On March 30, the 2023 MLB season will kick off. We are therefore embarking on a long marathon to see if the Astros will be dethroned at the end of the race.
After the Orioles yesterday, on the menu today: the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 2022, the Rays did what they do best: they found a way to win games even without betting on a ton of top players. Once again, Kevin Cash found a way to maximize his men’s input and put them in the right chair to make them shine.
That said, the club’s run in the playoffs ended quickly, as the offense completely disappeared against the Guardians’ excellent pitchers. You won’t often win with a single run in 24 innings…
Again, then, despite a great regular season, the Rays weren’t able to take the next step and have a long run in the playoffs like the one in the fall of 2020. That said , considering the means at hand, the 2022 season will not have been bad: it will simply not have been excellent.
Additions/departures
The Rays have never been big spenders in the free agency market, and while there hasn’t been a big splash this winter yet, the Florida outfit have spoiled themselves with a nice signing in Zach Eflin, who joins the club for the next three years.
Without being an ace pitcher, the Orlando native should take advantage of the Rays’ black magic on their pitchers and he will solidify the rotation behind Shane McClanahan and Tyler Glasnow. He’s not a bad mid-rotation starter, far from it.
That said, the list of players who left is much longer. Of the lot, we find Kevin Kiermaier, the face of the franchise for a few years, who will continue his career on the side of Toronto.
Corey Kluber (Red Sox), Mike Zunino (Guardians), Ryan Yarbrough (Royals) and Nick Anderson (Braves) are also among the guys who left, as was David Peralta (Dodgers), acquired at the latest trade deadline .
Ji-Man Choi has also packed his bags in the direction of Pittsburgh.
Strengths weaknesses
On paper, the Rays don’t look like a superpower. That said, everywhere in the roster of 26 players, there is enough talent for the team to do well.
As for hitting, Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe will need to stay healthy to lead the club’s offense. Guys like Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena are also able to contribute, as are Harold Ramirez and Isaac Paredes.
As I told you, there isn’t really a superstar, but it’s a group that has a certain depth.
The rotation is very solid though. In addition to McClanahan, Glasnow and Eflin, we will find Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs regularly on the mound.
Also, Shane Baz could return from his Tommy John operation towards the end of the season and youngsters like Luis Patino and Taj Bradley could cloud the issue. The Rays aren’t lacking in starters.
The next generation, meanwhile, is also strong again with a view to 2023. Pete Fairbanks, Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, Garrett Cleavinger, Ryan Thompson and Colin Poche form a very strong group that Andrew Kittredge should join in the coming months, he who is also recovering from his Tommy John operation.
What to expect in 2023?
It’s a bit of Groundhog Day in Tampa Bay: again, the club doesn’t look like a superpower, but somehow Kevin Cash will find a way to them. put in the right chair to help them perform.
Never bet against the Rays, as they say.
That said, I doubt the team has done enough to improve offensively, and despite the depth of good hitters, there is a lack of great hitters in this group.
And defensively, the fact that the special defense is now banned could affect the team, which has often used it in recent years. The loss of Kevin Kiermaier, who was the face of the club, could also hurt.
They’ll obviously be in the thick of the playoff race, but with teams like the Orioles, Angels and Rangers pushing, they’ll have to keep finding ways to win.
Otherwise, they might miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018…
