The 2024 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

The State of the Team is Back-to-Back Champs, baby!:



The rebuild became a reload as it turned it out. This winter should be a lot less hectic than last year's as most everyone can come back with one big exception:



Free agents to be:

* Taj Bradley. That's the big one. It's an owner goal to get him re-signed and we'll see what he wants but it's not likely.

* Jordan Westburg. He was phased out of the lineup late in the season and Brayden Taylor is the man at 2B now.

* John McMillon: He went from closer to middle relief and his control is poor, so he's replaceable.

* Eloy Jimenez: Eloy was great for us in the postseason and took over the DH job from Lazaro Montes, but we're counting on Montes to bounce back and play more like he did in the first half of the season.

Owner Stu Sternberg gave us a $140M payroll for next season and if everyone listed is kept that's $128M. But there's no way we're keeping Kim at $22.8M next year so we're closer to $105M. Kim will be dealt or non-tendered, as good as he is. Also Horton at nearly $8M looks like a non-tender or trade as does Robertson at $3M so that could be another $11M off giving us up to $45M to spend this winter to either re-sign or replace Bradley.

Otherwise we can roll out the same lineup and 4/5 of the rotation (Schwellenbach's return could fill the Taj vacancy) and 2-way prospect Kruz Schoolcraft ("Schooltani", they call him) is just about ready and he too could take a starter role. I'd still like to find an impact bat to improve the offense, preferably a corner outfielder, and to beef up the bullpen as always.

[Art Deco]

We didn't waste any time getting the hot stove warmed up, making a couple of trades:



Although Kim is one of the better relievers in the league we were never going to pay him his projected arbitration award of $22M this year, so he was shopped and Milwaukee was willing to send us a good young SS prospect in Trinidad. He had a +10.2 ZR in 76 games at AAA last year, as he moved up level and level from A ball to start the year. The bat could be very good too - right now he's ranked 45/45 but he has 55/55 potential. He can also play an above average 2B and 3B so he'll be helping us somewhere.



While shopping Kim we noticed that Colorado was making Burress available, and it took swingman Yan to get him. The Georgia Tech product, the 10th overall pick in the 2026 draft, made it to the bigs last year with the Rockies and although he didn't overwhelm (232/278/408) he still has 3.5-star, 60/60 potential, great speed, and elite defense (he had a +5.9 ZR in 95 games for Colorado in CF). We already have a Gold Glover in center with Parker Meadows but Burress could play a corner and as a RH batter could spell Meadows against lefties. Or he could start the year at Durham. Either way, not a bad return for a pitcher we grabbed on waivers last June.

Awards season:

Gold Gloves: As expected Meadows won the AL CF award. Former Ray and current Dodger Shane McClanahan took the NL P award.

Reliever of the Year: This guy in the AL:



Not shocked he won, but surprised it was unanimous. And our rental Kim took third. The NL winner was also unanimous, Cincinnati's Jhoan Duran who saved 31 games with a 1.40 ERA and 74 whiffs in 58 innings.

Silver Slugger: No Rays winners.

Rookie of the Year: 29-year-old C Jin-man Kim won unanimously for a .263-20-68 season which was good for 5.2 WAR. Our catcher Ike Irish finished a distant second and our Lazaro Montes was fourth. The NL recipient was no surprise as Miami 2B Alex Lodise took 29 of 30 first-place votes after a .282-41-109 year which also earned him a Silver Slugger.

Cy Young: Cleveland's Ian Anderson won in the AL, he would have been unanimous but I voted for our Jessie McGee who did finish second. Anderson was 17-6, 2.72 with 206 K in 205 IP and 5.9 WAR. And Taj Bradley took third after winning last season. Speaking of Bradley he wants $36M/season so we won't be re-signing him. In the NL Philly's Andrew Painter was another 29 of 30 first-place votes guy thanks to a 19-6, 2.50 with 259 K in 209 IP.

MVP: There was never going to be any doubt as Baltimore's Jackson Holliday put up a 10.6 WAR season that saw him hit .350 with 29 HR, 118 RBI, 205 hits, 47 doubles, 30 steals and a Gold Glove. He was a unanimous pick as Baltimore swept the top 3 spots with Samuel Basallo and Gunnar Henderson finishing 2-3. The NL MVP is once again Jordan Walker as the St. Louis star was #1 on all but one ballot after a .314-41-117 season good for 7.7 WAR which followed up his MVP 8.9-WAR 2028.

November 24: Got a big offer from the Angels, looking to send us C/DH Logan O'Hoppe (who won the AL Silver Slugger award) for starter Hagen Smith and prospect Alec Blair. Turned them down of course (we can't afford to lose any more SP) but usually the deals offered are more down-roster players.

November 25: Arbitration day and we only had one case that didn't settle: Emmett Sheehan got $10.5M instead of the $9.6M we offered. Taj Bradley rejected our qualifying offer of course, so we'll net a supplemental 1st rounder in all likelihood.

November 26: An uninspiring international free agent class this year, a disappointment because I often like to shop in that market.

November 27: Added P/DH Kruz Schoolcraft, 3B Kale Fountain, SP Cooper Fulbright, and RP Hunter Watson to the 40-man roster.

December 1: A trade to beef up the bullpen:



The veteran Kerkering is heading into his final season before free agency so Philly was willing to flip him for a mid-level prospect like Ontiveros. He'll pitch in an 8th-inning role setting up Will Klein after saving 64 games over the previous three seasons.

December 11: The first big wave of free agents signed including our own guy Taj Bradley who unfortunately joined the Yankees on a 6/199 deal (essentially $33M/season). Also Framber Valdez to Atlanta (1/8.1), Brandon Woodruff to Atlanta (1/16), and 41-year-old Jacob deGrom to Boston (1/9.3).

December 13: SP Jordan Montgomery joined Toronto on a 2/40 deal.

December 14: SP Max Fried joined Seattle on a 3/52 contract.

December 19: The Red Sox traded Blake Snell to Cleveland and the White Sox sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to Kansas City.

December 23: The Rule 5 Draft was held today and we lost one and gained one. The loss was 2026 first-round pick Kyle Johnson, a 2-way guy who mostly was seen as a pitcher. He hasn't really panned out and had a 5.54 ERA at Durham last year which is why he was left unprotected. Meanwhile, say hello to Cameron Flukey, a reliever we took from Toronto who is rated 50/50/45 with 65 stuff potential according to my scout but OSA thinks he could reach 80 stuff. We'll see how it goes and whether he'll stick on the big league roster which of course he has to.

December 28: A big trade for a starting pitcher:



We had been negotiating with Ni Guan, who pitched real well for us as a rental a couple of years ago, and were originally in the 2/20 to 2/24 range with him before he kept jacking up his demands. So we turned to the trade market instead and the Angels were looking to move Strider, who boasts 70/50/50 ratings. He had a 5.00 ERA last year but was the victim of a .331 BABIP and should be much better than that. He's signed through 2031 but we got LA to pick up $6M of his $20M salary for this year and next so he's costing us $14M per. In return we give up Horton, who would have competed for a starting role but was viewed as the long reliever he was last season, and Sephus, who's a very good relief prospect.

December 29: Philly signed former Oriole OF Colton Cowser to a 4/45 deal.

[Art Deco]

January 1: The Blue Jays rang in the new year by signing slugging 3B Nolan Gorman to a 4/178 deal, making him one of the game's highest-paid players.

January 5: We added a needed lefty to the bullpen:



January 16: Matt McLain signed a 4/44 deal with Seattle.

Also the Hall of Fame voting results have been announced and Alex Rodriguez finally made it after having to wait 9 years while Yadier Molina was also enshrined. Joe Mauer (71.8%) and Paul Goldschmidt (65.3%, first year) came closest.

