What’s This Group’s Deal?
Final yr, this text started with an image of a very matted Tropicana Discipline, nonetheless unusable six months after Hurricane Milton. After sustaining vital water and wind injury, the stadium has been renovated and the Rays will return to Tropicana Discipline in lower than a month.
The capability of this renovated Tropicana Discipline will likely be decreased as a result of injury. However that’s nothing new to the Rays. For a number of years, the higher decks of Tropicana Discipline had been closed off because of lack of curiosity. This lack of curiosity is sort of totally because of stadium’s location removed from downtown Tampa, as has been addressed many instances. The Bucs are nearer to downtown and handle a near-sell-out crowd regardless of comparatively related current efficiency (exterior of a 2021 Tremendous Bowl… I don’t wish to discuss it.) However, this yr’s roster compared to the remainder of the division, I don’t know the way Rays followers might discover an excessive amount of intrigue on this staff, which was hit exhausting by a hearth sale in 2024. The storm earlier than the storm, if you’ll.
The subsequent storm the staff has to climate is deciding whether or not to play baseball in Tampa or St. Petersburg. This choice will likely be tantamount to another choice the staff makes earlier than the conclusion of the 2028 season, when the lease runs out.
They’re in all probability simply nice. Which is greatest case situation for a staff that not too long ago gave away a perennial All-Star and who’s marching out a man straight off two severe arm accidents as their ace. Shane McClanahan was the most effective within the recreation previous to his Tommy John surgical procedure, clocking elite velocity and extension, leading to a top-eight percentile whiff fee amongst all pitchers. The issue for the Rays? His surgical procedure was on August 15, 2023. Lots’s occurred since then, however McClanahan remains to be simply 29 years of age and exhibits quite a lot of promise to go together with an 8.0 profession WAR in fewer than 3 seasons.
Behind McClanahan within the rotation is Drew Rasmussen, who’s coming off of his first All-Star choice and first Cy Younger vote (it was just one fifth-place vote, however nonetheless!) The 30-year-old stayed wholesome, dependable, and stored innings quick, tallying a WHIP of 1.02 over 150 innings. That’s all you possibly can ask from a rotation pitcher, and McClanahan coming again takes some stress off him. Ryan Pepiot, a part of the return for sending Tyler Glasnow to LA to win a pair World Sequence titles, appears to be like nice sufficient in the course of the rotation, placing up an ERA+ barely above common final yr.
Offensively, the Rays are led by budding star Junior Caminero, who’s coming off of a forty five house run season and a berth within the Residence Run Derby finals. Caminero, who’s nonetheless simply 22 till July, had an OPS of .846 and the very best bat velocity in baseball on his method to slashing .264/.311/.535. He can actually unfold the ball round with the most effective of them already… however don’t take my phrase for it, right here’s his spray chart.
Elsewhere, Yandy Diaz is returning regardless of each speaking head (and most of us on this web site, together with yours actually) reserving his aircraft ticket on the commerce deadline of 2025. Cedric Mullins, former Oriole, rejoins the division the place he loved a decade of very reliable play in Baltimore. Jon Aranda batted .316 and had an unbelievable Savant chart in his own right together with offering versatility by taking part in everywhere in the infield. And whereas Gavin Lux might not have the shine as he did coming by way of the Dodgers’ farm, he’s nonetheless infield possibility for a staff seeking to change the productiveness of Brandon Lowe.
Outdoors of these stalwarts, although, the roster’s form of a large number, having obtained there within the title of effectivity, with a entrance workplace desperate to ship gamers out earlier than massive paydays in trade for gamers who aren’t fairly prepared to seem on a Main League staff but. But when these aforementioned guys can contribute at near their greatest, the staff may be good. Good gamers acting at their greatest helps a staff… who knew?
Most Likable Participant: Junior Caminero
I used to be going to make use of Jon Aranda right here as a result of there’s quite a lot of worth in a man who can get on base as a lot as he does and play three positions. However I can’t deny a man who positioned sixth in baseball in house runs in a yr that one of many high 5 was Aaron Choose, one other was the most effective baseball participant of our technology, and one other was somebody who left the stratosphere in catcher metrics. Caminero is sweet and it will be heartbreaking if Tampa determined to ship him off for prospects like the remainder of their homegrown stars (apart from one they did pay who will likely be on the restricted listing for a really, very, very long time).
Least Likable Participant: DJ Kitty
I don’t have the guts to pick out former Crimson Sox reliever Steven Matz right here as a result of he was nice for the Sox and left on amicable phrases. And Caminero is a Crimson Sox killer however he’s actually an everyone-killer and so superior to observe towards another staff. However bear in mind: it was DJ Kitty who was unable to pry Triston Casas’ first profession house run from this Ryan Brasier lookalike.
Schedule In opposition to the Crimson Sox
The Rays go to Fenway for a four-game collection from Could 7-10. A month later, on June 8-10, the Sox head to the Trop. Fenway then will get the primary collection post-All-Star recreation from July 17-19. Lastly, the Crimson Sox journey all the way down to Tampa in what might be an all-important collection from September 18-20. It’s the Rays’ final house collection of 2026 and the Crimson Sox’s final away collection earlier than heading again to Boston to complete the season out.
Total, that is in all probability a final place staff, however they’re higher than most final place groups and their total consequence seemingly hinges on simply how extraordinary their star energy performs. Regardless of how good Caminero is, although, this staff might use a Tyler Glasnow, or Randy Arozarena, or both Lowe, or possibly a half dozen extra gamers which have graced the Trop — or Steinbrenner Discipline — lately. When the entrance workplace needs to ask why the staff went from almost 100 wins to to 77 in 2025, they solely must look inside.
PREDICTION: 79-83, 5TH IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
