Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander not too long ago held his finish of season press convention, the place he indicated that the membership figures to prioritize enhancing behind the plate after an 80-82 season that noticed them stave off elimination from postseason competition till the ultimate week of September regardless of partaking in a significant sell-off previous to the commerce deadline. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions relayed a few of Neander’s feedback from the tip of season presser, the place he discusses the choice to promote over the summer season and the membership’s future headed into 2025.
When discussing his choice to dump key, controllable items like outfielder Randy Arozarena and third baseman Isaac Paredes at this summer season’s commerce deadline, Neander readily acknowledge the likelihood that the membership could have been in a position to cobble collectively sufficient additional wins to sneak into the postseason had they determined towards promoting. With that being mentioned, Neander provided a significant signal for optimism headed into the approaching winter: After reducing greater than a 3rd of the membership’s anticipated payroll commitments for 2025 off the books over the summer season (with Topkin suggesting that $45MM in 2025 {dollars} got here off the books previous to the deadline), the Rays now have a wholesome quantity of economic flexibility with which to function this winter.
It’s a significant change from simply final offseason, when the membership needed to half methods with costly veterans Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot with a view to get payroll throughout the membership’s small market funds. This winter, not solely is the same cost-cutting dump not needed, however Topkin suggests the membership may have some room to make additions this winter. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz tasks Tampa’s 12-man arbitration class to make a mixed $25.6MM in 2025. Even when Tampa retains every of these gamers and workouts Brandon Lowe’s $10.5MM membership possibility for subsequent yr, RosterResource means that would go away them with just below $75MM on the books for subsequent yr. That’s $14MM beneath the membership’s 2024 mark, $4MM beneath the place the membership ended up in 2023, and $11MM beneath their 2022 determine.
That must be greater than sufficient payroll flexibility for the Rays to handle their acknowledged precedence this winter of enhancing behind the plate. Ben Rortvedt figures to stay in place as a member of the catching tandem after an honest season the place he posted a wRC+ of 87 whereas taking part in strong however unspectacular protection behind the plate. Discovering a right-handed catcher to enhance the lefty swinging Rortvedt, although Topkin cautions that the membership is prone to give attention to short-term options behind the plate given their perception in teen Dom Keegan. The 24-year-old was chosen by the Rays within the fourth spherical of the 2022 draft and since then has made it to Double-A, right here he hit a formidable .285/.371/.435 in 104 video games this yr.
Topkin notes that with Keegan set to start the 2025 marketing campaign in Triple-A and the opportunity of him rising as an possibility behind the plate as quickly as this season, Neander and his entrance workplace seemingly view Keegan as a possible long-term reply behind the plate. A very good center floor for the membership might be pursuing an older catcher who could be extra open to a one-year deal comparable to Elias Diaz or Kyle Higashioka. The addition of both participant would offer the membership with a strong platoon companion for Rortvedt whereas not blocking Keegan in the long term.
Apart from upgrading behind the plate, Topkin provides that Neander plans to search for methods to handle the membership’s lackluster offense. The membership’s 95 wRC+ was good for simply twenty third within the majors this yr, and their offensive flaws have been additional uncovered by the truth that the workforce scored simply 604 runs this yr, lower than any membership besides the traditionally unhealthy White Sox. Whereas that dearth of runs appears to recommend that the membership must look to make vital modifications to the offense, Neander really prompt that he hopes the membership can enhance its offense internally.
There’s some logic to that, as offensive stalwart Yandy Diaz obtained off to a chilly begin in 2024 earlier than heating up and rebounding with a powerful second half, whereas Christopher Morel struggled badly in his first half-season of labor away from Chicago after being dealt by the Cubs within the Paredes commerce. Extra typical seasons from Diaz and Morel, in addition to a powerful first 162-game marketing campaign from thrilling teen Junior Caminero, might increase the membership’s offense in a rush. Even so, nevertheless, it’s straightforward to think about the membership profit a fantastic deal from an exterior improve to the lineup at a place comparable to shortstop, the place each Jose Caballero and Taylor Partitions clocked in effectively beneath league common this yr.
