Preliminary 2009 Rays Payroll

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 30, 2008 1:39 PM EDT

Pre-arb:

Player	$	%
Pena	8	16.14
Crawford	8.25	16.64
Percival	4	8.069
Kazmir	6	12.10
Bradford	3.5	7.060
Wheeler	3.2	6.455
Floyd	2.75	5.547
Iwamura	3.25	6.556
Miller	2	4.034
Gomes	1.275	2.572
Shields	1.5	3.025
Price	0.4	0.807
Niemann	0.4	0.807
Balfour	0.5	1.009
Longoria	0.55	1.109
Bartlett	0.4	0.807
Gross	0.4	0.807
Jackson	0.4	0.807
Navarro	0.4	0.807
Upton	0.4	0.807
Garza	0.4	0.807
Aybar	0.4	0.807
Howell	0.4	0.807
Sonnan.	0.4	0.807
Riggans	0.4	0.807
Total	49.575

Notice that was "pre-arb", because Balfour, Bartlett, Gross, Jackson, Gomes, and Navarro are all eligible for arbitration. I'm assuming an increase for each of them, although Gomes could be non-tendered I assume. Here's how I would present the cases FOR each of these players at their arb hearing:

Do note: I'm taking the role of the agents here, therefore my statements are not going to be from the analyst point of view.

Balfour - Amazing ERA/FIP/tRA, one of the 10 best relievers in the league, perhaps the third best reliever in the American league East.

Bartlett - Team MVP (per experts!), defensive wizard.

Gross - Big hits propelled the Rays into the playoffs.

Jackson - Tied for team lead with 14 wins, showed improvement.

Navarro - All star catcher. Case closed.

/Agent speak (although if any agent reading wants help in preparing an arbitration binder...)

I'm not going to do a team perspective on these cases because that's pointless. Simply put, the Rays are going to increase payroll by quite a bit just through their own 25, so without knowing how many season ticket deposits were placed and how much money is in fluxing from the playoff run, I'm guessing the Rays will begin the 2009 season with around 60 million in payroll.

Now, let's get started on that re-sign B.J. Upton fund.

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Comments

Do you think either Percival or Floyd will retire?

by Imperialism32 on Oct 30, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully

by rglass44 on Oct 30, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's how i think it should go down...

Balfour – Let it go to arb.
Bartlett – Resign for 3 years, should be enough time to get Beckham groomed and up to the Majors, then we have a decision between moving him to 2B or keeping Aki there.
Gross – Let it go to arb….then look to trade, unless we’re going to keep platooning in RF w/ him.
Jackson – trade him to make room for price. I think he would generate more trade value then would Sonny due to his flamethrowing abilities.
Navarro – Resign to 3-5 year deal.

by chancedj on Oct 30, 2008 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

I meant to add.

Balfour, let it go to arb…and establish him as our opening day closer. If it works out, resign him during the year, or wait till the end of the year and resign him. I would think it’s worth 1 year or arbitration to make sure he’s closer material then to waste money and resign him if it doesn’t work out.

by chancedj on Oct 30, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I like:

Depending on how much money Jackson requires, trying him out in the bullpen, maybe even as potential closer.

by andy.ss80 on Oct 30, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Bartlett – Resign for 3 years, should be enough time to get Beckham groomed and up to the Majors, then we have a decision between moving him to 2B or keeping Aki there.

Brignac?

by rglass44 on Oct 30, 2008 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

If he's ready, he should be on the roster next year

I have no idea anymore what arbitrary feat or accomplishment Brignac is going to need to produce to be declared ‘ready’; since I’ve heard so much about him but seen so little out of him.

by kericr on Oct 30, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I think if he can tear up ST and AAA, he will be up within the first month

They should try and teach him 2B in Spring and AAA because I really like Barty’s D at SS. Plus that makes the future MIF Beckham – Brignac and that is just awesome.

by joeybw on Oct 30, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

We could move Barty to 2B, too.

by rglass44 on Oct 30, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

with Brignac sitting there at AAA, I’ve heard he could be as good of a defender as Bartlett, younger, and cheaper than a 3 year deal for Bartlett would be (and more power). I don’t see any reason to give him 3 years, I think a 1 year deal for 3-4 mil or something would be more appropriate.

by staplemaniac on Oct 30, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Bartlett isn't a guy you lock up to a LTD. You go year to year with him.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Oct 30, 2008 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

by RATW on Oct 30, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 30, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't think 3 years was a LTD...

I always view LTD’s as > 3 years.

by chancedj on Oct 30, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

forgot a bout Brignac...

oops :D

by chancedj on Oct 30, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Navi

Yes, please sign him long term!

by rays_world_champs on Oct 30, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Upton

I don’t know if he will ever realize his full potential because of his laziness and bad attitude. It may sound crazy, but I would explore trade possibilities or just keep him for now-no need to resign for a huge sum. He needs to be motivated

by djmarco on Oct 30, 2008 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

Joke?

by td32 on Oct 30, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Either sarcasm

Or he deserves to be banned

by staplemaniac on Oct 30, 2008 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

August called and they want their talk-radio memes back

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Oct 30, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Goddammit, who let the stupid in?

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 30, 2008 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Zobrist

Is he a free agent?

by FreeZorilla on Oct 30, 2008 7:44 PM EDT reply actions

Not even close.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Oct 30, 2008 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

But he'll just get the same .4 pre-arb as everyone else

Either way, there can only be 25 men on the roster at a time. I think he was just left off because 25 were already up there and whether the last man is him or Niemann or Hammel (who was also excluded, yet is out of options and will need to be on the roster if he’s not waived/traded) or someone else doesn’t really affect anything from a payroll perspective.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Oct 30, 2008 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions