If you are a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays, then is was tough start to the off season. All season the Rays had the issue of Carl Crawfords contract looming over the team, and everyone knew the Rays could not afford to sign him compared to the money other teams were going to throw at him. Just as expected when the season ended Crawford signed with the Red Sox, 
and the Rays trade away pitcher Matt Garza. People though that maybe the Rays would make no off season moves, but to give them credit they have made a few.
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez to one-year contracts. The Rays have added Damon and Ramirez for a combined $7.25 million, with up to a total of 8 million dollars, including incentives. That’s less than the Yankees paid for Soriano to be a set up man. Also it is less than half of what Boston paid Carl Crawford to be their left fielder.
These two signings have added power, on-base skills, contact hitting and some major lineup protection for star third baseman Evan Longoria. The Rays lineup last season had several games where their offense disappeared, if certain people did not produce. With these additions the Rays lineup is much more balanced, and much more dangerous to navigate for opposing pitchers.
The past few seasons Manny Ramirez has not been himself, some may attribute that and his injuries to performance enhancing drugs. The truth is Manny can still play baseball, and a move to DH should help his injury problems. Manny will be Manny when it comes to the club house and his teammates, but he knows he is at the end of his career and just wants a chance to prove he can still play. If you look at these signing truthfully the Rays are trying to spike abysmal attendance with big name free agent signings. The average fan has heard of Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, so the Rays are banking on those names putting butts in the seats.
These two players have improved the Rays lineup that is a fact, but this alone is not going to be enough to fix the Rays attendance issues. The Rays also traded Matt Garza, and lost their closer to the Yankees. At some point the Rays will have to spend more money to keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox, but even with those issues the Rays have cheaply and efficiently upgraded their lineup despite losing all of those players.
