The Tampa Bay Rays have found success despite frugality, but how long can that last?
The Tampa Bay Rays have never been big spenders. Even with the recent change of ownership, it does not look like a big free agent name, or a splash trade will follow suit.
So, what does that mean for the Rays when a division rival like the Toronto Blue Jays acquires a highly coveted arm like Dylan Cease? That is what happened Wednesday, when the American League champions signed him to a seven-year, $210 million deal.
Toronto came within moments of winning its first World Series in over 30 years but fell just short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7, another team that leads Major League Baseball in spending. By adding Cease, the Blue Jays are demonstrating their desire for another shot at claiming the Fall Classic.
Against all odds, the Rays have been to the mountain top twice, but they never made the type of moves to supplement their success or get over the hump. In fact, after their most recent trip to the World Series in 2020 ended in six games to the Dodgers, Tampa Bay traded Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, who eventually found his way to the Dodgers and claimed his first World Series ring alongside Tyler Glasnow, his former teammate in Tampa Bay who also cemented himself as a key part of the team that beat the Rays just five years prior.
The moves eclipse the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East, as each of the Rays’ division rivals have added, or re-signed, roster upgrades before the Winter Meetings. The Baltimore Orioles traded for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward following a campaign in which he notched a career-high 36 home runs.
The Boston Red Sox bolstered their pitching staff by adding veteran right-hander, Sonny Gray. The New York Yankees brought back outfielder Trent Grisham and starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough.
This is not to say that the Rays have sat dormant in the offseason, but nothing has provoked the wow factor, and there is no indication such a move is on the horizon. When the new ownership took over, Rays’ co-chair Patrick Zalupski was forthcoming in the team’s plans for spending, noting that the economics will largely remain the same.
Zalupski’s group is setting their sights on a new stadium after the club’s time at Tropicana Field ends. Zalupski believes that a new stadium will generate the revenue necessary for the Rays to be financially competitive.
For now, Tampa Bay is banking on the rise of its young talent like Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda. The front office decided to exercise the option on All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe, but whether he enjoys an extended future with the only team he has been with is unclear. Closer Pete Fairbanks was allowed to walk when his $11 million price tag became too burdensome.
The Rays have a good roster with a lot of potential, but their competition is spending money. If the Dodgers and the Blue Jays are any indication of what deep pockets can get you in MLB, then Tampa Bay will have to get with the program sooner rather than later.