Due to site changes, Alex’s regular Sunday column has been pushed back, but it will return to appearing regularly on Sundays from here on out.
After simply reading this title, you’re probably thinking one of two things: a) Do Ramirez and Damon have any talent left? or b) Isn’t that what LeBron said when he went to the Miami Heat this summer? For those of you who don’t even remotely follow the NBA and have no clue what I’m talking, free agent LeBron James announced that he was “Taking his talents to South Beach” in a private ESPN special. I am by no means a fan of LeBron, but the title of this article does have some significance. Not only did I want to avoid using any form of the word “reunite” (Which just about every ESPN article covering this topic does), I also feel that there are at least some similarities between the LeBron and Ramirez/Damon free agency signings.
The money situation for the Tampa Bay organization has certainly been well-documented this offseason. In short, they don’t have much of it. The Rays, who ranked 21st in MLB with a $72 million payroll in 2010, now have very little to work with in 2011. With an estimated payroll of less than $50 million this year, the Rays may indeed have less to work with than any other team in baseball. Unless the Red Sox or Yankees decide to lend some cash to their struggling division rival, Tampa Bay could be in some serious trouble.
Since 2008, the Rays have had nothing but success. That success has culminated in two AL East Titles and one American League pennant. They have established themselves as one of baseball’s most competitive teams during this three year period, which contains the only three winning seasons in franchise history. However, as quickly as they rose to the top, the Rays may fall to the bottom once again.
Let’s take a quick look at who the Rays lost over the last three months. First, the bullpen took a heavy hit. Joaquin Benoit, Dan Wheeler, and Chad Qualls will all be wearing different uniforms this season. To complete the debacle in the pen, closer Rafael Soriano signed with the Yankees as a free agent. Then, Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett were traded away. Finally, Carlos Pena and superstar Carl Crawford both signed elsewhere via free agency. Talk about cleaning house. As disappointing as it is to see the Rays fall apart, they really had no other choice.
Alright, enough with Tampa’s past. I’m sure Rays fans are tired of reading about the demise of their team. It’s time to focus on the present and future. However, since it will likely become quite obvious as this post goes on, I must admit that I have an obsessive man-crush on Manny Ramirez. Yeah, I said it. Manny is hands down my favorite player of all-time for a variety of reasons that I won’t get into right now.
The one thing that I’ve noticed is that fans either love him or hate him. With Manny, there really is no in-between. If you love him, it’s probably because of his unique personality, offensive abilities, and the excitement that he brings to the game. On the other hand, if you hate him, it’s probably because of his laziness, defensive futilities, and use of a banned substance.
Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon played together as teammates for a total of four seasons with the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2005. During that time, the team made the playoffs three times and won the World Series in 2004, effectively breaking the curse that had haunted Boston for nearly a century. Ramirez and Damon were such a large part of Boston’s overall success and both were fan favorites right up until their controversial departures. Damon left the Sox for the Yankees as a free agent in 2006, while Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers midway through the 2008 season in a deal that sent Jason Bay from the Pirates to the Red Sox.
Since their years in Boston, it’s been a wild ride filled with ups and downs for Ramirez and Damon. After batting .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs in just 53 games with Los Angeles in 2008, things went downhill for Manny in Hollywood, and he was traded to the White Sox late last year. As for Damon, he played four seasons with New York, one of which ended with a World Series Championship (2009). Damon was then let go by the Yanks and signed by the Detroit Tigers.
Apart from being ex-teammates in Boston, Ramirez and Damon have much more in common than you might think. First of all, both players are represented by well-known agent Scott Boras. Obviously, both have unique, outgoing personalities as well. Also, the Rays are now the fifth different team that both of these guys have played for. Finally, both Ramirez and Damon, at this point in their careers, are predominantly designated hitters.
So, how will the acquisitions of Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon impact the Tampa Bay Rays moving forward? Let’s take a look.
It’s probably smart that the Rays only gave one-year contracts to Ramirez and Damon, who are both near the end of their careers. Damon will get $5.25 million plus incentives, and Ramirez will make just $2 million, which is a steal in my opinion.
At the age of 38, there is no question that Manny doesn’t have too many years left. Coming off right knee and left groin injuries in 2010, he will need to bounce back strongly. He is slowing down, and his production is starting to decrease, but I promise you, Manny is still a valuable asset to have. Why, you ask? The answer is simple: He can still hit. Over the course of his 18 year career, Manny has hit .313, racking up 555 homers and 1,830 RBIs. He is a 12 time all-star, nine time silver slugger, and he has finished in the top ten in MVP voting nine times. With that said, it’s his recent production that matters most right now. Manny is just three years removed from an incredible season with the Dodgers, and keep in mind, he hit .298 with 42 RBIs in just 90 games last year. Maybe it’s just me, but for just $2 million, I’ll take a guy who hits around .300 any day of the week.
Damon, who is 37 and entering his 17th MLB season, has far less credentials than Manny. He has two all-star appearances and 2,571 career hits. In 145 games with Detroit last year, Damon hit.271 with 51 RBIs and 81 runs scored. Is he worth $5 million? I’m not convinced that he is, but apparently the Rays are.
To me, the acquisitions are a sign of pure desperation for the Tampa Bay organization. Youth is truly a virtue in sports, and it is one of the main reasons why the Rays won so many games from 2008 to 2010. Now, after they lost eight key players, the Rays panicked and signed two guys who are well past their prime. I guess it’s good that both Ramirez and Damon only got one year contracts, but by bringing them onboard, the Rays are getting away from what worked in the past. The two veterans may be temporary fixes, but they are certainly not long term solutions.
I think these acquisitions are largely about putting fans in the seats at Tropicana Field. The Rays have ranked in the bottom four in attendance per game in the American League in 10 of the last 11 seasons. Last year, they attracted just 1.8 million fans. I guess the food at the Trop really does matter to Rays fans. However, if there’s one thing that Manny does best, it’s put fans in the seats. Normally, I would worry about fitting the egos of Damon, Ramirez, and BJ Upton into such a compact dome stadium, but since there aren’t going to be many fans in the place, there should be plenty of room. Joe Maddon is an emotional manager who demands control of his team, so I can’t wait to see if he and Manny can co-exist.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that the Rays have improved from where there were just a week ago. The question is how much have they improved? Only time will tell the answer, and the 2011 season promises to be interesting for the Rays.
Honestly, I just don’t see Tampa Bay competing in the always tough AL East. The Yankees and Red Sox both figure to be among the best teams in baseball, which would leave the Rays out of playoff contention. Their bullpen is really up in the air right now, and their defense has certainly taken a hit this offseason. If nothing else, it should be interesting to see the reaction of the Fenway Faithful now that Ramirez and Damon will be back in Boston for nine games this season.
So, as the Rays head into a 2011 season with many unanswered questions and many unknowns, one thing is for sure: Manny will be Manny. The biggest question is will the Rays be the Rays that we have come to know and respect during the last 3 years?