Tampa Bay Rays Deadline Moves Made a Dangerous (and Complete) Roster
If you ask anyone around the game, they’ll tell you the Rays deadline moves this year were mostly future-oriented. The “sale” returned a pretty good haul back considering the talent they shipped off. However, a deeper look shows that it wasn’t a complete selloff, but rather a mix of buying hidden amongst their selling.
Wow:
Austin Meadows is slugging .468, only 23.
Tyler Glasnow 11.6 k/9, only 24. #Rays get a LOT…..— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) July 31, 2018
The Rays have a better 25 man roster than they had prior to the deadline, and their future is brighter than the rays on their caps. Let’s take a look at their formidable roster, which boasts both major-league ready talent and potential.
The Infield
Tampa Bay fields one of the more underrated infields in the league. At first, they have rookie slugger Jake Bauers, who currently owns a .831 OPS. Manning second is Daniel Robertson, ranking 7th in WAR amongst all second baseman in the league. Their definitive shortstop (after DFAing the struggling Adeiny Hechavarria) is top prospect Willy Adames, and at third is Matt Duffy, sporting a nice .304 batting average.
The team also has Christian Arroyo, Joey Wendle, and Ji Man Choi to give them stellar infield depth. And their DH, CJ Cron, has 22 home runs this year. All of the infielders listed are 28 years old or younger.
Tampa Bay did trade their All-Star catcher, Wilson Ramos, but in a small sample size, Michael Perez has shown flashes of brilliance, sporting an .801 OPS through his first 8 Major League games. His early performance is promising for a catcher who had a .342 on base percentage in Triple A this year. As for the future at the position, they also have Ronaldo Hernandez raking at Single A, batting .295/.344/.528 with 18 homeruns and 69 RBI’s.
The Outfield
So the Rays already had a strong infield, and they used the deadline to strengthen their outfield, an area which they ranked 22nd in WAR. They added Tommy Pham, who isn’t having his best year, but has huge potential, coming off a year where he hit .306 with 23 homers and 73 RBI’s. He still has a respectable 14 dingers with 41 RBI’s this year, and he brings a solid veteran presence to flank Kevin Kierameir in center, whose injury-riddled season contributed to the outfield’s underperformance.
The Rays did lose a quality starting pitcher by dealing Chris Archer to the Pirates, but in return they received Austin Meadows, one of the most promising young hitters in baseball. In 49 games at the major league level, Meadows raked a .292/.327/.468 line. With the speedy Malex Smith (who is 15th in the AL in slugging since the All Star break), the Rays already have a very solid outfield.
The Pitching Staff
Included in the Archer deal was Tyler Glasnow, who while still developing, has a dominant 11.6 K/9. Glasnow racked up 5 strikeouts in 3 innings in his Rays debut, flashing his electric fastball. He then backed that up with 9 K’s in 4 innings in his second start. Jalen Beeks, the 25 year old lefty who they received from Boston in the Nathan Eovaldi deal, delivered 5 innings of 2 run ball behind Glasnow in that first game.
The Rays’ rotation will probably need the most time for improvement, as most of their future starters are coming back from injury. Brent Honeywell, who was regarded as one of the league’s best pitching prospects before undergoing Tommy John surgery in February, has resumed throwing recently. And Jose De Leon, a former top prospect in his own right, is also throwing a baseball again. Add these names to a rotation featuring All Star Blake Snell and Jake Faria, and you have the pieces to a very competitive starting staff.
With a staff filled plagued by injuries, a reliable bullpen is necessary, and luckily the Rays have just that, as they’ve relied on “openers” many times this year, and the result is a pitching staff that ranks tenth in ERA.
Ryne Stanek, who averages a 97 mph fastball, and is Sean Morash’s favorite player, owns a 2.36 ERA over 42 innings. Jose Alvarez, just 23, has a 2.40 ERA in 45 innings. Ryan Yarbrough has 10 wins pitching mostly out of the pen. Sergio Romo can get a crucial out, play third, then move back to the mound to get a save. Kevin Cash has utilized this innovative pitching staff brilliantly, and by continuing these tactics, the Rays figure to continue to manage their young starters’ innings to help prevent any future injury.
Essentially, the Rays already have a good team, but they also have the foundation to become a dominant ball club. While the future of their rotation is unpredictable, their revolutionary “bullpening” may give their young starters the support they need. Mix that with the formidable lineup they’ve assembled, and you have a team that can be ready to compete with their big brothers in the AL East as soon as next year.