January 18: Ni Guan, whom we were pursuing in free agency, ended up signing a 2/29 deal with Milwaukee which turned out to be slightly more than we're paying Strider.

January 29: Preseason officially began and we had some free agent signings: Sean Murphy (DET, 3/77), Andres Gimenez (TEX, 4/131), Esteury Ruiz (PIT, 4/27). Our budget was held at its current level.

It's also international amateur signing time, and we nabbed a good one:



Although he looks more a future DH than a future RF, but if he can hit anything like his potential that's not a problem.

Feburary 7: Signed IF Bryan Rocchio to a minor league deal with a major league option at $1.6M.

The veteran infielder is the last piece of the puzzle for us, giving us a legit backup at SS and a platoon partner for Brayden Taylor at 2B with Cade Doughty now projected as the DH against lefties. This signing probably means Drew Burress is ticketed for Durham as we won't be able to carry six outfielders.

Barring injuries, the Opening Day roster is largely set, although the last spot on the pitching staff will be up for grabs.

On to the preseason!

[Art Deco]

We made it through the preseason in pretty good health but did suffer one injury of note: Carson Williams suffered a hip strain and will be sideline for the first 10-14 days of the season. His replacement last year for a time, Concetto Federico Bailey, made the team as a result and will be the starting SS until Williams returns.

Also in a slight surprise, two-way prospect Kruz Schoolcraft made the team. He pitched well in the spring and saw his pitching ratings rise to 55/55/50, enough to earn him the 5th starter job. He'll also DH on the days he pitches as we want to see that 70 power in action. As a result last year's 5th starter, Tanner Witt, was sent to Durham as he has an option. Also a minor injury to Spencer Schwellenbach was enough to put him on the IL for now, keeping Rule 5 guy Cameron Flukey on the roster who got to say thanks to being unscored on 7 preseason outings.

Finally Agustin Ramirez won the right-handed batting side of the catching platoon as he was out of options and Dominic Keegan had one left.

So here's the final 26-man roster:

C-Irish, A.Ramirez
1B-Isaac
2B-B.Taylor
SS-Bailey
3B-Caminero
IF-Rocchio, Doughty (OF)
LF-Dunn
CF-P.Meadows
RF-Cermak
DH-Montes
OF-J.Ramos

SP-McGee, Strider, H.Smith, Sheehan, Schoolcraft
LR-Mercedes
MR-Misiorowski, Flukey, Hennen, Moran
SU-Kerkering, Maldonado
CL-Klein

A look at these fine gentlemen:



The preseason predictions:



We're pegged as contenders primary on the strength of our pitching, which is projected to be MLB's best by some margin.

Opening Day:



A very successful start to the 2030 season as the Rays routed the Rangers. Blake Dunn was on base all five times with a single, 2 walks, and 2 HBP (which came in his first two plate appearances, not sure anyone's started a season that way). Agustin Ramirez had 3 hits including 2 doubles in his Rays debut but on the second double suffered some hamstring tendinitis so Dominic Keegan is coming back after all although Ramirez should only miss the minimum 10 days.

[Art Deco]

March 29: Off-Day.

March 30: vs Texas 0-4 L. LP-Strider (0-1, 5 3 3 3 0 6). Strider was perfect through 5 in his Rays debut then put two men on to start the 6th and gave up a 3-run homer. Meanwhile the bats could only scratch out three hits after feasting on Opening Day.

March 31: vs Texas 4-0 W. WP-H.Smith (1-0, 7 2 0 0 0 10). HR-Cermak (1). Smith was about as dominating as it gets, leading the Rays to a season-opening series win in the rubber game. They were up against former Rays #1 pick Kyle Johnson, who was taken in the Rule 5 draft, and in his MLB debut Johnson was excellent at 5.2 4 1 1 3 5 (after stinking at Durham last year). However they got 3 off the Texas bullpen for some breathing room including Cermak's 2-run shot. Dunn is off to a hot start, 4-8 with 3 walks, 2 HBP, 5 runs scored and 5 steals through the first 3 games.

Team record: 2-1. Next week: 3 at home against Minnesota then an off-day to travel to St. Louis for 3 more.

No Players of the Week for the abbreviated period.

[Art Deco]

April 1: vs Minnesota 13-2 W. WP-Sheehan (1-0, 6 2 1 1 1 4). S-Mercedes (1). HR-B.Taylor (1), Cermak (2), Dunn (1), Isaac (1). Rays were up 7-0 after 2 and never let up as they mauled Minnesota. Cermak was 2-4 with a homer and 4 RBI while Isaac was 4-6 with 4 runs scored, a double, a homer and 2 RBI to lead a 20-hit attack.

April 2: vs Minnesota 9-5 W. WP-Schoolcraft (1-0, 5.1 8 1 1 1 3). HR-Dunn (2), Bailey (1). Schoolcraft won his MLB pitching debut and helped his own cause by going 2-3 with a walk, double and 2 RBI. Meadows' bases-clearing double was the big blow.

April 3: vs Minnesota 1-0 W. WP-McGee (2-0, 6 2 0 0 0 6). S-Klein (1). A far cry from the first two games with a pitchers' duel between Minnesota's Peyton Martin, who struck out 12, and McGee. Montes' RBI single in the 4th enabled Tampa Bay to finish off the sweep.

April 4: Off-Day.

April 5: at St. Louis 5-1 W. WP-Strider (1-1, 6.2 2 0 0 1 10). HR-Isaac (2), P.Meadows (1). Strider was utterly dominant as the Rays kept their winning ways going. Isaac drove in 4 of the 5 runs with a 3-run homer in the first and an RBI single later.

April 6: at St. Louis 6-7 L. LP-Klein (0-1). Starter-H.Smith (5 7 3 3 1 3). HR-Cermak (3), Irish (1), Caminero (1). A bitter loss as the Rays blew the lead twice in the late innings including a rare Klein meltdown in the 9th as he gave up a game-losing walk-off 2-run single to former Ray Adley Rutschman. This after Tampa Bay went ahead in the top of the inning on a 2-run Caminero homer and after they lost a 4-3 lead in the 7th.

April 7: at St. Louis 4-7 L. LP-Mercedes (0-1). Starter-Sheehan (3.2 7 3 3 2 4). Another lead lost as the Rays jumped out an early 4-0 but Sheehan couldn't get through the 4th and Mercedes gave up game-tying and go-ahead homers to the Cards. Dunn stole another base today and has a ridiculous 15 swipes in the first 9 games of the season, helped greatly by a .488 OBP. Look out Rickey!

Team record: 6-3, 2 games behind Baltimore which is off to a blazing 9-2 start. Next week: An off-day then 3 games at Yankee Stadium (the first of which is against old friend Taj Bradley) then back home for 3 against the Cubs.

Players of the Week:

AL: Dylan Beavers (HOU), 9-22, 4 HR, 9 RBI
NL: Ezequiel Tovar (COL), 13-28, 2 HR, 5 RBI

MLB News: Former Ray and Current Dodger Jeffrey Springs' season is over almost as soon as it began as he has shoulder inflammation bad enough to sideline him for 7-8 months.

[Art Deco]

April 8: Off-Day.

April 9: at NY Yankees 12-8 W. WP-McGee (3-0, 6 3 1 1 2 10). HR-Taylor (2), Montes (1), Isaac (3), Bailey (2). Rays broke it open with a 7-run 5th highlighted by Isaac's slam and led 10-1 and 12-3 before New York got 5 off the bullpen in the 9th to make the final respectable.

