Tampa Bay Rays and Joel Peralta Agree to the Terms of a New Contract

Update: The Rays made the signing of Joel Peralta official Tuesday, inking him to a two year, $6 MM deal with options for 2015, 2016, and 2017. Interestingly, the three one year options have no buyout. “We love Joel’s competitiveness and the impact he has on the younger pitchers in our bullpen,” Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said in a press release on the deal. “He has been an integral part of our late-inning success and has proven that he can get big outs in the American League East.”

The terms of Peralta’s contract
2013: $3M
2014: $3M
2015: Team option, $2.5M, no buyout
2016: Team option, $2.5M, no buyout
2017: Team option, $2.5M, no buyout

The Hot-Stove is really starting to heat up. On the heals of the news that the Rays extended a one year, $13 MM qualifying offer to BJ Upton, it was announced earlier Monday that RHP reliever, Joel Peralta, has agreed to a two year, $6 MM contract. The deal includes a $2.5 MM option for 2015.

Peralta, 37, has been the primary set-up man the past two seasons, appearing in 147 games. He posted a 3-4 record in 2011, with a 2.93 ERA and a four-to-one K/BB ratio. In 2012 Peralta posted a 2-6 record in 2012, with a 3.63 ERA and a five-to-one K/BB ratio. Peralta has been very effective in a Rays uniform, and this will solidify the back end of the bullpen in the upcoming 2013 season. I think it would be safe to assume Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and Fernando Rodney will (again) be the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning pitchers.

Peralta noted that there were better offers from at least two teams, but he got what he considered a fair offer from the Rays. “Some teams offered a little bit more money, but I got what I thought I was worth and I was happy with it, I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” Peralta was quoted as saying in an interview with the Times from his home in the Dominican Republic.

;

A New Stadium Is Affordable, Lance Berkman, and Rays Spring Training Information

Affordable? Yes. Feasible?

The Baseball Stadium Financing Caucus, a group of business leaders from both sides of the bay, released the findings of a stadium financing study yesterday which concluded that the area can afford a new baseball stadium. The caveat; the public could be on the hook for at least 60 to 80 percent of the cost, assuming that the Rays cover 20 to 40 percent. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “The Bay Area Baseball Finance Summary says that about $350-million would be available from a number of sources in either county. The report assumes the Rays would pay 20 to 40 percent of the cost for a retractable roof stadium, which the group estimates at $500 million.”

The study group did not offer any suggestions on where a new facility should be built, nor did they include factors that would hinge on any specific site; factors such as the compensation for St. Petersburg if a stadium was to be built in Hillsborough, or sale of Tropicana Field acreage if a new stadium were to be built in Carillon.

The Times put together a list of fast facts (below) pertinent to the financing of a new stadium. Pinellas County citizens would not be on the hook for any new taxes would a new facility to be built in St. Petersburg, or in any areas that could be annexed within city limits. However, recent studies have shown mounting evidence which suggests stadiums and arenas almost always cost more than originally planned. What’s more, they almost never bring about the revenues or economic development that is promised. It wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility that either Pinellas or Hillsborough County citizens could be on the hook for a significantly higher amount than the projected estimate of $350 million.

According to a recent Think Progress article, “the cost of the stadium rose to $634 million. All told, the cost of repaying the bonds will be an estimated $2.4 billion over the next 40 years. The stadium deal, and leaks of official documents detailing franchise profits that indicated a higher value than the team had let on during negotiations (and that owners had pocketed revenue-sharing money), led to an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

Personally, I’d be much more comfortable with the Rays plunking down 40 to 60 percent of the costs, especially when you consider that a new facility could be exorbitantly greater. Granted the caucus is basing their figures the Rays contribution toward the failed proposed waterfront stadium, estimated at costing $400 million. The Rays were willing to contribute close to 40 percent of the cost of that facility. Perhaps they’d be willing to do the same in this case.

