Tampa Bay Rays
2015 Win/Loss Record:
80-82, 4th in American League East
Last Postseason
Appearance: 2013
Last World Series
Championship: None
Key Arrivals: Hank
Conger (C), Brad Miller (SS), Danny Farquhar (P)
Key Departures: Asdrubal
Cabrera (SS), John Jaso (1B), Nate Karns (P)
Manager: Kevin
Cash, 2nd Year W/L 80-82
Overall Review: The second youth
movement is in full swing in Tampa. No franchise, other than the Oakland A’s,
have been able to do as much with as little as the Rays have in the last decade.
They finished nine of their first ten seasons in last place. But beginning in
2008, Tampa’s young players had matured enough and progressed enough to be able
to regularly compete in the post season, having made the playoffs four times
between 2008 and 2013.
But because of financial
restrictions, due to having one of the worst fan bases in professional sports,
players like Carl Crawford, David Price, Steve Shields, etc... were shipped out
when their price tags became to high. But after two sub-.500 seasons, the Rays
may be ready to start challenging the AL East once again.
Offense: Third baseman Evan Longoria is
one player the Rays have been able to hang on to. The perennial All-Star will
turn 30 this year and is will be playing in his ninth season. Although his
numbers have dipped slightly over the last few years, he still managed to hit
21 home runs in 2015, while driving in 73 runs and posting a decent batting
average at .270. First baseman James Loney, another veteran of several
postseasons with the Dodgers and the Rays, looks to improve on his stats from
an injury-plagued season a year ago. In only 104 games in 2015, Loney batted
.280, hit four home runs and added 32 RBIs.
Having a look at some of the
players who are part of the next group of potential Rays’ stars begins with
centre-fielder Kevin Kiermaier. Last season, Kiermaier managed to bat .263, hit
ten home runs, add 40 RBIs, even stole 18 bases and played a solid
centre-field, picking up a Gold Glove. Right-fielder Steven Souza is another
player who is a possible future All-Star. Although his average was a rather low
.225, he still managed to hit sixteen home runs and add 40 RBIs in only 110
games. A full-season and a better batting average could bring his totals to 25
and 80.
Pitching: Right-hander Chris Archer is
far and away the best pitcher the Rays have on their roster. Even though he had
a losing record at 12-13 last season, that would easily improve with some more
run support. His 3.23 ERA and 252 strike outs in 212 innings would make him the
ace on most starting staffs in baseball. Lefthander Drew Smyly showed a lot of
promise in 2015. In his 12 starts, Smyly had a 5-2 record, posted a 3.11 ERA
and struck out 77 batters in 66 2/3 innings. Two more starters, Jake Odorizzi
(9-9, 3.35, 150) and Erasmo Ramirez (11-6, 3.75, 126) are also in their
mid-twenties and together, all four pitchers should form a solid rotation that
will challenge for the AL East in a couple of years’ time.
Despite a whopping ten losses
out of the bullpen last year, closer Brad Boxberger still saved 41 games in his
first season as a big league stopper. His ERA (3.71) is too high to be a
dependable closer, but with a year in the role under his belt, he will look to
improve on that in 2016. Bullpen help will come from Jake McGee who saved six
games and posted a 2.41 ERA in 39 relief appearances.
 |
| Rays' starter Chris Archer |
Prediction: The Rays will be improved
in 2016, although maybe not enough to improve on their fourth place. That’s
where they should end up but if the Red Sox improvement predictions are merely
hype and the Yankees age starts to bring them down, a second place finish in
the AL East is possible. While it looks like the Rays are on their way to
contention in a few years, it all comes down to how many players they’ll be
able to keep when contracts expire and money from other teams beckons.
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