April 10: at NY Yankees 5-2 W. WP-Mercedes (1-1). S-Klein (2). Starter-Schoolcraft (3.2 4 2 1 5 2). HR-Cermak (4). Cermak's 3-run shot in the 5th broke a 2-2 tie and was the winning blow. Caminero was 4-5 with a ribbie.

April 11: at NY Yankees 2-3 L. LP-Misiorowski (1-1). Starter-Strider (4 4 1 1 3 10). HR-Caminero (2), Taylor (3). Strider was so dominant that he threw too many pitches to make it past 4 innings, and they lost it in the middle frames. The Rays only had three hits on the day, two of which were solo homers.

April 12: vs Chicago Cubs 7-1 W. WP-H.Smith (2-0, 6 3 1 1 1 9). HR-Schoolcraft (1), Cermak 2 (6), Taylor (4). Rays thumped the Cubs behind a brilliant outing from Smith. It was ecstasy and agony for Schoolcraft as the rookie belted his first MLB homer but later twisted his ankle running the bases and will be out a couple of weeks, the risks of a 2-way player. Cermak meanwhile was 3-3 with 3 runs scored, a walk, 2 homers and 2 RBI.

Transaction: Schoolcraft goes on the IL and last year's 5th starter down the stretch, Tanner Witt, is up from Durham to take his rotation place.

April 13: vs Chicago Cubs 16-1 W. WP-Sheehan (2-0, 6 2 0 0 1 8). S-Mercedes (2). HR-A.Ramirez (1), Cermak (7), J.Ramos (1). An 8-run 4th, highlighted by Ramirez's first Rays HR (a slam) turned this into another crushing of the Cubs. Ramos drove in 5 as well including a slam of his own and six players had at least two hits and an RBI. After Ramirez's slam Rocchio was hit with a pitch and started a brawl which resulted in a 4-game suspension.

Transaction: Rocchio goes on the restricted list and OF Drew Burress is up from Durham.

April 14: vs Chicago Cubs 8-1 W. WP-McGee (4-0, 5 3 1 1 2 8). Rays completed the sweep with their third bludgeoning of Chicago, outscoring them 31-3 over the three games. McGee was dominant again and is now 4-0, 1.21, Misiorowski fanned 7 in 3 scoreless innings of relief, and Williams' bases-clearing double was the day's big hit. Caminero extended his hit streak to 19 games.

Team record: 11-4. They've pulled within 1/2 game of Baltimore, which lost its last couple of games after starting 12-2. Next week: 3 at home against Cleveland then we're off for a day to travel to Minnesota for 3 more.

Players of the Week:

AL: This guy:



NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 12-26, 5 HR, 10 RBI

MLB News: Atlanta's Ozzie Albies hit his 300th career homer.

[Art Deco]

Transaction: Agustin Ramirez comes off the IL and Dominic Keegan is sent back to Durham.

April 15: vs Cleveland 7-6 W. WP-Moran (1-0). S-Klein (3). Starter-T.Witt (5 5 3 1 3 8). HR-Montes (2). Rays blew a 6-2 lead in this one but won it in the 7th on Cermak's RBI single. Caminero was 4-4 with 2 RBI while Montes had a solo homer and a 2-run single.

April 16: vs Cleveland 5-0 W. WP-Hennen (1-0). S-Mercedes (3). Starter-Strider (4 1 0 0 2 5). HR-Caminero (3), A.Ramirez (2). This game was scoreless until the Rays put 4 on the board in the 6th capped by Ramirez's 2-run homer. Strider left early with a minor tweak but will be fine for his next start while Mercedes already has three three-inning saves this season.

April 17: vs Cleveland 5-1 W. WP-Flukey (1-0). Starter-H.Smith (0.1 0 0 0 1 1). HR-Dunn (3), B.Taylor (5), A.Ramirez (3). Once again the Rays had a starter depart early, this time Smith with minor back tightness, and once again they overcame it thanks to the pen. Rule 5 guy Flukey pitched 3 hitless innings for his first MLB win and Taylor and Ramirez belted 2-run homers to supply the offense. Caminero extended his hitting streak to 21 games.

April 18: Off-Day.

April 19: at Minnesota 6-8 L. LP-Hennen (1-1). Starter-Sheehan (4.1 6 3 3 3 7). HR-Isaac (4), Dunn (4). Rays jumped out to a 4-0 lead in this one but couldn't hold it, eventually losing when Minnesota scored 3 times in the 7th. Dunn was 3-5 with a double, homer and 2 RBI although he didn't add to his ridiculous MLB-leading SB total of 21. And to further add insult Caminero's 21-game hit streak was snapped.

Transaction: Placed SS Carson Williams on the 10-day IL with a back strain, claimed OF Braden Montgomery on waivers from Detroit and activated him.

We picked up Montgomery, who was a 1st-round pick of Detroit in 2024 and was a career 246/308/439 hitter in 302 MLB games although he was off to a hot 393/469/750 start in 28 AB. He's rated 45 contact, 60 power and a 65 RF and is a RHB so he'll be a platoon guy. Williams will be back when his time is up and a roster decision will have to be made since Montgomery is out of options, and Bryan Rocchio will take over at SS in the interim.

April 20: at Minnesota 4-3 W. WP-Hennen (2-1). S-Klein (4). Starter-McGee (0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0). HR-Isaac (5), Caminero (4). For the third time this week the Rays saw a starter leave early and for the second time it was in the first inning, but as they did before they pulled out the win nevertheless. McGee had a minor ab pull and won't miss a start. Caminero hit a solo homer in the 8th to tie the game and Dunn won it with an RBI single in the 9th.

April 21: at Minnesota 0-2 L. LP-Moran (1-1). Starter-T.Witt (6 3 0 0 3 7). Witt was brilliant but the bats couldn't get anything going and former Twin Moran was touched for two runs in the 8th to lose it.

Team record: 15-6. Should be good for first, right? Nope, they're 2 1/2 back of the 18-4 Orioles, who are channeling the 1984 Detroit Tigers so far.

Players of the Week:

AL: Jackson Holliday (BAL), 11-27, 3 HR, 7 RBI
NL: Cam Cannarella (WAS), 10-23, 2 HR, 11 RBI

MLB News: The Dodgers lost SP Dustin May for the year with a torn labrum while Cleveland signed SP Gavin Williams to a 6/133 extension.

Also the Rays lost SS prospect Adrian Santana for the year with a torn PCL.

[Art Deco]

April 22: at Texas 3-1 W. WP-Strider (2-1, 5.1 3 1 1 2 5). S-Klein (5). HR-Dunn (5), Cermak (8), A.Ramirez (4). Rays got the three solo shots and excellent pitching to take another win.

April 23: at Texas 4-3 W. WP-H.Smith (3-0, 5 1 1 1 4 7). S-Kerkering (1). HR-Dunn 3 (8). Not sure what's gotten into Blake Dunn this year but as the saying goes, I'll have what he's having. He single-handedly won this one for the Rays, going 4-4 with 3 homers to drive in all 4 Tampa Bay runs. He was too busy circling the bases to add to his ridiculous 23 stolen bases, however.

April 24: at Texas 9-8 W. WP-Mercedes (2-1). Starter-Sheehan (4 6 3 3 2 6). HR-Montes 2 (4), Isaac (6), B.Taylor (6). Rays led this one 9-3 in the 6th before hanging on by their fingernails as Texas got 3 in the 9th off Klein in a non-save situation. Montes drove in 3 with his 2 homers and Taylor was 3-5 with a 2-run shot as the Rays completed the sweep.

April 25: Off-Day.