Sources of potential stadium funding

From the Rays: $152 million to $194 million (up-front payments plus bonds paid off by ticket, concession and parking surcharges, naming rights and payments in lieu of rent)

Tampa/Hillsborough County

Downtown Tampa Redevelopment District taxes: $105 million to $115 million
Community Investment Tax: $70 million to $80 million
Auto rental surcharge: $140 million to $150 million
State sales tax rebate for sports: $33 million to $37 million
Additional 1 percent tourist tax: $35 million to $45 million
Total: $383 million to $427 million

St. Petersburg/Pinellas County

1 percent tourist tax rolled over after paying off Trop bonds: $40 million to $50 million
Existing city commitment rolled over after paying off Trop bonds: $60 million to $80 million.
State sales tax rebate for pro stadiums: $15 million to $18 million.
Penny for Pinellas funds: $35 million to $40 million.
Half cent sales tax: $167 million to $175 million.
Additional 1 percent tourist tax: $50 million to $60 million.
Total: $365 million to $423 million

Could Lance Berkman be a solution to the Rays DH conundrum?

In other news, a tweet by the Houston Chronicle beat writer, Joseph Duarte, was intriguing to say the least. According to Duarte, the Rays have ‘tire-kicking’ interest in 36 year-old 1B/OF, Lance Berkman. The Rays are in the market for a DH, and Berkman could be a suitable fit. Berkman hit .259 BA/.381 OBP/.444 SLG in 97 plate appearances for the Cardinals in 2012 but was hobbled by a pair of knee surgeries. He’s a career .296 BA/.409 OBP/.544 SLG hitter with 360 career homers between the Astros, Yankees and Cardinals.

Finally, the Rays spring training schedule was released today. The pitchers and catchers are slated to return February 12th with Grapefruit League action starting eleven days later on the 23rd. The Rays are scheduled to play 33 games, with 17 at the Charlotte Sports Park, and one at the Trop. The entire spring training schedule can be found here: Rays 2013 Grapefruit League Schedule

Congrats to Your AL Cy Young Award Winner, David Price!

20121114-183254.jpg
The photo says it all. Congrats Pricey! (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

Just in case you hadn’t heard, Rays ace, David Price, won the 2012 AL Cy Young Award, narrowly edging out the 2011 Cy Young Award winner, Justin Verlander. According to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, (BBWAA) “Price (20-5, 2.56 ERA) was named first on 14 of the 28 ballots cast by two writers in each league city, second on 13 ballots and third on one to score 153 points, based on a tabulation system that rewards seven points for first place, four for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. Verlander (17-8, 2.64 ERA) received 13 first-place votes, 13 seconds and two thirds for 149 points. The other first-place votes went to Rays closer Fernando Rodney (2-2, 0.60 ERA, 48 SV), who finished fifth overall among the nine pitchers who gained mention.”

We here at Raysbaseball.co are pleased as punch with the 2012 Cy Young Award results. Not only did Price take the award, (and deservedly so) closer Fernando Rodney ended up in the top five, no easy feat for a relief pitcher. You can see the voting below. It bears mentioning that RA Dickey won the Cy Young on the NL side.

The voting (7-4-3-2-1 scoring system), courtesy of BBWAA.com

Oh Keith Olbermann, Don’t You Know When to Butt Out?

Notice I did not write South Florida. All of it. Rays’ owner Stu Sternberg was already less than sanguine about getting significant scratch from the state and local governments for a new ballpark that is absolutely essential to his survival in Tampa/St. Petersburg. If he had any hopes left after the disastrously low crowds for the free ballpark the good burghers of Florida gave Jeffrey Loria, they have to be gone now and he has to be looking elsewhere.

The nugget of non-objective “journalism” above, was dropped into or laps via Keith Olbermann in his latest article titled The Marlins: A Modest Proposal. What initially looked to be a piece specifically on the unrequited love affair between Miami and the Marlins, ended up as a poorly written conjecture festival to the tenth power; a piece on the seeming inability of our state to support one professional baseball team, much less two. His implication that, “Tampa Bay is gone. One would assume that at the latest the season of 2020 opens without a Florida team in the majors,” is uninformed to say the least. And his list of potential markets that are receptive, and potentially open, to a relocated franchise? Ridiculous at best. Montreal? Really?

Olbermann, like the throngs of other critics, is informed on the larger issues surrounding our beloved franchise, yet highly uniformed when it comes to the smaller intricacies therein. That is to say, it’s very easy for Olbermann to point his finger and pass along his opinion of what should be. I can’t help but wonder if his non-objective, ill-informed point of view, should be taken with anything but a grain of salt?

