Tampa Bay Rays looking to make a splash this offseason
By David Hill
The Tampa Bay Rays have money to spend, and are looking to make a splash this offseason, either in free agency or in the trade market.
For most of their history, the Tampa Bay Rays have been the bargain shoppers of free agency. Instead of pursuing the bigger names on the market, the Rays have usually scraped the bottom of the barrel, hoping to find lightning in a bottle. Somehow, some way, they have typically found success with such an approach, especially when it comes to constructing their bullpen.
This offseason, that approach is set to change. The Rays are in the unusual position of actually having cash to spend, and are looking to improve on their 2018 team that won 90 games. As such, they are looking to make a splash, bringing in a big name via free agency, through a trade, or possibly both.
For the Rays, the biggest needs would seem to be on the pitching staff. While the opener strategy worked well last season, the starting rotation after Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow is a question mark. The bullpen, likewise, is a work in progress, with Jose Alvarado or Chaz Roe the presumed closer at this point in the offseason.
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Yet, that is not likely to be the case on Opening Day. The Rays are looking to add a right handed power hitter, with names like Nelson Cruz being bandied about. Yet, given the construction of their roster, and the plethora of young and talented options around the diamond, there is not much of a space to put someone like Cruz, even on a one year deal.
Instead, if the Rays are truly looking to make that sort of a splash, adding a starting pitcher would appear to be the best move. Tampa Bay has plenty of young assets, especially in the middle of the diamond and at the corners. Add in their intriguing pitching prospects, and it is not unlikely that they could acquire one of the bigger names on the trade block.
Adding a starting pitcher along the lines of a Noah Syndergaard or a Corey Kluber may be exactly what the Rays need to put them over the top. Last year’s 90 win season, as surprising as it was, still left them seven games out of a Wild Card berth, and 18 games back in the AL East. With the Red Sox and Yankees expected to find ways to improve their teams, the Rays will need to make a major move or two in order to keep pace, and potentially move ahead of either team in their quest for the playoffs.
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The Tampa Bay Rays are in a good spot to do just that. With a great deal of minor league talent to trade, and plenty of money available, the Rays may well make that splash they are hoping for this offseason.