MLB screws Rays in Bay trade?

by td32 on Sep 1, 2008 10:09 PM EDT

Per Peter Gammons-

I understand what Scott Boras says about Pedro Alvarez not signing an "illegal" contract, but if he takes the $6 million and MLB goes forward and enforces deadlines in the future, aren't Alvarez and the Pirates all better off than risking having to spend the winter preparing for independent ball, next June's draft and the postponement of major league service time? MLB has relaxed deadline rules for years, even on trades. Hey, the Yankees aren't thrilled that the Red Sox and Dodgers were allowed to go past the deadline on the three-way Ramirez deal.

If this is true, I will be irate. I thought from the begining there was something fishy about the 3-way trade, and how difficult it would be to complete it within 30 minutes or less(the Rays were rumored to have agreed around 3:30).

What is the point of having rules if you are allowed to bend them for the teams you want in the playoffs. There is no question in my mind MLB wanted this trade to happen. If I was a season ticket holder, and shelled out good money on MLB's product, I would consider a potential class action lawsuit. I know that sounds awful, but if you are spending a lot of money on a product, and there is a "fix" or a team getting preferential treatment, then I have a huge problem with it.

I understand the Rays are in a great position right now, but this is a major issue nonetheless.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Comments

peter is stupid, why would the yankees care about them trading manny? does he mean the rays?

wouldnt it be funny if this offseason we sign manny and during the press conference he says hey boston!, manny shows middle finger to camera, i cant wait to kick your ass this year!

Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. Gabe Gross= clutch.

by RaysOfHope on Sep 1, 2008 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

It would be very funny

if the Rays signed Manny to big money (which is what’s he’s looking for) and weren’t able to hold onto some of their young stars. Luckily for you guys, your GM is not an idiot, and realizes he needs payroll flexibility.

by 0157H7 on Sep 1, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

almost all of our young stars are already signed to long term deals

but manny wants 4yrs/100million, so no way in hell he signs here, i bet he goes to the yankees,dodgers or the mets this offseason

Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. Gabe Gross= clutch.

by RaysOfHope on Sep 1, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I counted 4.

Which leaves:

Navi, BJ, Garza, and the kids from the minors.

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Sep 1, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Garza's under control for the next five after this one, no point in re-signing him yet.

B.J. needs to be re-inked, Navarro would probably sign.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 1, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Would be nice to buy out his arb years, shieldsy style.

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Sep 1, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Why?

I’m hesitant to extend pitchers more than five years.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 1, 2008 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm assuming we'd only be paying a little bit more than for Shieldsy.

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Sep 1, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

But we have him for the next five seasons, two of which are > 1,000,000 dollars.

I’m not sure I see much reason to extend him now, perhaps in two-three years.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 1, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention Sonny, Gross, Aki, Balfour, Howell

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Sep 1, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Only Balfour/Aki are FA eligible within the next three years.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 1, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm thinking Long Term.

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Sep 1, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

MLB has relaxed deadline rules for years, even on trades.

What’s the problem?

Purveyor of inane douchebaggery and general snarkiness

by RATW on Sep 1, 2008 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

Either enforce the rule or change it. It's not right to just let people break them.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 2, 2008 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

The MLB is pretty good at having un-enforced rules.

That's not a rule, that's a guidline. That's not even supposed to be enforced.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 2, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Guideline

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 2, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Because it allowed the Pirates to use the Rays offer as leverage...

It is completely unacceptable to allow the transaction to go through. There is a firm time set, and it should be abided by in that situation. The draft timeline is slightly different as there arent multiple teams going after the same player.

by td32 on Sep 2, 2008 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I would be mad at the reporter

who wanted the glory of breaking the story coming out before 4:00 and saying the Rays had a deal and what the components were most likely to be. This let all interested parties know exactly where the Rays sat and what the minimum offer they had to come up with needed to be. Throw in Bryan Morris and that deal looks slightly better than the Rays offer. I am still mad at Chastain and MLB.com. If they had held off until 4 who knows what Pit would have been forced to do. As it is we didn’t give up any value on the day when everybody is over-valued, we’ve maintained playing phenomenal ball, and the Sux pretty much stood pat on the field to remove a tumor in the clubhouse. To maintain that status Quo they had to give up some real talent both at the Major league and Minor league levels.

Go Rays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Sep 2, 2008 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions