The Tampa Bay Rays said its out with the new and in with the old when they signed two players with a combined age of 76. The off-season has not been kind to the Rays, losing many key players such as Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and Matt Garza. The Rays, who compete in the American League East, have to do what they can to challenge the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees for the division title. The Rays solution to losing some of their top talent was announced today with the signing of Johnny Damon, and Manny Ramirez.
Damon, who signed a one-year $5.25 million contract and Ramirez, who signed a one-year $2 million contract with the Rays where teammates with the Boston Red Sox from 2002-2005. They were both part of the 2004 Red Sox Championship team but that was seven years and many pills ago.
Damon who regularly plays over 140 games per season was only able to hit eight home runs and drive in 51 runs last season with Detroit. He is known to be a player that always goes in hard and gives his best but at 37 years old I’m not sure how much he has left in his bat. The Rays have got to understand that he is not the answer in the outfield after losing losing Crawford. They do understand this, right?
I question the Rays logic because of the signing of Manny Ramirez. Yes I understand its only $2 million for a DH/PH that was once the most feared hitter in baseball but its $2 million that may cost them control of the clubhouse. At the press conference today Ramirez joked that he would play 62 games and Damon 100 in order to play out the full season but if you know Ramirez its no joke. If he feels like sitting out then he will and there is no convincing him of playing no matter how important the game is to his new team. He plays by his own rules and as soon as the rest of the clubhouse sees it in action then Manager Joe Maddon has to take his focus off the field in order to join an impressive list of baby sitters for Ramirez.
I wish the Rays well in the 2011 season but I also wish them luck. Damon is a great player to have around but if the Rays hope he will replace the void of Crawford then they better look into their deep farm system and find another star in the making. As for Ramirez I never know what he will add to a team and at 39 years old it cant be much. I fear the Rays just spent $2 million on a guy can damage a tight clubhouse over night.
Figure Things Out
Damon hit only eight home runs last year which was the lowest for him since he hit nine in 2001. Ramirez played in 90 games last year, the lowest since his rookie season in 1993. Combined ages of Crawford,Pena and Garza is 86.
