Sternberg: Payroll won't be cut this season if they're in race

Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said that even if attendance remains below expectations this season, the Rays won't cut back on their $63-million payroll as long as the team remains in the race. Some teams have indicated they may seek to get rid of higher-paid players and trim payroll to make up for lost revenues.

"As long as we're in the hunt I don't see us, because of financial reasons, pulling back from that,'' Sternberg said on a conference call. "Clearly though it's a multi-year process and the money doesn't come out of thin air, and money spent this year and budgetary shortfalls from our end from a revenue standpoint lead toward future years being a little bit leaner. I won't say a lot leaner, but certainly a little bit leaner, for starters.''

Sternberg said they made a commitment after last season's success to "try to put the absolute best product we can on the field, and then some" because the wanted to give the players, the organization and the fans "the best chance we can to succeed again.'' He said they wouldn't do anything different than they did during the off-season in making additions and "we still feel great about the team.''

The Rays hoped to reach the major-league average in attendance. Going into tonight's game, they are averaging 22,699 is well below the average of 31,300. The Rays are 26th overall and 12th in the 14-team American League.

Sternberg also acknowledged that despite their efforts to avoid it, there "clearly there was a hangover effect from last year" and suggested that the week-long celebration during the first homestand was a reason for their slow start.

Comments

[joemaddonsucks.com]

The Rays have great ownership, and Sternberg really cares about the team and loves baseball. Listen to his interviews, and you know that this owner understands baseball. We are so lucky to have him. The attendance is growing and it usually takes 2-3 years of winning, but both counties need to stop whining about the Rays. If you like baseball, then you go to the park. It's affordable, you can bring in your own food and water, and even if you drive an hour, so what? If you have it in Tampa, then are the St Pete people going to whine about the hour. It only takes an hour if you are coming from new tampa. No matter where it is built, the fans need to simply go if you really like baseball. Los Angeles takes an hour to get to for everyone even 5 miles away because of traffic, same in New York, Boston, etc. So appreciate what we have here before you wake up and realize all the excuses made the ba area lose it's team. Tampa Bay folks have the most excuses to not go to games. If you love baseball, then no matter where it is, you will attend. If you make excuses with the great ownership we have now, then you simply aren't a die hard baseball fan. Go Rays

[mockdraught]

yankee stadium attendance is actually down this year because it's a smaller park and they don't sell it out. they sold out the old one most of the time and it held something like 10k more.

[KennyNance]

I dont agree with that last paragraph. I do not beleive they were "hung over" and I dont believe the week long celebration had anything to do with the slow start. I think it had alot to do with not playing the guys enough during spring training becasue of the extended season last year. Now that the pitching has caught up with the hitting I expect that we will have a nice second half and we will be in the division hunt.

[mockdraught]

Hey Stu. Why don't I believe you?

[Max]

That MLB average of 31,300 is a bloated figure because of the opening of New Yankee Stadium.

[WTF]

This really feels like Stu is laying the ground work for not spending the money. I am very concerned that the commitment to hold on to the guys that we need is not there, especially with the guys that have big club options like Aki and CC. .."Clearly though it's a multi-year process and the money doesn't come out of thin air, and money spent this year and budgetary shortfalls from our end from a revenue standpoint lead toward future years being a little bit leaner. I won't say a lot leaner, but certainly a little bit leaner, for starters.''

Scares the crap out of me.

[Paul]

Thanks to great ownership, the Rays have given our area
a baseball team that we can be proud of.

The class of the team and management is recognized where
ever baseball is played.

[9equals8.com]

I've consistently felt as though Stu and the Crew were committed to putting the highest quality product on the field that they can afford (let's not forget that this is a business). They are doing that and it's nice to hear Stu reaffirm this position. I am very happy with management's efforts. My only beef with them all year were Matt's slap at the market earlier this year. But, I can get over that if they keep doing the right things.

[WTF]

I sure hope he means to figure out a way to keep Iwamura, Upton, Crawford, Zobrist, Bartlett, Gross, Cormier, Garza, and Howell. They all either have 1 year contracts, enter arbitration, or have club options in their contracts. In order to keep these guys, the payroll would have to exceed that $63 mil. right?