Tampa Bay Rays: The 2010s All-Decade Team
By Manny Gómez
All-Decade Tampa Bay Rays Starters
David Price (LHP) started his career with the Rays and immediately established himself as an ace. Between 2010 and mid-2014, before he would be traded to the Detroit Tigers, Price was selected to be an All-Star 2x, he placed 2 or better in the AL Cy Young voting, winning it in 2012. That season, Price posted a 20-5 record with a 2.56 ERA, striking out 205 batters over 211 IP.
In Rays history, according to Baseball-Reference, despite only have played about six seasons with the organization, Rays is the best pitcher. His 21.1 bWAR edges out James Shields who posted a 20.0 bWAR
Chris Archer (RHP) played about 6.5 years with the Tampa Bay Rays. At times, Archer pitched like an ace, who can strike out hitters at will. Between 2012 to mid-2017 Archer posted a 3.69 ERA, striking out 1146 hitters in 1063 IP.
Archer was selected to be an All-Star two times in his time with Tampa. He placed fifth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2015, losing out to Dallas Keuchel.
Blake Snell (LHP) started his career with the Rays in 2016. Since then, he has gone from being a middle of the line starter, into an AL-Cy Young Award winner. His best season came in 2018, when after leading the league in wins (21), ERA (1.89), ERA+ (217), and H9 (5.6) he bested Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander in the Cy Young voting.
2019 wouldn’t be so kind to Snell. After a long stint on the IL, Snell only started 23 games, while posting a 4.29 ERA and winning just six games.
During the 2010s, James Shields (RHP) pitched three seasons for the Rays (2010-2012). In that time, Shields was selected to his only All-Star game and placed third in the 2011 AL Cy Young Award. In that time, Shields started 99 games for the Rays, winning 44 of them. He’d post a 3.76 ERA and a 1.210 WHIP.