When it comes to salaries, as we know, the world of professional sports is a parallel universe. Why bother to get our marketplace shorts in a knot over journeyman athletes making much more than cancer researchers and transplant surgeons? But a cursory look at Tampa Bay Rays’ salaries reveals blatant anomalies within that Bizarro World. To wit:
^Matt Garza, arguably the best — and most effective — pitcher on the Rays is pulling down $433,000 a year. Scott Kazmir, who is a major reason the Rays are a disappointment so far, makes 14 times that. You read that right.
^Ben Zobrist, the epitome of versatility and productive enough, frankly, to make the All-Star team (and Joe Maddon gets to choose), earns $415,000. Pat Burrell, who is almost as productive when he’s on the Disabled List as when he’s DHing, makes 20 times that. That’s not a typo either.
And there are others.