ST. PETERSBURG — Rays officials have known since last summer that they were headed to record payroll heights (for them) this season.
Even after trading their highest-paid pitcher (Tyler Glasnow, $25 million) and position player (Manuel Margot, $10 million) in December for a savings of $33 million, they were not only going to blow past the $80 million mark for the first time with their opening day payroll, but they readied for spring training threatening $90 million.
With two late signings (reliever Phil Maton for $6,250,000, fifth most on the team, and infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario for $1,500,000), replacements needed for four players sidelined by spring camp injuries (pushing their IL total to nine), and having to pay Wander Franco his $2 million while on administrative leave, they opened the season Thursday — using the simple math of adding the 36 player salaries — at $96,568,667.
That’s roughly a 35% increase over their $71,455,266 from 2023 and among the largest year-over-year hikes in the majors, though still among the bottom five to six (depending on the accounting methods) totals. It’s also a hefty jump from the Rays’ 2022 franchise record of $78,245,400.
Plus they are paying $2 million toward Margot’s salary (the Dodgers flipped him to the Twins) and will have to pay another $2 million when his mutual option is likely declined after the season, which would push them past $100 million.
“Look, we weren’t shy about our payroll. For us, it’s a big deal,” principal owner Stuart Sternberg said. “Obviously, when you have good players, ‘no-name’ or becoming household names, they become more expensive as time goes on. And we’re trying to keep that part of the band together.”
Sternberg approved the final increases, though said several weeks ago the expanded payroll would lead to “real losses.” Thursday, he cited the Maton deal as a separator: “We added a reliever, who was not cheap in any stretch for us. Pitching is our strength and relievers are our strength. And we want to make sure we keep it that way.”
To baseball operations president Erik Neander, that was another example of the freedom Sternberg provides as they use a multi-year rolling budget in determining payroll, allowing for some savings and borrowing ahead.
“We’re fortunate to have Stu’s constant support and the flexibility to be opportunistic with our roster, especially when we have October aspirations,” Neander said. “Anything we’ve recommended from a baseball standpoint, on and off the field, we really appreciate his belief in us.”
As the Rays seek to extend their streak of playoff appearances to six, the challenge toughens, Sternberg said.
“It’s hard to be competitive even if you have a high payroll,” he said. “... There are teams that will spend two to three times, four times, what we do, and they won’t make the postseason. Some of them will spend two to three times and not get to even .500. So I feel very fortunate that we’ve been able to do it, hand in hand. … It doesn’t get easier every year, which means it gets a lot harder.”
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Explore all your optionsThe $97 million men
The Rays opened the season with a $96,568,667 payroll that is the largest in franchise history. Here are the players’ salaries; signing bonuses, incentives and option buyouts are not included. Some players have split contracts and get less when in the minors. Players on the injured list are marked with an “x,” administrative leave with a “z.”
RHP Zach Eflin, $11,000,000
INF Brandon Lowe, $8,750,000
OF Randy Arozarena, $8,100,000
INF Yandy Diaz, $8,000,000
RHP Phil Maton, $6,250,000
LHP Jeffrey Springs, $5,250,000-x
RHP Aaron Civale, $4,900,000
OF/DH Harold Ramirez, $3,800,000
RHP Pete Fairbanks, $3,816,667
LHP Shane McClanahan, $3,600,000-x
INF Isaac Paredes, $3,400,000
RHP Jason Adam, $2,700,000
LHP Colin Poche, $2,375,000
RHP Shawn Armstrong, $2,050,000
INF Wander Franco, $2,000,000-z
LHP Tyler Alexander, $1,950,000|
RHP Drew Rasmussen, $1,862,500-x
RHP Zack Littell, $1,850,000
INF/OF Amed Rosario, $1,500,000
RHP Jacob Waguespack, $1,200,000
RHP Chris Devenski, $1,000,000
OF Jose Siri, $757,800
INF Taylor Walls, $757,300-x
OF Josh Lowe, $755,700-x
C Ben Rortvedt, $755,400
INF Jose Caballero, $751,700
LHP Garrett Cleavinger, $746,900
OF Richie Palacios, $745,200
C Rene Pinto, $745,100
RHP Ryan Pepiot, $744,900
RHP Shane Baz, $743,600-x
RHP Taj Bradley, $743,400-x
INF Jonathan Aranda, $742,800-x
OF Jonny DeLuca, $742,400-x
INF Curtis Mead, $742,300
INF Austin Shenton, $740,000
Rays rumblings
Ladies and gentlemen say watup to Benny Biceps Rortvedt pic.twitter.com/Zx1p0av8NV
— Nick Tyrell (@nicktyrell) March 14, 2022
With several teams interested and the deadline for assignment clause resolution nearing Wednesday, the Rays got $100,000 from Miami for pitcher Burch Smith and $50,000 from Boston for Japanese right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa. They paid a token $1 to get infielder Niko Goodrum from Minnesota. … Hat tip to reliever Pete Fairbanks for calling in to Wednesday’s finale of “The Ronnie & TKras Show” on WDAE radio as “Pete from St. Louis.” … New catcher Ben Rortvedt is known for his well-muscled arms, with a “Benny Biceps” nickname in some corners of the Internet. But don’t expect an arm wrestling showdown with Yandy Diaz. “He’d crush me,” Rortvedt said. … The Rays franchise was valued at $1.25 billion for a second straight year in the annual Forbes.com listing, down a spot to 27th overall. … Unsigned, and not officially retired, Evan Longoria threw out the first pitch in Phoenix on Friday after the 2023 D’backs received their NL champion rings. … Rehab coach Rick Knapp will spend the offseason as pitching coach for the Sydney team in the Australian Baseball League. ... The gist of the Franco administrative leave decision seemed to be all parties — league, union, Rays, Franco — agreeing to wait another two more months for potential resolution of allegations of a relationship with a minor that first surfaced mid-August. ... Among season previews, The Athletic and fangraphs.com’s ZiPS projections have the Rays 83-79 and missing the playoffs; ESPN has them 87-75 in one spot and missing the playoffs in another; Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projection has them 87-75 and making the playoffs; Fox Sports has them missing out. ... At 480 pages, the Rays matched the Angels with the sixth-thickest media guide, per X user @JayCuda. Largest? The A’s at 608 pages.
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