The Rays are having an impressive year, but regardless of how the 2010 campaign plays out, Tampa Bay will be faced with some serious decisions regarding the future of its club.
The MLB’s top team could be losing out on up to three of its top players in Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford and closer Rafael Soriano when it’s all said and done this fall, as the trio are headed toward free agency.
Pena, the team’s power-hitting first baseman, has eight homers and 28 RBIs this season. In 2007 — his first season with Tampa — he achieved career highs
across the board with a .282 batting average, 46 home runs, 121 RBIs and a .627 slugging percentage. In 2008, he spanked 31 homers and drove home
102 RBIs and launched another 39 homers and 100 RBIs a season ago. He is due to make a pretty penny in 2011 and beyond, as he signed a three-year, $24.125 million deal in 2008 that paid him $6 million in
2008, $8 million in 2009 and $10.125 million this year.
Excluding this season, the 28-year-old Crawford has compiled a career average of .295 with a .335 on-base percentage, 362 stolen bases, 85 homers and 502 RBIs over eight seasons in Tampa. The longtime Rays outfielder is making $10 million this year.
Soriano, who joined the club this past winter in a swap with the Braves, signed a one-year, $7.25 million for this summer. The closer has notched 13 saves in 13 opportunities already this season and has struck out 118 batters in his last 95 innings pitched dating back to last year in Atlanta.
Marty in Everett wants to know, which soon-to-be free agent can Tampa Bay least afford to lose?
Text ‘SOX1’ to 542542 for Pena, ‘SOX2’ for Crawford, or ‘SOX3’ for Soriano.
