October 15, 200817 yr Author Not trying to be a killjoy or anything - I love the fact that Tampa Bay is doing what they're doing - but what are the chances in this day and age that this team will stay intact over the next few years? Very true, I was going to bring this up also. I mean say the Rays do win, with the way Upton and Longoria have played they may want a pay raise. As well as the pitchers. Aybar has played really well and he may want a raise. I mean do the Rays pay up or trade them. It's a big concern, but ownership has stated that even though they're in the playoffs they will not go out looking to spend big money on high priced FA's. I hope the Rays stay focused on winning instead of money but as you said it's probably going to change.
October 15, 200817 yr Now, if Boston does not manage to come back to win this series, the knee-jerk reaction will be that they lost because they traded away Manny. And that would be completely incorrect. Obviously, they couldn't have accounted for Beckett getting hurt, but they knew they wouldn't have Schilling, and even with as well as Lester had pitched up until this series, they should've made a deal for an extra arm. When you're giving up 11 runs, it doesn't matter if Manny is in the lineup or not. And Jason Bay has fared pretty well for them.
October 15, 200817 yr Unfortunately for the now numerous Rays fans, there is no realistic way they can keep this team together. They are a small market team, with a very small payroll, with a bunch of young guys that are going to be due for a big pay raise. They may be able to keep it mostly together for another season or two, but it will be near impossible for them to keep the likes of Kazmir, Garza, Upton, Longoria, Crawford, Pena, Navarro, Shields, etc....
October 15, 200817 yr Unfortunately for the now numerous Rays fans, there is no realistic way they can keep this team together. They are a small market team, with a very small payroll, with a bunch of young guys that are going to be due for a big pay raise. They may be able to keep it mostly together for another season or two, but it will be near impossible for them to keep the likes of Kazmir, Garza, Upton, Longoria, Crawford, Pena, Navarro, Shields, etc.... Only Time will tell.
October 15, 200817 yr Only Time will tell. How in the world could a small market team pay all those guys the type of jack they can get in FA? One or two may take less to stay, but not everyone is going to be that generous.
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