Despite the losses of Joe Maddon, Andrew Friedman, Wil Myers, Ryan Hannigan, and Matt Joyce, the Rays could still very much be contenders to make the playoffs in 2015. Unlike other teams that are reconstructing their roster/front office, Tampa Bay has plenty of depth both in the front office and on the field. Even with guys like Myers and Joyce departing, the Rays still have 5 (maybe 6) solid starters out of the 9 on the field. Also, the newly hired Rays manager, Kevin Cash, could very well be a great fit in navy blue and white.
For the team’s first 8 seasons in existence, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays did not see a winning season, but then prior to the 2008 season, the principal owner, Stuart Sternberg changed the name of the team from the Devil Rays to just the Rays, which gave the team a whole new flavor causing them to make it all the way to the WS in 2008. The man who studied under Sternberg was former Rays GM, Andrew Friedman, who has now left to join the Dodgers front office. That loss hurts, but the leader, Stuart, is still there along with President Brian Auld and President of Baseball Operations Mathew Silverman, who both have learned a lot from Sternberg. After Joe Maddon opted out of his contract to go manage the Cubs, the Rays brilliant front office had a tough decision to make. A lot of signs pointed toward the possibility of hiring Joe Maddon’s bench coach, David Martinez, as manager, but because the Rays were on a mission to re-shape the team, Martinez was not hired, and Kevin Cash became the newly hired manager in Tampa Bay.
Kevin will be managing a team with a great pitching background and a batting lineup that has potential. Back in 2012 the Rays traded for center fielder Wil Myers and made him the future star of the Rays, but that changed this offseason. Not only did the Rays get a makeover in the front office, but also on the field, as Myers was traded away along with teammates Joyce and Hannigan. The only big name trade piece that Tampa got back in return was good fielding catcher, Rene Rivera, from San Diego. Then very recently, infielder, Asdrubal Cabrera, agreed on a 1-year $8 million deal to play in Tropicana Field for the 2015 season. So despite the loss of young star Wil Myers and veterans Joyce and Hannigan, the Rays added two solid players. After the departure of 3 starters, which caused Tampa Bay to drop down to 5 for sure starters in 2015, the great front office brought the number up to 7 making the lineup look like this:
- Desmond Jennings (CF) Asdrubal Cabrera (2B)
- Ben Zobrist (LF) Yunel Escobar (SS)
- Evan Longoria (3B) DH (Steven Susa Jr.?)
- James Loney (1B) Rene Rivera (C)
- David Dejasus (RF)
- Asdrubal Cabrera (2B)
- Yunel Escobar (SS)
- DH?
- Rene Rivera (C)
This lineup has speed, contact, good fielding, and power. Evan Longoria will be the leader of this offense, as he is a 5-tool player who will be throwing over to a good glove at 1B in James Loney, who also has some pop of his bat (estimated .295 batting average in 2 years with the Rays). SS Yunel Escobar is also a pretty solid hitter (.276 career batting average with just over 1000 hits in 1074 games played) along with Desmond Jennings in center field (61 doubles in the last 2 seasons). Then, there is former 2-time all-star utility man Ben Zorbrist, whose 2014 2B spot will be taken over by another former all-star Asdrubal Cabrera. Finally behind the plate is Rene Rivera with a 2014 caught-steeling percentage of 36% (league average was 28%).
With a great glove behind the plate (Rivera), and a former bullpen coach under Terry Francona in new manager, Kevin Cash, the Rays pitching staff should stay sharp. Lefty Matt Moore should be back and healthy for 2015 and will re-join a rotation that consists of youngsters Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, and Drew Smiley, who all helped produce an ERA of 3.56 in 2014. So all in all, the Rays look good enough to win at least 84 games in 2015, and maybe more if they add a couple more free-agent veterans to the lineup.
I think Maddon’s departure will cost the Rays at least a few games in the win column, but as you say, overall the talent is there to compete. It would help if there was any scent of a home field advantage, like loud crowds or some enthusiasm for the team in general.
Yes it would really help if they could get the attendance number up because it is a great park. Even with the team being good almost every year, it still doesn’t help, and it should. KC’s attendance was low, but when they got good this year, the attendance grew.