LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Rays enjoyed the benefits of being well run — smart drafts, trades, dollar allocations — the past three years by breaking through The Rivalry to win the AL East twice and even go to the World Series.
But with Fantasy Land in the background, the Rays were rocked back to reality this past week.
“We are absolutely never going to win the offseason,” Tampa Bay general managerAndrew Friedman said.
But this has been quite a loss. Even if the Rays knew it was coming. They knew that after a few years of expanded payroll that the plan was to cut back for 2011, coinciding with the free agency of a huge chunk of their bullpen, first baseman Carlos Pena and left fielder Carl Crawford.
Still, when it happens, wow, it is a knockout-punch reminder of the distance between them and the top of the division financially.
Joaquin Benoit, whom Tampa Bay brilliantly resuscitated from missing 2009 after shoulder surgery to be perhaps the best setup man in the majors, signed with the Tigers for three years at $16.5 million. Pena, whose .196 average was the worst in the majors for any qualifier, nevertheless got $10 million from the Cubs. Tampa Bay felt that $6 million-plus was too much to pay for Jason Bartlett, and traded him to Pittsburgh.
And although the Rays knew it was a possibility, seeing Crawford stay in the division for $142 million over seven years with the Red Sox hurt. Especially because Boston already had added Adrian Gonzalez. Especially because the Yankees are still trying to counter with Cliff Lee.
“It was nearly impossible [to compete] before this, and now it is closer to impossible,” Friedman said. “But it is doable. We have to work smart and put ourselves in position to win titles.”
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The Angels have now either lost out in bidding or abstained from bidding on a group of players that includes Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, Matt Holliday and Carl Crawford in the past few years. They have gained a reputation in the game for loathing free agency so much that they simply will not get into give-and-take negotiations and, instead, essentially offer a number and never move off.
That gives them conviction, but not victories for star free agents. It moved an AL executive to say, “Someone needs to remind them that they are a big-market team.”
In particular, they have not had success with major Scott Boras clients (Teixeira, Holliday), but after losing out on Crawford, the Angels would seem in real need of another Boras client, third baseman Adrian Beltre. However, the Rangers’ fallback if they do not get Lee appears to be trying to trade for Kansas City’s Zack Greinke, dealing third baseman Michael Young (most probably to Colorado) and signing Beltre.
“Players have the right to make their own call,” Angels GM Tony Reagins said. “We are in pursuit [of Crawford] and didn’t get the guy. It’s part of the business.”
When asked if the club needed to make a big splash after failing to win the AL West for the first time since 2006 and having money to spend this offseason, Reagins said, “I think we already made a splash with [Hisanori] Takahashi. He really helps our club.”
Think about that Mets fans — the Angels GM thinks Hisanori Takahashi is a big splash.
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Multiple executives believe the fallout from contracts coming in higher than expected so far this offseason is that Greinke will be traded and young stars will be more hesitant to sign long-term contracts and will, instead, look to maximize value in free agency.
“If you are [NL MVP] Joey Votto and you see what [Jayson] Werth got and Crawford got, why would you ever sign now [with the Reds] rather than wait until free agency [after the 2013 season]?” an NL executive said.
“If you are [Florida ace] Josh Johnson and you signed an extension [four years at $39 million] last year that is now so undervalued, how do you feel? I really think these young players might stop signing these deals.”
As for Greinke, the Royals know now that they probably will not be able to afford him when he becomes a free agent after the 2012 season. But in this climate: a) the two years at $27 million he is owed is attractive and b) there are no high-end starters beyond Lee available, so in supply and demand, Greinke’s value is very high.
Besides the Rangers, the Brewers, Dodgers and Nationals are viewed as strong contenders for Greinke.
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Melky Cabrera reached agreement with the Royals on a one-year contract. The former Yankee is part of a group working out at the University of Miami that is headed by Alex Rodriguez.
Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long is working with A-Rod and reported on Cabrera: “He’s lost weight and [is] swinging the bat well. Obviously, he is playing for something now. His season did not go well last year in Atlanta. He’s certainly on a mission.”