April 26: vs Seattle 14-5 W. WP-McGee (5-0, 5 6 3 3 0 7). HR-B.Montgomery 2 (2), Isaac (7), Caminero (5), Dunn (9), Doughty (1). Montgomery has been a revelation since being picked up on waivers and today he was 4-5 with a pair of homers and 3 RBI. And Dunn got it done again, driving in 4 including a 3-run homer as the Rays amassed 20 hits on the day with 6 players with multiple knocks. Cermak was plunked after Caminero's homer and started a bench-clearing brawl, he's suspended for 4 games.

Transaction: Cermak goes on the restricted list and Drew Burress is back up from Durham.

April 27: vs Seattle 5-2 W. WP-Kerkering (1-0). S-Klein (6). Starter-T.Witt (5.1 2 0 0 3 6). HR-Caminero (6). Ramirez's 2-run single in the 7th broke a 1-1 tie and Caminero added a 2-run shot for insurance as the wins keep coming.

Transaction: Cameron Flukey has hand soreness and we wasted no time putting the struggling Rule 5 pick on the IL, just in time to activate rookie Kruz Schoolcraft, who will move into long relief with Witt pitching so well in the rotation.

April 28: vs Seattle 3-2 W. WP-Strider (3-1, 5 3 1 1 1 10). S-Klein (7). Strider was dominant, Schoolcraft fanned 5 in 2 2/3 of relief, and Klein got the save despite walking the bases loaded in the 9th. Meanwhile Dunn was the star on offense again with another 4-hit game, doubling, driving in a run and stealing 3 bases to give him 27 in as many games. He's hitting 346/418/645 and is second in the AL with 1.9 WAR, looking like the second coming of Rickey Henderson.

Team record: 21-6. So what does a sweep of the week and a 21-6 record get you? Still second place in the AL East as Baltimore didn't lose either and is 24-5. The Rays will finally get a chance to do something about that as the Orioles come to the Trop for 4 games, after which they'll head to Milwaukee for 3.

Players of the Week:

AL: Who else?



NL: Yophery Rodriguez (SF), 13-26, 3 HR, 6 RBI

MLB News: A crippling blow for Seattle as star CF Julio Rodriguez will miss 4 months with a severely strained hip muscle. Meanwhile Cincinnati lost OF Wyatt Langford for 6 weeks with a fractured rib.

[Art Deco]

April 29: vs Baltimore 10-2 W. WP-H.Smith (4-0, 7 4 2 2 3 11). HR-Caminero (7). MLB had likely never seen two teams off to ridiculous starts like this face off against each other a month into the season as Baltimore came in 24-5 and the Rays 21-6. Round 1 went decisively to Tampa Bay although it was much closer until the Rays scored 6 in the 8th. Caminero's 3-run shot in the first would turn out to be all they'd need behind a dominant Smith.

Transaction: C Ike Irish strained an oblique so Dominic Keegan is back up again from Durham. Irish should return when his IL time is up.

April 30: vs Baltimore 6-3 W. WP-Sheehan (3-0, 5.2 5 1 1 2 7). S-Kerkering (2). HR-Montgomery (3), Isaac (8), Schoolcraft (2). The Rays beat Baltimore again and moved into first place on percentage points. Three solo shots and three RBI from Williams backed another excellent outing from a starter.

May 1: vs Baltimore 6-2 W. WP-McGee (6-0, 5.1 5 1 1 1 7). S-Moran (1). HR-Montgomery (4). Montgomery continues to be the waiver pickup of the year as his 2-run homer broke a 1-1 tie and the Rays never looked back from there as they made it 3 straight over the Orioles. Starting pitching outstanding as usual.

May 2: vs Baltimore 7-2 W. WP-T.Witt (1-0, 6 3 2 2 2 5). HR-Cermak 2 (10), Caminero (8), Doughty (2). Not only did the Rays end up sweeping 24-5 Baltimore they outscored them 29-9 over the four games thanks to today's trouncing, which extended their win streak to 10. Cermak had a double, two homers and 3 RBI while Doughty 2-3 with a 2-run homer and 3 runs scored.

We made a trade!



Flukey has great stuff and potential, but as a Rule 5 draftee I didn't want to be forced to keep him on the roster all season. So he was shopped and we ended up snagging Suastegui, a 1B/OF who can rake. Right now he's a 55/50 hitter but has 70/55 potential and showed it off during a stint with Boston last year (379/400/631 in 103 AB). The Sox had him in AAA where he was hitting .355 and that's where he'll go for us now, to Durham. Flukey was on the IL and about to come off so we didn't need to make a corresponding roster move.

May 3: at Milwaukee 3-4 L. LP-Mercedes (2-2). Starter-Strider (4.2 6 2 2 2 4). HR-Isaac (9), B.Taylor (7). Mercedes came into a 2-2 affair in the 5th and gave up a couple of solo homers to lose the game and the win streak.

May 4: at Milwaukee 2-6 L. LP-H.Smith (4-1, 4 7 6 6 3 4). HR-Caminero (9). Smith just didn't have it today, giving up a couple of homers as the Rays lost to the Brewers again.

May 5: at Milwaukee 0-2 L. LP-Sheehan (3-1, 4.2 4 2 2 3 7). Go figure. The Rays sweep a team 24-5 coming into a series and then get swept by a team which was 13-19 coming in. That's baseball for you. Incidentally Milwaukee's now-16-19 record is enough to give them a share of first in the NL Central.

Team record: 25-9. Fortunately the Orioles lost 2 of 3 after being swept by the Rays so Tampa Bay still holds a 1-game lead in the division. Next week: Two games in Miami sandwiched between a couple of off-days then we return home for 3 against San Diego.

Players of the Month (April):

AL Batter: Jack Suwinski (BAL), .312-10-24
NL Batter: Graham Pauley (SD), .365-9-24
AL Pitcher: Anthony Veneziano (NY), 4-1, 2.48, 43 K in 36.1 IP
NL Pitcher: Dylan Lesko (SD), 4-1, 1.41, 30 K in 32 IP
AL Rookie: Ben Messiah (BAL), 2-0, 5 SV, 8 K in 9.1 IP
NL Rookie: Yophery Rodriguez (SF), .378-4-19

Players of the Week:

AL: Evan Carter (TEX), 11-23, 1 HR, 6 RBI
NL: Matt Shaw (CHI), 12-26, 2 HR, 7 RBI

MLB News: Bad news for Atlanta as they will be without former MVP Michael Harris II for a month with shoulder inflammation while they also lost oft-injured SP Lance McCullers Jr. for the season with a torn labrum.

Rays News: Suastegui wasn't the only player we added this week as we also signed 28-year-old C Jesus Rodriguez to a minor league deal. J-Rod is a good hitter for a catcher (60 contact) and hit .293 and .310 the last two seasons with Scranton, the Yankees' AAA affiliate. He has a 55 glove too so he's no defensive liability.

[Art Deco]

May 6: Off-Day.

May 7: at Miami 1-10 L. LP-McGee (6-1, 4 8 5 5 0 5, 3 HR). Best I can say about this one is that it was 1-1 in the 3rd. Otherwise it was a shellacking with one of McGee's worst starts in the majors and the offense only scratching out three hits.

May 8: at Miami 1-5 L. LP-T.Witt (1-1, 4 8 4 4 0 4). Like yesterday it was 1-1 after 3 and then all Miami, and once again the bats struggled with only four hits as the Rays dropped their fifth straight after starting the season 25-6.

May 9: Off-Day.

Transaction: Ike Irish comes off the IL and Dominic Keegan is on the shuttle back to Durham.

May 10: vs San Diego 1-0 W. WP-Strider (4-1, 6 2 0 0 0 6). S-Klein (8). HR-Isaac (10). They still can't score runs, but one singular run was all they needed with the great pitching of Strider & Co. tonight and that came off the bat of Isaac in the 6th.

