Tampa Bay Rays news and links: What does the new TV deal mean for the Rays?

Spring Training rolls on as the Rays have already completed five games, compiling a record of 3-2. Yesterday afternoon, the Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, behind strong offensive contributions from a couple of top prospects.

Willy Adames launched his first home run of the spring, a two run opposite field blast. Joe McCarthy and Jason Coats would each homer for the Rays, while Jesus Sanchez also had a multi-hit game, including a triple.

The biggest news of the day, however, was that the Rays are nearing a new TV deal that will dramatically increase Tampa Bay’s revenue over the next fifteen years.

Yesterday, JT Morgan provided some important analysis of the Rays payroll and found that, for the revenue the team brings in, their spending is nearly identical to the league average. I asked for his thoughts on what the television deal could mean for the Rays payroll.

Television deals increase over time, so we can’t expect a jump from $35MM to the average $82MM right away, and it may take some time to see a real impact for the Rays.

An increase from $35MM to, say, $50MM in 2019 would translate to approximately only $10.5MM in more revenue, as 30% of all TV deals are sent to the MLB central fund.

If the Rays continue to spend just over 50% on player payroll it could mean $5-6MM more budgeted to the MLB level, but not much else could be expected.

Read more of JT’s analysis from yesterday here.

More Rays Links

• Marc Topkin has additional details on the new $1.2 billion TV deal, which has yet to be finalized
• Danny Russell published an impactful Op-Ed yesterday titled “We hate the Rays rebuild just as much as you do” detailing what DRaysBay has done a poor job of saying about the Rays rebuild
• Micah Johnson spent the off-season with several organizations before finally finding a home with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster and is currently competing for a roster spot, but wants the Rays management to know that he is willing to do whatever it takes to earn his place on the team.
• Check out the Rays photo gallery of yesterday’s action, with the shots done by Will Vragovic and Kevin Sabitus
• Marc Topkin spoke with John Sabol of ABC News and recapped the off-season and previewed the upcoming season for the Rays
• Chris Archer made his spring debut, recording two scoreless innings, and he picked up a strikeout in the process.

• Kevin Cash spoke about the prospects’ performances and Archer’s spring debut following the game.

• Here’s how the Rays will lineup this afternoon in Port Charlotte with Nate Eovaldi making his spring debut with the club. Several notables in the starting lineup with Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Duffy, Denard Span, and Wilson Ramos starting. Top prospects, Jake Bauers and Justin Williams, are also in the starting lineup.

Other Links

• The 2009 American League Rookie of the Year, Andrew Bailey, took to Instagram and announced his retirement
• Ronald Acuna is one of the most exciting prospects in baseball, however, the story of yesterday was how he was going to wear his hat
• Jake Burger, the 1st round selection by the Chicago White Sox in 2017, will miss all of the 2018 season after breaking his leg during a game yesterday
• Shohei Ohtani hit in his first spring training game yesterday afternoon, collecting two walks and a basehit in three plate appearances
• The hidden cost of Brandon Belt’s latest concussion: ‘Depression is a good word for it’
• After years of serving under Joe Maddon and receiving numerous managerial interviews, Dave Martinez is excited to be in his first spring training as Manager of the Washington Nationals