With spring training underway for the Tampa Bay Rays, the countdown is on till opening day on March 28th, when the Rays will open the 2024 season against the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was another off-season of roster turnover, as the Rays philosophy of acquiring young players with low salaries and trading them when their salary is too high for the Rays to pay was on full display again this winter.
In December, the Rays traded fan favorite Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manual Margot to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In return, the Rays acquired pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Johnny DeLuca. Pepiot is expected to challenge for a spot in the rotation.
Then, in early January, the Rays acquired infielder Jose Caballero from Seattle in exchange for OF/1B Luke Raley. Caballero’s natural position is second base, but with the unresolved Wander Franco situation, Caballero is expected to compete for and win the starting job at shortstop.
The Rays also parted ways with pitcher Calvin Faucher and infielder Vidal Brujan in a trade with the Miami Marlins. The Rays picked up prospects Erick Lara and pitcher Andrew Lindsey, along with a player to be named later and some cash in the deal.
As frustrating as this philosophy has been for the fans, it is a winning formula for the Rays. The Rays have made the playoffs five straight seasons and have been to one World Series.
Just days before spring training officially opened, the Rays extended the contracts of Manager Kevin Cash and Baseball Operations President Erik Neander, two architects behind the success of the Rays. No terms were available on the extensions, but Cash and Neander will be with the Rays after the move to the new stadium in 2028.
On paper, the Rays appear thin at catcher, with Rene Pinto as the only catcher on the roster. But the Rays are rolling the dice on Pinto to be the number one catcher. Pinto hit .252 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 38 games last season.
The Rays do not have a lot of depth in the minor leagues. If Pinto falters, Alex Jackson will get the first chance to make the team as the backup to Pinto.
Jackson was acquired at the trade deadline last season in another one of those under-the-radar moves. Jackson was the number six overall pick in 2014 and has appeared in just 66 games in his MLB career. The Rays like his power and defensive skills despite his .141 career batting average.
With Taylor Walls out and still recovering from surgery, he will not be ready for opening day. The Wander Franco saga continues in the Dominican Republic, and there is the possibility that Franco may never suit up for the Rays again.
The Rays felt they needed to go and get someone who could play shortstop, and that’s what they did with the trade for Jose Cabellero.
Kevin Cash reiterated that when he spoke with the media this past week. “Certainly, he’s going to play short for us. He hasn’t had the reps just because they’ve had a good shortstop in Seattle, but he’s played enough second base, third base, and shortstop coming up that we feel confident that he’ll be a good defender over there.”
Oslevis Basabe and Curtis Mead will also get a look at shortstop as the backup to Cabellero. Cabellero hit .221 with four homers in 231 at-bats last season.
The Rays also signed Amed Rosario for depth purposes. Rosario will not be the everyday shortstop but help the offense against left-handers. Rosario is expected to play shortstop, second base, and corner outfield positions. Rosario is a lifetime .298 hitter against lefties.
The rotation will be a work in progress as the season moves along. The first three spots in the rotation are set with Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, and Zack Littell. If Ryan Pepiot and Taj Bradley can put a good spring together, they will start the season as the number four and five starters.
Bradley had an inconsistent rookie season in 2023, but the Rays hope he will be more consistent this season. “We’re all excited to see Pepiot, who he is and what he brings,” Kevin Cash said. “And we want to see what Taj can do and if he can take another step.”
If Pepiot or Bradley falter, the depth is thin, but the Rays have a few pitchers they can call. Naoyuki Uwasawa, a three-time All-Star in Japan, is on a minor league contract with the Rays. Jacob Waguespack, who played in Japan the last two seasons as a reliever, could also be added to the roster.
Shane Baz is expected to begin the season in extended spring training as he returns from Tommy John surgery.
Jeffrey Springs is slated for a July or August return, and Drew Rasmussen is not expected back until late in the season.
Shane McClanahan is out for the season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
The Rays added some bullpen depth, singing Phil Maton to a one-year deal worth $6.25 million plus a second-year option for $7.75 million.
Maton is excited to be a member of the Rays. “You hear nothing but great things. In baseball, whenever you hear good things about organizations, it really spreads. It was a no-brainer once things started connecting here with the Rays that this was going to be a good place to go.”
After two successful seasons with the Astros, Maton will be used primarily in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings and will pitch against right and left-handed batters.
The Rays will open up Grapefruit League play Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.