May 11: vs San Diego 3-2 W (10). WP-Klein (1-1). Starter-H.Smith (7 1 1 1 2 9). HR-Doughty (3). The offensive scuffling continued as they were one out away from losing 1-0 before Taylor singled in the equalizer, and then Doughty walked it off with a 2-run shot in the 10th to win it.

May 12: vs San Diego 5-6 L. LP-Misiorowski (0-2). Starter-Sheehan (5 3 1 1 2 6). HR-Dunn (10), A.Ramirez (5), Montgomery (5/8). Well they scored some runs today but gave up too many. It was 3-1 Rays when Sheehan departed before Schoolcraft gave up a 2-run double to let San Diego tie it and Miz surrendered a 3-run homer in the 7th to lose it. Ramirez and Montgomery hit back-to-back jacks in the 9th to get them back within a run but that was all they could muster. The loss amazingly was only their 2nd in 22 home games this year.

Team record: 27-12. They're 1 1/2 behind Baltimore although even in the loss column as the O's have played 3 more games. Next week: Despite playing 5 more home than road games, they spend the entire week at home with 3 against Boston and 3 against the Angels sandwiched around an off-day. Gonna be some long road trips coming up.

Players of the Week:

AL: Gunnar Henderson (BAL), 12-21, 2 HR, 7 RBI
NL: Jackson Chourio (MIL), 12-21, 4 HR, 17 RBI(!)

MLB News: Colorado's Riley Greene will miss 5 weeks with a fractured foot.

[Art Deco]

May 13: vs Boston 7-2 W. WP-McGee (7-1, 6 4 2 2 2 8). HR-B.Taylor 3 (10). Taylor was the story of course, homering 3 times and driving in 5. Dunn was also 2-3 with 2 RBI and 3 SB, giving him 35 so far as he looks to have a historic season in that category.

May 14: vs Boston 1-3 L. LP-Hennen (2-2). Starter-T.Witt (6.2 5 1 1 0 5). HR-Irish (2). Boston scored twice in the 8th to break a 1-1 tie. Dunn stole two more bases to make it 37.

May 15: vs Boston 2-4 L. LP-Klein (1-2). Starter-Strider (6 2 0 0 0 10). Another tough loss on the bullpen as they took a 2-1 lead into the 9th before Klein imploded, wasting an absolutely dominant start from Strider and giving them a rare series loss at home. Dunn watch: 2 more steals to give him 39.

May 16: Off-Day.

May 17: vs LA Angels 6-0 W. WP-H.Smith (5-1, 7 1 0 0 2 9). HR-Doughty (4), C.Williams (1), Isaac (11). A 5-run 5th capped by Isaac's 3-run homer broke this open and the Rays got yet another brilliant start, today from Smith. Dunn stole his 40th.

May 18: vs LA Angels 5-0 W. WP-McGee (8-1, 5 3 0 0 1 7). HR-Cermak (11). This was a 1-0 nail-biter until the 8th when they scored 4 runs including Cermak's 3-run shot. No steals for Dunn today.

Transaction: Carson Williams is hurt again, this time suffering a sports hernia which will sideline him for 6-7 weeks. Normally Concetto Federico Bailey would be recalled but he went on Durham's 7-day IL on the same day with back stiffness. With no other MI on the 40-man, recently-acquired 1B/OF David Suastegui is recalled and he'll stick until Bailey's IL week is up. Bryan Rocchio will play SS in the interim.

May 19: vs LA Angels 5-9 L. LP-Maldonado (0-1). Starter-Sheehan (6 4 3 3 1 8). HR-Cermak (12). If the bullpen were half as good as the rotation this time might be 40-5 instead of 30-15. Today they led 5-3 going into the 7th when Misiorowski gave up a 2-run homer before Maldonado gave up 4 in the 8th, including a 2-run shot. Dunn stole his 41st base.

Team record: 30-15, good for a 1/2-game lead on Baltimore. Next week: A Midwest road trip with 3 in Cincinnati followed by 4 in Kansas City.

Players of the Week:

AL: Luis Baez (HOU), 12-22, 8 HR(!), 14 RBI
NL: Elly De La Cruz (CIN), 13-28, 3 HR, 6 RBI

MLB News: Atlanta's Austin Riley hit career homer #300, Texas OF Evan Carter is out 5-6 weeks with a fractured finger, and Mets C Kevin Parada tore his meniscus - while bending over to tie his shoe! He's done for the year.

[Art Deco]

May 20: at Cincinnati 4-11 L. LP-Witt (1-2, 4.1 6 6 4 1 8). HR-Cermak (13). The Reds scored 5 times in the 5th to break a 2-2 tie and went on to rout the Rays. Cermak was 3-4 with a solo homer.

May 21: at Cincinnati 13-7 W. WP-Strider (5-1, 5 6 3 3 1 7). HR-Isaac 2 (13), Schoolcraft (3), B.Taylor (11). The Rays returned the favor of last night's Reds rout with one of their own. Isaac had a massive night, hitting 2-run 3 homers, scoring 3 runs and walking twice while Taylor was 3-4 with 4 runs scored, a homer and 2 RBI.

May 22: at Cincinnati 6-7 L (10). LP-Hennen (2-3). Starter-H.Smith (5.2 2 3 3 3 7). HR-Isaac (14), Irish (3). A total meltdown in the 9th cost Tampa Bay this one as they were up 6-3 before a hit, two walks and two errors, including one which would have been the final out and instead allowed the equalizer to score, cost them.

May 23: at Kansas City 8-2 W (10). WP-Moran (2-1). Starter-McGee (5.1 3 2 2 4 6). HR-B.Montgomery (6). Extra innings were kinder to the Rays today as they erupted for six runs in the 10th, highlighted by Montgomery's 3-run homer. He drove in 5 on the day as his 2-run double accounted for their scoring in regulation.

May 24: at Kansas City 9-3 W. WP-Sheehan (4-1, 5 6 2 2 2 4). HR-Cermak (14), Caminero (10). Caminero had a big day with an RBI single and 2-run homer to lead the Rays to a comfortable win.

May 25: at Kansas City 1-0 W. WP-Witt (2-2, 6.1 3 0 0 0 4). S-Klein (9). HR-B.Taylor (12). Taylor's solo homer in the 4th stood up thanks to some great pitching and the Rays made it 3 straight in Kansas City.

Transaction: As promised Concetto Federico Bailey was called up to play SS once his AAA IL stint ended and David Suastegui was returned to Durham.

May 26: at Kansas City 5-4 W. WP-Strider (6-1, 5.2 2 1 1 1 7). S-Klein (10). HR-B.Taylor (13). Strider continues to dominate (1.88 ERA) and Taylor's pinch-hit homer in the 8th which made it 5-1 proved to be the winner when Moran gave up 3 runs in the bottom of the inning and they had to hang on to complete the sweep of the Royals.

Team record: 35-17, 1/2 game up on Baltimore as these two teams are running away with the division. Next week: Back home with 3 against the Yankees and 3 against Toronto with an off-day in between.

Blake Dunn Stolen Base Watch: He stole 3 this week to put him at 44 and on pace for 137, which would break Rickey Henderson's record of 130.

Players of the Week:

AL: Juan Toscano (NY), 12-25, 5 HR, 9 RBI
NL: Jackson Merrill (SD), 12-27, 3 HR, 7 RBI

MLB News: Houston's Kyle Tucker hit career homer #300.

