greater, amount of salary.

About the only good thing the Rays can say about the present situation is that it shouldn't last much longer.

"At the end of next year I think this organization will be on the best ground it ever has with the nucleus of young players who are already at the major-league level through scouting and player development, and one of the lowest, if not the lowest, payrolls in baseball to give us that flexibility to go out and make the club better," LaMar said.

"I think at the end of the 2002 season the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will finally be to a point of steady improvement and back to the direction that we once set. But 2002 does not lend itself to having that type of creativity or flexibility."

Having gradually cut their payroll from about $63.5-million on opening day 2000 to about $34-million now, the Rays could be down to $20-million after this coming season when they no longer have to pay Alvarez ($8-million this season) and John Flaherty ($3.25-million) and hope to have traded Vaughn ($8.75-million in 2002, $9.25-million in 2003).

But for now, there isn't much they can do.

With free-agent signings out of the question, LaMar has spent much of his time here in his hotel suite, talking with his staff and meeting with other teams for trade discussions that end with nothing more than a polite pledge to chat again.

Given the parameters, it's hard to make a deal. The Rays want to trade one of their high-salaried veterans, such as Vaughn, Flaherty or possibly Ben Grieve. But teams are asking them about either their low-salaried productive veterans, such as Tanyon Sturtze, Randy Winn and Doug Creek, or their prized young players, such as Joe Kennedy, Nick Bierbrodt, Jesus Colome, Victor Zambrano and Jason Tyner.

The lack of financial flexibility drains some of the fun out of the game.

"It's frustrating from the standpoint that everyone in the organization wants to get better," LaMar said. "We will get better in 2002 through our young players, but we also know it's going to take a combination of young players and spending money. And I think we're a year away from being in that position.

"So am I frustrated? Yes. But not just for me but for everyone in the organization.

"And from my standpoint, I had a hand in getting us into this position because some of the personnel decisions I made took away some of that flexibility. So I have to temper my frustration, realize we made a mistake and we're going to learn from it and, at the end of this year, we'll be better for it."

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