Tampa Bay Rays
2010 Record: 96-66
815 RS, 670 RA, Pythagorean Record: 97-65
Manager: Joe Madden
GM: Andrew Friedman
Free Agents:
Johnny Damon, OF (1, $5.25MM); Kyle Fransworth, RP (1O, $3.25MM; $6MM Club Option); J.P. Howell, RP (1, $1.1MM); Joel Peralta, RP (1, $900k); Manny Ramirez, DH (1, $2MM).
Minor League FA:
Jonah Bayliss, P; Chris Bootcheck, P; Matt Bush, P; Russ Canzler, 3B; Chris Carter, OF; Keith Castillo, C; Juan Cruz, P; Rich de los Santos, P; J.J. Furmaniak, 2B; Edgar Gonzalez, P; Dirk Hayhurst, P; Joe Inglett, 2B; Casey Kotchman, 1B; Drew Leary, P; Felipe Lopez, SS; Daniel Mayora, SS; Lucas Montero, OF; Ray Olmedo, SS; Justin Ruggiano, OF; R.J. Swindle, P; Cory Wade, P.
Rule V Pick:
Cesar Cabral, P (Red Sox)*.
* Placed on waivers and claimed by the Blue Jays; we was waived again and claimed by the Rays. Returned to the Red Sox.
Trades:
Received Chris Archer (P), Robinson Chirinos (C), Sam Fuld (OF), Brandon Guyer (OF), and Hak-Ju Lee (SS) from the Cubs for Matt Garza (SP), Fernando Perez (OF), and Zach Rosscup (P); Received Cole Figueroa (2B), Brandon Gomes (P), Cesar Ramos (RP), and Adam Russell (RP) from the Padres for Jason Bartlett (SS) and a player to be named later.
Waiver Claims:
Rob Delaney, RP (from the Twins).
Players Lost:
Winston Abreu, P; Drew Anderson, 2B; Willy Aybar, 3B; Kyle Ayers, P; Rocco Baldelli, OF; Grant Balfour, P; Joe Bateman, P; Joaquin Benoit, P; Wade Broyles, P; Garret Carruth, P; Angel Chavez, 3B; Randy Choate, P; Alvin Colina, C; Ruben Contreras, OF; Lance Cormier, P; Carl Crawford, OF; Jason Cromer, P; Chris de la Cruz, SS; Joe Dillon, 2B; Darin Downs, P; Rashad Eldridge, OF; Matt Fields, 1B; Mike Folli, 3B; Devin Fuller, P; Geno Glynn, 3B; Brian Harris, 2B; Brad Hawpe, OF; Tyree Hayes, P; Carlos Hernandez, P; Gabe Kapler, OF; Bobby Livingston, P; Yorman Mayora, P; Ryan McCrann, 1B; Dioner Navarro, C; Rayner Oliveros, P; Ramon Ortiz, P; Elias Otero, 2B; Carlos Pena, 1B; Heath Phillips, P; Chad Qualls, P; Robinson Reyes, P; Burt Reynolds, OF; Chris Richard, 1B; Aneury Rodriguez, P; Ryan Royster, OF; Jose Ruiz, 1B; Brian Shouse, P; Miguel Sierra, P; Rafael Soriano, P; Matt Spring, C; Dale Thayer, P; Virgil Vasquez, P; Dan Wheeler, P; Ryan Wiegand, 1B; Zane Williams, C; Pete Woodworth, P.
Top 15 Prospects
1. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP
2. Matt Moore, LHP
3. Desmond Jennings, OF
4. Jake McGee, LHP
5. Chris Archer, RHP
6. Josh Sale, OF
7. Alex Colome, RHP
8. Hak-Ju Lee, SS
9. Alex Torres, LHP
10. Justin O’Connor, C
11. Nick Barnese, RHP
12. Enny Romero, LHP
13. Jake Thompson, RHP
14. Alex Cobb, RHP
15. Drew Vettleson, OF
Like the Rays systems of the last few years, this one is stacked. Jeremy Hellickson is the top pitching prospect in the game and expected to make a splash this year. As more pitchers get moved (like Matt Garza this off season), they’ll continue to plug in new ones. Matt Moore looks like a front of the rotation pitcher, and Alex Colome and Nick Barnese could join him if they can harness their stuff. Chris Archer and Jake McGee could both be closers. Top fielding prospect Desmond Jennings will help absorb the loss of Carl Crawford.
2010 Review:
Tampa had a very solid season. They integrated young players (Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, Jennings) with their core of veterans. They made the playoffs for the second time in 3 years (or the second time in franchise history if you aren’t a fan of the organization), although they were bounced quickly.
Garza had an up and down season, with the high being a no-hitter. Rotation-mate David Price had his breakout year, winning 19 games and being second in Cy Young voting. Closer Rafael Soriano notched 45 saves.
The hitting was just as good. Evan Longoria continued to establish himself as one of the top third basemen in the game. Crawford his 19 homers while stealing 47 bases and batting over .300.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Carlos Pena continued to play everyday even though he hit an unreal .196 in 582 plate appearances with a .750 OPS. Luckily his power stayed in check (28 homers, which led the team).
2011 Preview:
Things won’t go so easily this season for the Rays. Top offensive threat Crawford headed across the division to the Red Sox. He’s going to be replaced by the aging Johnny Damon. To address their lack of DH, they brought in Damon’s former teammate Manny Ramirez; there aren’t concerns about his attitude with Joe Madden running the team.
The other area of concern is the bullpen; they lost the 6 guys who pitched the most games out of the ‘pen, including closer Soriano. They are replacing them with free agents Kyle Farnsworth and Joel Peralta and tradees Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos. They are also hoping a minor league free agent or 2 catches on.
Overall, the team did little to replace the players they lost, so I don’t see another post season appearance in their near future.
From the Bloggers:
Ben Ice, Rays Colored Glasses: The Tampa Bay Rays are in a typical spot in the mind of baseball experts. After losing key players Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano and most of their bullpen the word being used is “rebuilding.” After watching how the Tampa front office works, opponents might want to strongly consider the word “reloading.”
Yes, Crawford will be sorely missed, as will Soriano. Carlos Pena on the other hand could easily be replaced by Dan Johnson, and the Rays aren’t sitting on their hands and praying. They brought in a bunch of players, including local product Casey Kotchman, who will compete with Johnson and Cuban defector Leslie Anderson for the starting gig, and won’t hesitate to scour the waiver wire for under-appreciated players.
Everyone knew Crawford was leaving. Matt Joyce, uber-prospect Desmond Jennings and cagey veteran Johnny Damon will fill the void in the outfield. They’ll miss Crawford on the basepaths, at least until June when Jennings, if ready, gets the call.
The rotation will likely be one of the best in the league, and the additon of Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta, Adam Russell, Caeser Ramos and Rob Delaney actually look better top to bottom than last year’s crew, sans the fireballing Soriano. If youngster Jake McGee can take the heat (we know he can throw it) and allow manager Joe Maddon to keep Farnsworth out of high leverage innings, the Rays could be contending with Boston this year for the AL East crown.
Baseball Prospectus aside, don’t count the Tampa Bay Rays out. A motivated Manny Ramirez, clubhouse leader Johnny Damon and the always eclectic and imaginative Maddon could have them firing on all cylinders in 2011.
Prediction:
3rd Place