[Art Deco]

May 27: vs NY Yankees 6-5 W (10). WP-Kerkering (2-0). Starter-H.Smith (5 3 3 3 4 6). HR-Bailey (3), B.Montgomery (7/10). After Bailey, who had earlier homered and tripled, tied it with an RBI single in the 9th Caminero doubled home the walk-off winner in the 10th.

May 28: vs NY Yankees 3-5 L. LP-Klein (1-3). Starter-McGee (5.1 2 0 0 1 8). HR-B.Montgomery (8/11). Up 3-1 in the 9th Klein loaded the bases and then gave up a grand slam to lose it, his 4th blown save of the season already.

May 29: vs NY Yankees 4-5 L (10). LP-Moran (2-2). Starter-Sheehan (5 3 0 0 2 10). Groundhog Day for the Rays as the starter was brilliant again, and they took a 3-0 lead into the 9th before they blew it again with Kerkering the culprit today allowing 3 runs to let New York tie it. Moran then let the Yankees score the automatic runner plus one of his own to lose it.

May 30: Off-Day.

May 31: vs Toronto 4-7 L. LP-T.Witt (2-3, 5.2 6 5 5 2 4). HR-P.Meadows (2), A.Ramirez (6), B.Taylor (14). Toronto hit Witt for 4 runs in the 5th after trailing 2-1 and the Rays were unable to mount an effective comeback.

June 1: vs Toronto 6-0 W. WP-Strider (7-1, 5 3 0 0 1 6). S-Moran (2). HR-Dunn (11). Strider was outstanding again, lower his ERA to 1.73, and Ramirez was 3-3 with a double and a homer to lead the offense as they snapped a 3-game losing streak.

June 2: vs Toronto 2-4 L. LP-H.Smith (5-2, 5 6 3 3 1 5). HR-B.Taylor (15), Irish (4). Smith wasn't his best and the offense couldn't get anything going outside of a couple of solo homers as the Rays dropped their second straight series at home.

Team record: 37-21. Fortunately Baltimore struggled this week as well and the Rays maintained a 1/2 game lead on the Orioles, who have played three more games. Next week: We hit the road for 4 games in Boston followed by 3 in Toronto.

Players of the Month (May):

AL Batter: Luis Baez (HOU), .337-15-32
NL Batter: Andy Pages (NY), .327-9-33
AL Pitcher: Brendan White (DET), 4-0, 2.03, 26 K in 31 IP
NL Pitcher: Framber Valdez (ATL), 4-0, 1.67, 22 K in 32.1 IP
AL Rookie: Julio Pizano (CLE), .330-6-16
NL Rookie: Luis Marquez (CIN), .271-8-26

Players of the Week:

AL: Andres Gimenez (TEX), 13-24, 0 HR, 2 RBI
NL: Trea Turner (PHI), 12-20, 3 HR, 6 RBI

MLB News: Former Ray and current Mariners SS Willy Adames hit his 300th career homer.

[Art Deco]

June 3: at Boston 4-8 L. LP-McGee (8-2, 3.2 9 7 7 2 3). HR-Cermak (15), Isaac (15), Caminero (11), B.Taylor (16). Boston jumped on McGee in the 4th for 6 runs and that was the ballgame. All four Rays runs came on solo homers.

June 4: at Boston 2-3 L. LP-Klein (1-4). Starter-Sheehan (6 3 0 0 1 7). Another meltdown from Klein in the 9th as he lost a 2-0 lead in blowing his fifth save of the season, spoiling a brilliant outing from Sheehan.

June 5: at Boston 1-4 L. LP-T.Witt (2-4, 4.1 10 4 3 1 1). More misery as the Rays dropped their fourth straight, unable to generate much of anything offensively.

June 6: at Boston 2-3 L. LP-Hennen (2-4). Starter-Strider (6 4 1 1 2 8). Once again the offense and the bullpen let Tampa Bay down as Hennen allowed 2 runs in the 7th to erase a 2-1 lead and a toothless offense that managed only three hits couldn't come back.

June 7: at Toronto 6-9 L. LP-Misiorowski (0-3). Starter-H.Smith (4.1 5 3 3 3 6). HR-Montes (5), B.Taylor (17). The misery continued as they took a 5-2 lead in the 5th only to give it right back and go on to lose, the sixth defeat in a row and ninth in their last ten games. The bullpen has really become abysmal with three relievers allowing two runs each.

June 8: at Toronto 11-5 W. WP-Schoolcraft (2-0). Starter-McGee (3.2 7 4 4 2 2). HR-Cermak (16), Caminero (12), B.Montgomery (9/12). Things looked bleak when McGee was hit for four runs in the first in his second straight poor start, but the offense responded with 6 runs in the 3rd and never looked back as Tampa Bay snapped its 6-game losing streak. Caminero and Cermak had 2-run homers in that pivotal 3rd inning and the team banged out 20 hits in total with Dunn and Montgomery collecting four apiece.

June 9: at Toronto 10-3 W. WP-Sheehan (5-1, 6 0 0 0 2 6). HR-Cermak (17), Bailey (4). Sheehan no-hit the Jays through 6 on 90 pitches before the offense erupted for 7 runs in the 7th capped by Bailey's grand slam. Cermak had a 3-run homer in the first to get things going and the Rays closed a rough week on a high note.

Team record: 39-26. Unfortunately Baltimore went 6-0 for the week while the Rays stumbled, so they now trail the Orioles by 4 games. Next week: We finish off this wraparound series on Monday in Toronto then time for some home cooking with 3-game interleague series against Philadelphia and Washington.

And that Washington series is going to be interesting because after Sunday's game we made this blockbuster trade:



While the bullpen is currently our most pressing need, some extra offense is always appreciated and Wood is coming off a 37-homer 2029 and had 10 in 27 games this year before getting hurt, but he's ready to play and settle the DH spot after Montes (who's going the other way) had been struggling since the middle of last season and we'd been cycling guys through the position of late. Bazelais is a very good relief prospect while Piper is a 31-year-old career minor leaguer who made the deal work. We are taking on a $20M/year contract obligation through 2032 but Wood should be worth it.

Players of the Week:

AL: Gabriel Arias (DET), 11-25, 5 HR, 10 RBI
NL: Blaze Alexander (CHI), 11-24, 3 HR, 11 RBI

MLB News: Future Hall of Famer and current Phillie Bryce Harper hit his 500th career homer off Miami's Eury Perez.

[Art Deco]

June 10: at Toronto 0-5 L. LP-Witt (2-5, 6 7 3 3 1 6). Another rough game for the bats as they only managed four hits. James Wood was 0-2 with 2 walks in his Rays debut.

June 11: vs Philadelphia 1-4 L. LP-Strider (7-2, 5 4 2 2 1 7). The offensive anemia continued as they only had four hits for the second straight game as the losses pile up.

June 12: vs Philadelphia 1-2 L. LP-H.Smith (5-3, 6 4 2 2 0 10). HR-Isaac (19). Would you believe they only had four hits for the third straight game? Isaac's homer with two out in the 9th averted a shutout.

June 13: vs Philadelphia 1-0 W. WP-Maldonado (1-1). Starter- McGee (8 4 0 0 0 5). The Rays managed only four hits for the fourth straight game but it was enough as two of them were doubles by Montgomery and Caminero in the bottom of the 9th to plate the game's only run and give the Rays a much-needed win after losing 12 of their previous 15.

June 14: vs Washington 8-3 W. WP-Misiorowski (1-3). Starter-Sheehan (3.1 4 3 3 5 3). There was a "4" in the Rays hit column once again but this time it was preceded by a "1" as the offense made a welcome return. Isaac was 3-4 with 2 RBI, Doughty drove in 3 and Dunn had 3 hits and stolen base #54 to lead the way. The Nats went up 3-0 in the 2nd on a 3-run homer from Lazaro Montes, who was traded for Wood a week ago, but the revenge narrative didn't hold up thanks to the offensive surge and some fine relief pitching after Sheehan struggled.

