No More Devil in Tampa Bay Rays

Originally Posted on 2/10/08

Series of Team Overviews for 2008; Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have made quite a few changes this off-season, the most recognizable one starting with the change of their name. Since their very first season in 1998, Tampa Bay was known as the Devil Rays but after 10 seasons and 10 losing years, Tampa Bay decided to take the Devil out of their name and are now known as the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays also traded away two former top prospects that both played roles in 2008 on the Major League squad with the departures of Delmon Young (traded to Minnesota) and Elijah Dukes (traded to Washington). Both had been looked at as "Devils" in their own right with trouble off the field and in Delmon Young's case, even trouble on the field. You might remember the story from a couple of seasons ago when a minor league player threw a bat at an umpire, yep that was Young. But both are exceptional talents, especially Young who brought young arm Matt Garza to the Rays from Minnesota.

The Rays may not be a playoff contender yet but they have a great farm system and some stars in the making on the Major League Roster which means no team will have it easy against Tampa Bay this year.

Let's look a little further into the Rays roster of talent; Tampa Bay is building with great pieces at the infield corners, possibly the most athletic outfield in baseball and some great young arms in the rotation and veterans in the pen. The Rays will have Carlos Pena playing 1b (the same Pena that knocked 46 HR's in 2007) and potential rookie of the year candidate Evan Longoria starting at 3b. The outfield has speedsters with pop at every position, Carl Crawford in LF, converted infielder, B.J. Upton in CF and oft-injured Rocco Baldelli starting in RF. For insurance purposes, the Rays signed veteran Cliff Floyd in case Baldelli can't play everyday. In all, the Rays are legitimate threats to score 5 to 6 runs a game and win more ballgames then they ever have (not to hard since the current high is 70 wins in 2004).

On the pitching side, the Rays have typically been no less than horrible, that is except for Scott Kazmir and James Shields who have led the rotation in recent years. But Kazmir and Shields haven't been enough. However, this is all about to change. In trading Young and acquiring Matt Garza, the Rays give themselves a solid #3 starter and will let a group of young arms compete for the coveted fourth and fifth spots in the rotation. Leading contenders include Edwin Jackson, Andy Sonnanstine and even younger arms Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann. So 2008 will be a little shaky for the back-end of the rotation but on the way are three of the best top pitchers in all of minor league baseball with David Price, Wade Davis and Jack McGee.

The bullpen has long time closer and veteran Troy Percival (signed this off-season) joining Al Reyes and Dan Wheeler (acquired late in 2007 from Houston for Ty Wiggington) and possible other arms Trevor Miller, Grant Balfour (funny pitching name), Gary Glover and those that don't make the rotation.

Projected Lineup:
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2b
2. Rocco Baldelli, RF
3. Carl Crawford, LF
4. Carlos Pena, 1b
5. B.J. Upton, CF
6. Evan Longoria, 3b
7. Jonny Gomes / Cliff Floyd, DH
8. Dioneer Navarro, C
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Final Five:

1. Fantasy Value: The Rays have lots of value and value that may come cheap in auction drafts. This team has plenty of players that could hit anywhere from 15-25 HR's and steal over 20-25 bases with Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton and Baldelli. Pena hit over 40 HR's in 2007 and led the team in RBI's with 121. Then you have Longoria who could be the next David Wright or Ryan Braun. Splitting closing duties will most likely be Percival and Al Reyes and on the starting side, you can't go wrong with strikeout pitcher Scott Kazmir or other solid arms in Shields and Garza.

2. Most Likely to be traded: Down the stretch as the Rays promote younger talent, you may see names like Gomes, Floyd, Bartlett and some lesser valued starters like Hammel and Niemann moving but health will probably play a bigger role. There are always rumors of Crawford moving but I think Tampa Bay would be crazy to move him!

3. Break-out player for 2008: This will be the year of Longoria but next year will be pitchers making a splash in Tampa Bay

4. Farm Top Five: See Longoria above (potential ROY candidate at 3b), future starters, David Price, Jake McGee and Wade Davis and lastly, the future starting SS, Reid Brignac.

5. 2008 Prediction: 74-88, 4th place in the AL East and the Rays best record ever