Could the Rays actually be a player in free agency?

One of the most exciting and progressive teams in the league, the Tampa Bay Rays are entering what looks to be a pivotal offseason. The question is, will they be big spenders in free agency?

The Tampa Bay Rays exist in baseball’s most complex and enigmatic climate – the American League East. At the top, the New York Yankees and newly crowned world champion Boston Red Sox sit decorated and healthily successful. At the bottom, the lowly Baltimore Orioles and surging Toronto Blue Jays are stirring about.

In the middle, the 90-win Rays are trying to find a way to snag a wild-card berth despite the immense difficult of accomplishing that task. Recently, they’ve fallen victim to the managerial game of musical chairs that has seen major league field coordinator Rocco Baldelli move to Minnesota, and bench coach Charlie Montoyo head north of the border to lead the Blue Jays. Regardless, the team still has progressively exciting manager Kevin Cash and a host of interesting players that could headline a playoff dark horse.

For now, though, free agency looms for the Rays. With a slew of intriguing free agents on the market, it will be supremely interesting to see if the Tampa Bay Rays, normally conservative in their spending, will shell out some cash for the big boys on the market.

First off, it’s important to consider the baseball market in which they’re entering. Prior to the recent Mariners swap that saw them send Mallex Smith to Seattle in exchange for catcher Mike Zunino, a catcher was poised to be their biggest need. Now that Zunino, a lifetime 6.9 WAR backstop, enters the fold, it’s unlikely they’ll be exploring the market for catchers, unless they’re looking at serviceable backups like Robinson Chirinos or Chris Stewart. In that sense, they’re not thinking big picture.

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Elsewhere on the infield, they appear to be set at second and third base, as Matt Duffy (.294/.361/.366, 132 G, 560 AB, 12 SB, 22 2B in 2018) and rookie sensation Joey Wendle (.300/.354/.435, 139 G, 16 SB, 33 2B, 6 3B in 2018) have admirably provided more than enough offense up the middle of the diamond. Young shortstop Willy Adames (.278/.348/.406, 10 HR, 85 G, 323 PAs) has also shown that he belongs on the major league roster.

Though first base, which was primarily manned by Jake Bauers and C.J. Cron, could be somewhat of an area of concern for them down the stretch, it doesn’t look like they’ll make it a top priority entering what looks like a feast of a free agent class.

In the outfield, Kevin Kiermaier, under contract until 2023, and the newly acquired Tommy Pham, who hit .343 in 39 games for the Rays last season, anchor what has always been a defensively sound group of outfielders. The remaining outfield position, though not concretely set, could be filled internally by Guillermo Heredia (.236/.318/.342, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 14 2B in 125 G last season for the Mariners) or could be remedied by efficient free agent underdogs Brandon Guyer, Matt Joyce or Curtis Granderson.

Arms are, as expected, probably not a problem for the Rays. With potential Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell heading the rotation, the starting five, which should include Tyler Glasnow and a series of openers (Ryne Stanek, Chaz Roe, Jose Alvarado and the like), likely won’t be a problem. While they could explore the reliever market, with names like Tyler Clippard, Brad Brach, Tony Sipp, David Robertson, Carson Smith, Jake Diekman, and Justin Wilson potentially in the mix, the pitching staff probably won’t be of much concern.

Now, this entire conversation is virtually futile if the Rays aren’t willing to spend in free agency. Traditionally boasting one the league’s lowest payrolls, the team doesn’t appear poised to be shelling out the big bucks this offseason, though they could surprise us, as they often have.

Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the Tampa Bay Rays front office believes in the current crop enough to leave it be, or whether they see the evident need to enhance the roster via free agency. With few contract exceeding the league average, it’ll certainly be a story to watch entering the winter.