Do I think everything he said is baseless conjecture? Of course not. He certainly makes a cogent argument when it comes to Miami. However, this area holds something for the Rays that Miami has not held for the Marlins in some time: a fan base. Sure, you wouldn’t notice it by looking at the attendance numbers, but the fan base is there. Proof? The recent Quinnipiac poll that found the Rays with a much larger fan base (than the Marlins) in the state of Florida. I’d also argue that the sizeable increase in the Rays TV ratings speaks volumes. As Cork Gaines wrote in a recent piece for the Rays Index, “Of course, the good news is, this once again shows that people in the Tampa-St. Pete area are interested in the Rays, even if they are not going to the games in numbers that would please the national media.”

So Keith, let me just say when it comes to the local issues surrounding our Rays, get informed then feel free to fire away. Otherwise butt out and let us take care of our own. After all, you entering the fray certainly won’t help anything.

 

 

2013 Rays Ticket and Parking Information

The Rays just announced that the majority of their ticket prices have been reduced or will remain the same for next season. They will also continue the programs for limited free parking and allowing fans to bring in food. Dear fans that don’t go to games, as a good friend of the blog put it, “you’d better tighten up your game.” That is to say, you’ve got no excuse for not crossing that ever so long bridge that’s all of three miles long (or 15,899 feet/4,846 m…thanks Wikipedia). We suggest playing the video below whilst reading the official team release on the prices:

The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that almost 75 percent of their tickets for 2013 regular season games at Tropicana Field—nearly 2 million total—will either decrease in price or remain the same.  The Rays  enter the 2013 campaign having recorded five consecutive winning seasons, an achievement matched by only the New York Yankees and St. Louis  Cardinals.

The Rays will continue with four  categories of single-game ticket pricing:  Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver.  Upper Deck seats will cost as little as $10 for 28 of the Rays home games in 2013.  Overall, nearly 80 percent of 2013 Rays games at Tropicana Field will feature ticket prices of $14 or lower.  For Gold games, Outfield prices have dropped from 2012 pricing by nearly 25 percent from $22 to $17.

For the second time in four years (2009 and 2012), the Rays have been named the No. 1 most affordable team in professional sports, according to ESPN the Magazine’s annual “Ultimate Standings.”  It marked the sixth consecutive year that the Rays ranked in ESPN’s top three in Affordability out of 122 Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises.

All Monday-through-Friday home games will start at 7:10 p.m., with the exception of seven weekday games including Opening Day (April 2 at 3:10 p.m.), Memorial Day (May 27 at 3:10 p.m.) and the home regular season finale (September 23 at 3:10 p.m.).  Saturday game times will be announced at a later date and Sundays will remain at 1:40 p.m. The Rays will also welcome the 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants to town for a weekend series August 2-4, marking the Giants first visit to St. Petersburg in nine years.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Rays will continue to provide carpoolers access to free parking in team-controlled lots.  As in 2012, vehicles with four or more passengers will continue to park free in team-controlled lots for all Sunday games, subject to availability.  For all other games, the first 100 cars with four or more passengers will park for free up to an hour before game time, with other main lot Tropicana Field parking rates ranging from $15 to $20 per vehicle.

The Rays will also continue to be one of the few teams with the family-friendly policy of allowing fans to bring food and select beverages into the ballpark.

As in past seasons, Sunday games will continue to be “Family Fun Days” presented by Tampa Bay Times.  Family Fun Days feature special offers for families, promotional giveaways for kids and the opportunity for youngsters to run the bases after the game.

Once again, season ticket holders will receive the largest savings (up to 25 percent off for renewing season ticket holders), have access to the best seat locations and receive exclusive benefits including the opportunity to purchase postseason ticket packages.  Reservations for season tickets may be made by calling 888-FAN-RAYS, online at raysbaseball.com or by visiting the Rays Executive Offices at Tropicana Field (8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.,
Monday–Friday).

“The Rays take great pride in providing a compelling and affordable experience for our fans, and we offer the best pricing and benefits for our season ticket holders,” said Rays President Matt Silverman.  “It’s a great  time to be a Rays season ticket holder.”

Group party areas and luxury suites are now on sale for the 2013 season. To obtain information on purchasing group tickets, or to reserve a party area or suite, call 888-FAN-RAYS or visit raysbaseball.com.

All game times and ticket prices are subject to change at the Rays discretion.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iu5mbIXEk]