Maybe because they have a little extra motivation.
Two of the linchpins of Tampa Bay's lineup since its 2008 turnaround have been Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, both of whom have reached the peaks of their careers as a part of the Rays organization. Crawford, in particular, has remained loyal to a franchise that has certainly seen more than its fair share of dark days in recent years; prior to 2008, the Rays had never even sniffed the postseason, finishing dead last in the AL East in nine of 10 seasons from 1998-2007.
And Crawford was there for the whole ride. But how much longer will he be there?
Both Crawford and Pena will become free agents after this season, and speculation is already running rampant about where they will sign. There aren't too many people who think the tandem will be calling the Trop home when 2011 rolls around.
Crawford made his debut with Tampa Bay back when they were still called the Devil Rays in 2002. He played his first full season as a 21-year-old in 2003, hitting .281 with five homers, 54 RBIs and a league-leading 55 stolen bases. For three of the next four years, Crawford would continue to be a trailblazer on the base paths, leading the league in the category in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Throughout the course of his career in Tampa Bay (excluding 2010), Crawford has compiled a career average of .295 with a .335 on-base percentage, 362 stolen bases, 85 homers and 502 RBIs. On a team in which positives have been hard to come by, Crawford has been one consistent bright spot — the key word being consistent.
Pena, alternately, didn't land in Tampa until 2007 — but it was there that he hit his stride as a major leaguer. In his first full season with the Rays, he achieved career highs across the board — in batting average (.282), home runs (46), RBIs (121) and slugging percentage (.627). The next year, during the Rays' renaissance, Pena was the team's bona fide slugger with 31 homers and 102 RBIs. His production since then has remained relatively consistent, although Pena has been hindered on occasion by a series of minor injuries.
Pena signed a three-year, $24.125 million deal in 2008, avoiding arbitration to stay with the Rays. The breakdown was $6 million in 2008, $8 million in 2009 and $10.125 million this year.
Crawford signed for four years and $15.25 million in 2005, and the club exercised options on him in both 2009 and 2010. The outfielder, who will be 29 at the end of the season, has seen a resurgence in his numbers over the course of the past two seasons, and you can bet that he's going to be looking for a nice, big new contract — and there will be plenty of suitors out there to accommodate him.
New York, anyone?
Pena is a bit more of a wild card, and his options will likely depend on the outcome of this season. If he stays healthy and puts up the numbers Tampa Bay has become accustomed to over the past four years, he's due for a payday, too. But though his power numbers seem to be there right now (seven homers and 27 RBIs), he has struggled in the last few weeks and is hitting just .187. It's possible that if the 32-year-old Pena continues to slump this season, he could be closer to affordable. Maybe even affordable enough for the Rays.
Maybe Crawford will decide to stick with the place he's called home for the entirety of his career. Maybe Pena will decide to stick with the place that turned him into an everyday starter.
Or maybe both of them will decide to see what else is out there. The Rays have been the best team in baseball up until now, and maybe it's because they know this is their last shot — together.
What do you think? Do they stay in Tampa Bay, or will they end up somewhere else? Could either end up in Boston?
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May 23: Can the Red Sox catch the Rays in the AL East?
