We've covered the Orioles, Red Sox, and Yankees; now it's time to look at Rays players who will be arbitration eligible after the season.
- First time: David Price, Jeff Niemann
- Second time: Andy Sonnanstine
- Third time: B.J. Upton, J.P. Howell
- Fourth time: Joel Peralta
Sonnanstine and Howell are potential non-tender candidates, as both have had rough years. Sonnanstine is currently at Triple-A.
Price and Upton will be a relatively expensive pair. Price, an expected Super Two player, comes with a projected $5.9MM salary that would be a first-time starter record if we didn't expect Clayton Kershaw to do even better. Price's days as cheap ace are ending. Upton, a trade candidate, projects in the $7MM range.
Niemann and Peralta are worth retaining as well. Niemann is looking at a first-time salary in the $2.7MM range, while Peralta could come in at a still-affordable $1.8MM.
If im the Rays im not complaining one bit about paying David Price 5.9 MM.
Which does beg the question, is there a point when the Rays worry about the price?
Also, how long before there’s a Price is right joke?
It’s not the 5.9M they’re worried about, it’s how quickly it will continue to grow through arbitration. All of the sudden it’s $9M, 12.5M…..and then they have to trade him.
$5.9mm would be a steal to be able to keep an All-Star pitcher like Price as your Number one. Upton is worth keeping too, but closer to $6million as well.
I hope the Rays keep the same formula of keeping a few key, expensive players
Upton for Ethier straight up. won’t happen but i’d love it if it did.
The Rays are the best run organization in MLB with the worst fans and therefore will have to deal Price within two years. James Shields will be gone by the beginning of next year in order to pay for the other guys coming up. Desmond Jennings needs to get a Longoria type deal. At Worst that guy is BJ Upton at best he is Carl Crawford. The Rays will never be viable until they get out of the AL East or MLB adds another wild card slot. Ethier for Upton is ridiculous another over hyped outfielder but at least upton plays defense.
i don’t think Rays fans are the worst in baseball, i just think they don’t have a lot of fans.
Im a fan. But you have to think, down here, we have a lot of tourists, not many natives left, yunno?
Now’s the time to begin hoping our favorite team lands David Price in a few years.
now’s the time for friedman to say “f this noise” and go to chicago
Ditch Upton, Sonnanstine and Howell. Keep the rest. Ditch Peralta if they can find some good relievers on the market