The minute the final out was made in Game 5 of the ALDS at the Trop, Rays fans knew they had a long offseason ahead of them.
Some, like me, held out hope that they would be able to retain Carl Crawford or somebody, but that never happened; they even got rid of great players that they didn’t have to.
But how did the Rays actually do this offseason? I have factored in the Rays financial situation into this. If money was no object, this offseason would be mass catastrophe, but since the Rays cannot afford seven years and $142 million, I have graded them differently.
First, let’s take a look at the contracts the Rays signed this offseason.
All in all, the Rays retained three players from last season: Those three were JP Howell, who was non-tendered only to be signed a couple weeks later, RJ Swindle and Richard de los Santos.
The Rays lost 14 MAJOR LEAGUE players via trade, signings or retirement. That’s not including Fernando Perez, who spent some time in the MLB in recent years.
The 14 that the Rays lost:
- OF Rocco Baldelli (retired, still with Rays organization)
- RHP Grant Balfour (signed with A’s)
- SS Jason Bartlett (traded to Padres)
- RHP Joaquin Benoit (signed with Tigers)
- LHP Randy Choate (signed with Marlins)
- LF Carl Crawford (signed with Red Sox)
- RHP Matt Garza (traded to Cubs)
- 1B/OF Brad Hawpe (signed with Padres)
- OF Gabe Kapler (signed minor-league deal with Dodgers)
- C Dioner Navarro (signed with Dodgers)
- 1B Carlos Peña (signed with Cubs)
- RHP Chad Qualls (signed with Padres)
- RHP Rafael Soriano (signed with Yankees)
- RHP Dan Wheeler (signed with Red Sox)
Willy Aybar and Lance Cormier are still out there, so we will see where they land, if anywhere.
Outside of Gape Kapler and Dioner Navarro, every single one of those players contributed to the Rays playoff run last season—some more than others, like Carl Crawford, Matt Garza and Rafael Soriano, but all were important.
In the beginning of the offseason, we watched these players get signed away and the Rays did not do anything. The Winter Meetings passed and still nothing of note from the Rays front office.
Just when Rays fans, again, like myself, began to panic is when the Rays front office, led by Andrew Friedman, kicked it into high gear. Here is who the Rays signed this offseason:
- RHP Juan Cruz (minor-league free agent with Spring Training invite)
- LF Johnny Damon (free agent, one year $5.5 million)
- RHP Kyle Farnsworth (free agent, one year $3.25 million with 2012 option)
- 1B Casey Kotchman (minor-league free agent with Spring Training invite)
- INF Felipe Lopez (minor-league free agent with Spring Training invite)
- RHP Joel Peralta (free agent, one year $900K)
- DH Manny Ramirez (free agent, one year $2 million)
- RHP Adam Russell (Jason Bartlett trade)
- RHP Chris Archer (Matt Garza trade)
- LHP Cesar Cabral (Rule 5 draft from Red Sox)
- C Robinson Chirinos (Matt Garza trade)
- RHP Rob Delaney (waivers)
- OF Sam Fuld (Matt Garza trade)
- LHP Cesar Ramos (Jason Bartlett trade)
- RHP Cory Wade (minor-league free agent)
- RHP Chris Bootcheck (minor-league free agent with Spring Training invite)
The Rays did pretty well this offseason, considering the circumstances, but only Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Kyle Farnsworth and Joel Peralta have a chance to make an immediate impact.
The rest are fighting for their spots on the roster this spring.
The Rays could still sign a guy or two to minor league deals, but the Rays are pretty much done when it comes to big signings, unless they have something up their sleeve that nobody knows about.
What grade do I give the Rays offseason? I give Andrew Friedman and company a B for the offseason.
They did a good job finding cheap signings who can boost the team this season. They also did a great job getting a loaded package from the Cubs for Matt Garza, with prospects who will help the Rays for years.
I also applaud them for going out and getting Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, even though they don’t fit the Rays mold as young prospects or veterans who they are taking a flyer on. They got two proven veterans who we know will have an impact on the Rays this season.
New and old player info from the St. Petersburg Times.
For more Rays news and opinions, check out my blog, Rays the Roof.
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