June 15: vs Washington 6-5 W (10). WP-Hennen (3-4). Starter-Witt (8.2 1 2 2 3 10). HR-Isaac (17). This was an extraordinary game which saw Tanner Witt finish one out away from a no-hitter with his team ahead 1-0. Witt was running on fumes at the end and couldn't get the 27th out, giving up a walk and a double and he was pulled at 118 pitches for Maldonado, who immediately gave up a 3-run homer. Isaac then dramatically tied it in the 9th with a 2-run shot but in the 10th Washington scored 2 off Hennen to re-take the lead. Then in the bottom of the 10th a single moved the ghost runner to 3rd, an error allowed a run to score, and a HBP loaded the bases for Caminero who delivered a 2-run single to walk it off.

June 16: vs Washington 3-0 W. WP-Strider (8-2, 5.2 2 0 0 1 7). S-Klein (11). HR-Doughty (5), Dunn (12). The Rays completed the sweep of Washington thanks to yet another brilliant outing from Strider, who leads all pitchers with 3.3 WAR already this year and lowered his ERA to 1.71. Klein finished it off his first save since May 26. Dunn homered and continued his pursuit of Rickey Henderson with stolen base #58.

Team record: 43-29. The four straight wins at the end of the week enabled to Rays to pull within 3 games of Baltimore (two in the loss column) and sets up a big series in Charm City with the Rays playing the Orioles 3 times after an off-day before jetting to Oakland for 3 more to close out next week.

Players of the Week:

AL: Samuel Basallo (BAL), 10-23, 5 HR, 10 RBI
NL: Jordan Walker (STL), 11-26, 3 HR, 7 RBI

[Art Deco]

June 17: Off-Day.

June 18: at Baltimore 2-3 L. LP-Moran (2-3). Starter-McGee (6 5 2 2 1 5). HR-Isaac (18). Isaac drove in both runs, including a solo homer that tied it in the 7th, but they lost it on a Baltimore run with two out in the bottom of the 9th and fell 4 games behind the Orioles.

June 19: at Baltimore 5-4 W. WP-Hennen (4-4). S-Klein (12). Starter-H.Smith (4 6 3 3 2 7). HR-Wood 2 (2/12), Bailey (5). James Wood finally came through after the trade as his second homer of the game broke a 4-4 tie in the 9th as the Rays turned the tables from yesterday.

June 20: at Baltimore 10-8 W. WP-Schoolcraft (3-0). S-Kerkering (3). Starter-Sheehan (4.1 6 7 6 3 3). HR-Dunn (13), Wood (3/13). A wild one which saw the Rays go up 3-0 and 4-2 before falling behind 8-4, but 3 runs in the 7th and a 2-run shot from Wood in the 8th put them ahead for good. In fact Wood was 4-5 and added an RBI triple for insurance in the 9th. Dunn also had a 3-run blast.

June 21: at Oakland 2-7 L. LP-Witt (2-6, 4.1 7 4 4 4 0). HR-Irish (5). An ugly game which got away from the Rays in the middle innings as Mercedes gave up 3 additional runs in relief.

June 22: at Oakland 2-4 L. LP-Strider (8-3, 5 4 3 3 2 8). HR-Bailey (6) Strider had a nightmare second in which he wild-pitched a pair of runs and hit a guy with the bases loaded, and that was too much for an anemic offense to overcome.

June 23: at Oakland 0-9 L. LP-McGee (8-3, 5 9 7 7 2 6). The good feelings from winning the big Baltimore series were a distant memory after the Rays were swept by a lousy Oakland team, scoring only four runs over three games. McGee had his worst game as a big leaguer, allowing a pair of homers to Oakland's Maximo Acosta, one of which was a grand slam in the first.

Team record: 45-33. Fortunately Baltimore lost 2 of 3 over the weekend so the Rays are 3 back of the Orioles. Next week: A welcome return home for 3 against Detroit and then 4 against Houston, which is an AL-best 50-27.

Players of the Week:

AL: Jackson Holliday (BAL), 10-22, 2 HR, 7 RBI
NL: Christopher Morel (SF), 12-31, 3 HR, 8 RBI

[Art Deco]

It's been a streaky season as the Rays look to three-peat, but they're still in good position at 48-33 as the standings indicate:



It looked as though Baltimore might run away with the division after Tampa Bay went into an early June swoon which included six straight losses but now it seems the Orioles are in a swoon of their own and the Rays are back even in the loss column and just a half-game behind in the standings.

And before we get into a look back at the first half, we swung a couple of big trades in the last couple of days:



The old saying "out of sight, out of mind" came into play here as we realized Carson Williams wasn't missed that much since we down with a sports hernia earlier this season. In his stead, Concetto Federico Bailey has played Gold Glove defense with just enough pop, which was Williams' M.O. until recently. It's a small sample but Williams' defense had tailed off a bit while he's become more injury-prone (he missed 50 games last year). Add all of this to the fact that he's a free agent at year's end and the decision was made to move him. Bailey will become the unquestioned starter and we have good prospects in the pipeline with Juan Trinidad (AAA) and Vincent Moreno (AA) behind him so it's a position of strength. So what did we get for Williams (and a B-/C+ "make it work" prospect in Duenes)? The #41 prospect in baseball in Sellers, who made his MLB debut with Miami this year (albeit a struggle at 183/311/317 in 60 AB) and has potential 70 contact and 60 power with 55/50 current ratings. He has the massive minor league numbers to back it up and is a 60 LF so he's nearly the complete package (he doesn't walk a lot). We don't need him at the MLB level now so he's off to Durham. But that's not it - we get a power-hitting 2B prospect in Ruckert who had 36 bombs in A ball last year and 17 between AA and AAA this season. He's rated 45/55 currently with 55/55 potential and is an adequate 2B who kind of reminds me of Brandon Lowe.



When shopping Wiliams Walters' name came up, and given the need for bullpen improvement I was intrigued. My AGM thinks I paid too high a price in Watson, but we have several enticing pitching prospects and he seemed the least of them. Walters was having an incredible season with Texas with a combined line of 21.1 8 0 0 8 30 and 15 saves (though somehow he had two losses, probably both ghost runners in the 10th) and saved 28 games for the Rangers last year (albeit with an inflated 4.98 ERA). He's rated 65/55/50 and will either set up Will Klein (struggling this year with a 5.70 ERA) or supplant him as closer.

So having improved the future and the present, here's how things look around MLB:



(I will talk more about Blake Dunn in a little bit).



As mentioned earlier it's been a streaky season with an amazing 25-7 start, followed by a run of mediocrity that included a 6-game losing streak amid a 3-12 stretch from late May to early June. The ship has been righted of late with wins in the last 9 of 13 games, and the hope is to re-take first from the Orioles. The team has been absolutely dominant at the Trop (32-11) and against lefties (15-3), the latter surprising given how many key regulars are lefties (Isaac, Taylor, Irish, and now Wood). The bats have been good but not great although there's a lot of power, and the Wood acquisition should definitely help there. But it's the pitching that's the crown jewel of the team even if the pen has been iffy (which hopefully the Walters deal remedies). The team defense has been mediocre despite being strong up the middle with Bailey and Meadows.



