Piniella's talent--and time--are wasting away: there's no point in the Devil Rays employing Lou Piniella as manager if they won't put up the money to get him better players.(Baseball)

Bang a drum. Light a bonfire. Throw a parade.

The Devil Rays' 2005 payroll roll is expected to exceed $30 million.

Such an increase from $23 million should qualify as a breakthrough for a franchise that has fielded the game's lowest payrolls for the past three seasons.

But it won't be enough.

Entering his third season of a four-year contract, manager Lou Piniella had hoped the payroll would be around $40 million. Piniella could squeeze $50 million in performance out of such a club. The Marlins won the 2003 World Series while spending $49 million.

But the Rays, operating under sharp financial limitations, probably are in no position to go higher. They need a new owner, a new general manager and a new ballpark in a new city.

Other than that, they're in great shape.