Rays backstop Wilson Ramos will reach an important milestone tonight, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times points out (on Twitter). Tonight’s start will be the 55th of the season for Ramos, which will bump his 2018 salary from $8.5MM to $10.5MM. That will push the total value of Ramos’ contract to a two years and $14.5MM, though he’ll have the opportunity to earn up to $750K worth of incentives next season. He could also technically boost next year’s salary by another $250K if he starts each of the final five games of the current season to reach 60 starts (though that, obviously, is quite unlikely.) Ramos looked poised for a massive payday in free agency late in the 2016 season, but a torn ACL suffered one year ago to the day significantly hampered his earning capacity. Thus far, he’s hit .263/.293/.444 with 10 homers through 211 plate appearances for Tampa Bay.
A bit more out of St. Petersburg…
- Infielder Matt Duffy played three innings in an instructional league game on Tuesday, writes Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays plan to build Duffy up to playing in a nine-inning game over the final seven games of instructional play, which the shortstop says will give him peace of mind heading into the offseason. Duffy tells Mooney that when he originally underwent surgery to repair his left heel last September, he was told to expect a recovery of three to six months. However, after three games of rehab work in May, he experienced recurring symptoms, and a calcium deposit that required surgical removal was discovered. Mooney writes that Duffy is still in the Rays’ plans for next season and spoke to senior VP Chaim Bloom about Duffy’s frustrating season.
- Duffy’s role with the team will be somewhat contingent on the team’s plans for Adeiny Hechavarria, but MLB.com’s Bill Chastain writes in his latest mailbag column that he expects the team to retain Hechavarria in arbitration this winter. Hechavarria hasn’t hit much with Tampa Bay, just .249/.284/.398 in 265 plate appearances, and he’s due a raise on this year’s $4.35MM salary. Still, his defensive prowess is an asset for the Rays, as Hechavarria has posted a strong +7 mark in Defensive Runs Saved with the Rays and +4 in Ultimate Zone Rating (+12.7 UZR/150). Chastain also discusses the Rays’ potential group of free agents with the offseason looming and the limited chances of retaining the likes of Alex Cobb, Logan Morrison, Lucas Duda, Steve Cishek and Tommy Hunter.
“could technically boost next year’s salary by another $250K if he starts each of the final five games of the Rays’ final games of the year. (Obviously, the latter scenario is extremely unlikely.)”
This season or next season? If next season, totally possible.
I wonder if they could keep Morrison if his market is soft (like the 1B market has been lately.) If he doesn’t get any strong offers early maybe they could re-sign him for 2 years, $15m or something. He has been a good fit.
Hecchavaria I think they will probably tender. Brad Miller probably not (though possible;) also, could be tradeable.
Catchers typically don’t start 5 games in a row. If he DH’s maybe but that’s not a great clause for a catcher to have in his contract. Brad miller for 4 mil next year? I don’t know id think they’d want to give him another look or trade him elsewhere. He can probably rebound for that little of an agreement.
they’d just sit him one game and save 250k
Sorry for the lack of clarity. He can make $750K in 2018 based on plate appearances.
Next year’s salary will jump by another $250K if he reaches 60 starts, though he’s only making his 55th tonight, so he’d need to start every game through season’s end to get there.
Not to be a stickler but the wrong Matt Duffy is linked.
Happens every time.
Chastain: “Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria brings a more complex situation. He’s played well, both offensively and defensively…” Defensively, sure, but that .682 OPS is pretty terrible
The Duffy/Moore trade hasn’t worked out too well for either team so far. Duffy will be a great addition to the TB lineup if and when he can get healthy.
Ramos should lose that extra salary after he just got robbed by Aaron Hicks
Bring up Honeywell, and keep faria in rotation and trade odorizzi for some offense prospects. Sign a right handed hitting 1b on the cheap and bring up bauers. Get Duffy back keep hech with kk Souza and Dickerson in the of Ramos behind the dish. Hopefully we can re sign one or maybe 2 of the top knotch relievers we have leaving us
Could demolish us losing hunter, cishek, and romo
Could see Rays resigning at least Romo doubt their will be much a market for him
Will be an intresting offseason for the Rays, I could see them resigning Morrison for cheep with not many teams needing a 1st baseman and with a deep 1st baseman market.
It will suck losing Cobb but unless the Rays will want to commit spending $16mil to low $20mil/yr it is inevitable.
In regards to the relievers if the Rays could bring back any of the 3 that would be cool.
With 1B & OF the Rays will just monitor the free agent market & see who is languishing out there (maybe that approach with relievers).
Heck even a trade of Odorizzi for a reliever or 2 is not a bad idea.
I don’t know guys. Ramos is an awesome pickup and resigning Morrison would be a wise move. If they can steal Cishek and Romo that alone is already a good start. Odorizzi and Cobb are decent pitchers and I doubt they’ll be top priority for the winter meetings when you have guys like Darvish on the FA. I think Tampa needs to focus on their coaching staff. When you have gems like Archer and they have as high of an ERA as he does, well… you can only blame the talent for so much. I think the relief is decent, not great. Definitely need some fresh arms in the bullpen. But all in all they need better coaching.