Well the story among position players is surely Dunn, already at 3 WAR at the season's midpoint. Of course the big story with him are the steals as having him run seems to be a cheat code with 65 steals and only 4 CS. He's on pace for exactly 130 steals, which is Rickey Henderson's MLB record, and I'm going to try and get him to break it. And like Rickey he can hit the longball as well with an impressive 13 homers. He's cooled some from a very hot start but has picked it up of late again. Elsewhere Caminero has bounced back from a disappointing 2029 to have a big season in his walk year and Taylor has picked up where he left in 2029 in his first full season as a regular. We need more out of Isaac though - he's been productive in the HR/RBI department but he's not getting on base enough and doesn't offer anything else of course. Montgomery was a great waiver pickup although he's cooled considerably of late as well.



Whenever your entire five-man rotation is on pace for at least 3 WAR apiece you know you're in great shape on the mound. And they've been led by Strider, who's bounced back from some injury-plagued years to become the AL Cy Young frontrunner as he's been dominating on a regular basis this year. That leaves the bullpen, where lefties Hennen and Moran have been good (as has been setup man Maldonado) but Klein has had a very shaky year closing and while his control has never been good it's been downright abysmal this year, hence the deal for Walters.



At first glance this prospect list doesn't look terribly impressive, but I like the system a lot more than OOTP does and there are some guys who aren't showing like the newly-acquired Sellers who was ranked #41 but apparently is gone now that he was up with Miami, and David Suastegui, who was acquired from Boston earlier this year and briefly up and who has 4-star and 70/55 potential as a hitter. There are a lot of players at Durham who are MLB-ready or near-ready and I really like our organizational depth. Also the two guys at the top (Cuebas and Varela) are tearing up the DSL as it's so far, so good with them.

[Art Deco]

June 24: vs Detroit 7-2 W. WP-H.Smith (6-3, 6 2 0 0 3 7). Smith was sensational and a 16-hit attack which saw six Rays with multiple knocks. Taylor had a pair of RBI doubles while Meadows and Cermak were each 2-4 with a ribbie.

June 25: vs Detroit 2-1 W. WP-Sheehan (6-1, 6 2 0 0 2 5). S-Klein (13). Another great effort from a starter secured a win. Irish doubled in a run and Cermak drew a bases-loaded walk in the 8th which proved to be the difference after Klein allowed a homer in the 9th.

June 26: vs Detroit 7-0 W. WP-T.Witt (3-6, 6 4 0 0 4 5). Rays completed the sweep of Detroit with yet more outstanding pitching, and some solid offense including a 2-run double from Wood and a 2-run single by Bailey.

June 27: vs Houston 5-2 W. WP-Strider (9-3, 6 3 0 0 3 6). S-Klein (14). HR-Taylor (18), Irish (6), A.Ramirez (7). After sweeping Detroit without homering the Rays hit 3 today to back Strider's latest dominant outing.

June 28: vs Houston 3-1 W. WP-McGee (9-3, 5 3 0 0 1 11). S-Klein (15). HR-Caminero (13). The pitching - it's good! McGee completed a rotation turn which saw all five starters go without allowing a run. Caminero's 2-run homer in the first sent them on the way and would be all they'd need.

June 29: vs Houston 2-1 W. WP-Walters (1-0). Starter-H.Smith (6.1 1 1 1 3 11). HR-Montgomery (10/13). Well a starter finally gave up a run but it was another truly overwhelming outing and Montgomery walked it off with a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th.

June 30: vs Houston 4-2 W. WP-Sheehan (7-1, 5.1 4 2 2 2 5). S-Klein (16). HR-Doughty (6). The Rays completed another sweep, this time a 4-game version, and finished off a perfect week at home in which they outscored the opposition 30-9. Not sure anyone's had this great a week of pitching. Doughty's 2-run homer in the 4th put them ahead for good.

Team record: 52-33. Not only did the Rays have a perfect week, Baltimore went 1-5 so Tampa Bay is now 2 1/2 games in front in the AL East. Next week: after a travel day a west coast swing with 3 in Anaheim against the Angels and 3 in Seattle.

Blake Dunn SB Update: He's now up to 67.

Players of the Week:

AL: Jordan Lawlar (SEA), 10-21, 4 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Yanquil Fernandez (COL), 13-26, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Players of the Month (June):

AL Batter: Rafael Devers (BOS), .373-7-24
NL Batter: Brock Jones (STL), .345-10-28
AL Pitcher: Ian Anderson (CLE), 4-0, 1.27, 32 K in 35.1 IP
NL Pitcher: Felix Bautista (LA), 2-0, 7 SV, 0.00 ERA, 19 K in 11.2 IP
AL Rookie: Zion Theopulis (NY), 3-0, 1.85, 29 K in 24.1 IP
NL Rookie: Calvin Ziegler (LA), 3-1, 3.18, 45 K in 34 IP

MLB News: The Dodgers' Mookie Betts got career hit #2500, the Mets' Jett Williams tore his quad and will miss 5 weeks, and Boston's Drew Waters hit for the cycle as part of a 6-for-6 performance in a 17-7 win over Baltimore, driving in five.

[Art Deco]

July 1: Off-Day.

July 2: at LA Angels 7-1 W. WP-T.Witt (4-6, 6 4 1 1 2 2). HR-B.Taylor 2 (20), Bailey (7). Taylor hit a pair of 2-run homers which bookended the Rays' scoring, Bailey was 3-4 with a homer and 2 RBI and Witt was solid as they won easily.

July 3: at LA Angels 6-5 W. WP-Kerkering (3-0). S-Klein (17). Starter-Strider (2.2 1 0 0 0 3). HR-B.Taylor (21), Cermak (18). The Angels scored 5 in the 6th to erase a 3-0 Tampa Bay lead, but Cermak's 2-run shot in the 8th tied it and Taylor hit his third in two games, going back-to-back to win it. As you can see Strider had to leave early but it's not that serious, a herniated disc that will keep him out the better part of two weeks.

Transaction: Spencer Strider goes on the 15-day IL with his disc issue and 31-year-old Japanese pitcher Hiroshi Fujimoto is called up from Durham after spending the last year and a half in our MiLB system. With off-days in the offing, we'll go with a 4-man rotation for now.

July 4: at LA Angels 5-6 L. LP-Klein (1-5). Starter-McGee (6.1 6 1 1 1 8). HR-B.Taylor (22), P.Meadows (3), Dunn (14). After coming back late yesterday it was the Rays' turn to collapse and boy did they ever, losing a 5-0 lead by allowing 3 in the 7th and 3 more in the 9th off Klein, who blew his 6th save of the season. It may not be long before Walters (still unscored upon this season) takes over the closing gig.

July 5: at Seattle 1-3 L. LP-H.Smith (6-4, 5 3 2 2 3 5). HR-Bailey (8). Rays couldn't get anything going offensively outside of Bailey's homer and they took another loss.

July 6: at Seattle 0-1 L. LP-Sheehan (7-2, 6 2 1 0 1 6). The bats were AWOL again as the Rays dropped their third straight, losing on an unearned run.

July 7: at Seattle 8-5 W. WP-T.Witt (5-6, 5 6 3 3 0 4). S-Klein (18). HR-A.Ramirez 2 (9), Cermak (19). The bats came back with a vengeance, and the catcher Ramirez had a monster game with an RBI single, a solo homer in the 8th and a 2-run shot in the 9th, providing necessary insurance when Seattle got within 3 in the bottom of the inning. Dunn stole two more bases and is now up to 71, a little off Rickey's pace as he's projected for 126 now.

Team record: 55-36, 1 1/2 games up on Baltimore. Next week: An off-day to fly back home from out west and then we'll head into the All-Star break playing 3 against Pittsburgh and 3 big ones against Baltimore here. Also the Amateur Draft will be coming up during the week.

Players of the Week:

AL: Royce Lewis (MIN), 11-26, 4 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Matt Olson (ATL), 12-29, 4 HR, 7 RBI