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.