The Rays made a long-awaited commerce from their rotation depth final week after they packaged left-hander Jeffrey Springs and reliever Jacob Lopez in a cope with the A’s that introduced again right-hander Joe Boyle, two minor leaguers, and a decide in Aggressive Stability Spherical A of the 2025 draft. Previous to that deal, Springs was seen alongside right-hander Zack Littell as the 2 probably Rays hurlers to be moved this winter. Now that Springs is off the board, nonetheless, ESPN’s Jeff Passan means that the Rays are “much less possible” to half with Littell this winter.
That’s not precisely stunning. In any case, whereas the Rays have a substantial rotation surplus with various glorious potential arms, these arms typically include query marks. Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen will each have not too long ago returned from elbow surgical procedure and will see their innings managed, whereas kids like Shane Baz, Ryan Pepiot, and Taj Bradley have by no means even thrown 150 innings in a giant league season earlier than of their careers. That leaves Littell, who threw 156 1/3 innings of labor throughout 29 begins for the Rays final 12 months, as probably the membership’s most sturdy arm headed into 2025. Given the frequency with which pitchers get harm within the fashionable recreation, having a sixth starter locked and loaded is hardly a foul concept in case of accidents for any membership, to say nothing of the worth it may present a membership with a rotation that sports activities as many damage dangers because the Rays’ does.
In fact, it’s unattainable to rule out a commerce utterly when discussing a participant with only one 12 months remaining earlier than free company on the Rays. The membership’s entrance workplace sometimes makes an attempt to money of their gamers on the commerce market earlier than they attain free company, and even when Littell begins the season with the Rays a midseason commerce can’t be dominated out. With that stated, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions not too long ago advised that the membership could be kind of completed making strikes after dealing Springs and including Danny Jansen in free company. One place Topkin suggests the membership may look to make an addition is within the outfield, significantly if a lefty bat have been to fall into the membership’s lap in free company or through commerce. Topkin makes explicit point out of Joc Pederson and Jurickson Profar as hypothetical choices, although he’s fast to notice that both participant would absolutely have to see their market in free company crater earlier than they’d turn into practical choices for the Rays as issues stand.
A extra possible end result in Topkin’s view appears to be going with inside choices. That would embody giving infielder José Caballero a critical look within the outfield. With Josh Lowe locked into one beginning outfield spot and a few mixture of Jonny DeLuca, Christopher Morel, and Richie Palacios slated to deal with the remainder of the taking part in time on the grass as issues stand, mixing Caballero in would give the membership extra depth within the outfield ought to they fail to make an exterior addition. It’s straightforward to think about Caballero’s sturdy glove at shortstop translating pretty effectively to the outfield grass, and getting a speedster who stole an AL-best 44 bases in simply 483 plate appearances final 12 months into the lineup extra usually may assist to spark the membership’s offense. With that being stated, Caballero’s .227/.283/.347 (83 wRC+) slash line final 12 months possible isn’t sufficient to make it as an outfield common until he proves to be a plus defensive choice in heart.
Turning to off-the-field issues, Topkin additionally experiences that the membership at the moment has no plans to put in a GM beneath president of baseball operations Erik Neander. Present Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix served as GM of the Rays beneath Neander earlier than taking his present gig with Miami final winter, however Topkin means that the membership’s present arrange of two vice presidents and 4 assistant GMs serving as Neander’s prime lieutenants fits the Rays simply fantastic and that Bendix’s title will stay unfilled for the foreseeable future.
