Lou Piniella said so many nice things about the Devil Rays in his farewell address Friday that the irony even struck him.
"I know the question is going to be if everybody is so happy with each other: Why?" Piniella said. "And the reason is simple."
Basically, he negotiated a deal to get out of the last year of his contract, and gave up half of his US$4.4-million salary, as a matter of timing:
Stuart Sternberg is expected to take control of the team from managing general partner Vince Naimoli in the next week or so and outline a plan to build the Rays into contenders over the next few years; Piniella, at 62, wants to win sooner, and more often, and after three 90-loss seasons with the Rays was not interested in going through another extended construction process.
"You've got a new ownership group taking over and they need to bring in their own manager that they can grow with," Piniella said, his eyes moist at times but otherwise composed. "At the same time it will give me time to go home and relax and fish and play some golf. I'm tired. I need some time off."
Piniella, a Tampa native and resident, said he may sit out the season but definitely is interested in managing again, though -- despite rumors already linking him to potential openings with the Orioles, Marlins and Yankees -- insists he has nothing lined up. "It's got to be the right situation, obviously," he said.
The Rays' next step is even less clear.
When Sternberg takes control from Naimoli, general manager Chuck LaMar and other front office officials are expected to be fired. The Rays likely would want to replace them first and let the new staff have input on the decision on the new manager, so a hire may not be made until after the World Series and possibly into November.
That makes it even harder to say exactly what they will be looking for, though it likely will be someone who is a good communicator, open to new ideas, willing to incorporate statistical data and front office input into his decisionmaking and accept being part of the management team.
Names likely to surface include Mets third-base coach Manny Acta, Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi, A's third-base coach Ron Washington and former Mets and Rangers manager Bobby Valentine.
LaMar said he was "not in a position" to comment on potential replacements but joined Piniella in saying he hopes some members of the current coaching staff are considered. Possibilities include Triple-A manager Bill Evers, third-base coach Tom Foley, first-base coach Billy Hatcher and bench coach John McLaren, though his long association with Piniella could be an issue.
Rays players had some interesting ideas of their own, including some who suggested a change from Piniella's intense style.
"I think it should be somebody who's a little laid-back and less intense but firm at the same time," leftfielder Carl Crawford said. "Someone who's patient and can work well with and relate and talk to young kids because that's what we're dealing with here.
"I'm not saying I don't like Lou Piniella's style but I just think a lot of people were more nervous when they played. I think a lot of the young players were playing not to make mistakes because they didn't want to get hollered at or fussed at instead of just going out and playing their way."
But Jorge Cantu said the Rays need someone similar to Piniella to maintain their second-half success. "We need the same Lou approach and attitude," he said. "His point of view, that's the most important part. He brought confidence and consistency, and that's a big part of the game."
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