What to expect from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018
In theory, the Tampa Bay Rays are in the midst of yet another rebuild. And yet, a few of their moves would not be indicative of such a direction.
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The Rays certainly dumped off quite a few of their higher priced veterans. The roster will look much different now that Evan Longoria, Jake Odorizzi, and Corey Dickerson have been traded. And yet, with the young talent the Rays have, particularly in regards to the pitching staff, there was still hope for the team this year.
And then, disaster struck in Spring Training. Brent Honeywell and Jose De Leon, two pitchers that were expected to make an impact this season, were lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery. While Anthony Banda may be close to ready for a role in the majors, the Rays are going with a four man rotation through the first part of the 2018 campaign.
Even that strategy as filled with risk. Chris Archer may well be one of the better starting pitchers in the game, but the rest of the rotation is a question mark. Nathan Eovaldi is looking to defy the odds in his comeback from his second Tommy John surgery, which does not have a track record of success. Jake Faria and Blake Snell are talented, but they are still relatively unproven. However, if the Rays are going to contend in the coming season, they may well go as far as the rotation takes them.
On the plus side, if healthy, the Rays could have one of the best defensive outfields in baseball. Kevin Kiermaier is a human highlight reel in center, and may actually be the second best player in the game. Mallex Smith can fly, and has an excellent glove as well. Carlos Gomez is a solid all around player, and completes that defensive mindset. In a lot of ways, the Rays have returned to their defense and pitching roots.
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The Tampa Bay Rays chances of contending in 2018 are remote. However, with a strong base of prospects and excellent pitchers in the pipeline, they could be getting closer to the future. Prediction: Fourth place in the AL East.