ST. PETERSBERG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays’ return to glory could be a mere distance of 60-feet, six-inches.
That’s the space from the pitching rubber to home plate. Within that confined expanse, decision-makers believe the heart and soul lay the 2025 Rays’ destiny. That would define the area in which pitching will likely determine the club’s fate. With a healthy cadre of starters and a reliable bullpen, the Rays, at least on paper, could house one of the most formidable staffs in the game.
Then again, the bottom line is a major league season free of injuries and reliable execution. At the same time, this is the future, the 2025 season ahead on the radar screen, and an opportunity to reflect on a difficult start and unfulfilling summer.
An 80-82 mark this season was first under .500 campaign since the Rays went 68-94 in 2016.
“The way this year went was not an easy year,” said Erik Neander, the Rays’ president of baseball operation, during a season-ending briefing with the media on Oct. 4. “We were stuck on .500 for the vicinity of the season. Even in spring training this year, things felt a little off. It was not as crisp as before. We were limited out of the gate and left-handed hitters were down with injuries. No excuses, and there are obstacles every year.”
Heading into the off-season and with an eye on Port Charlotte, the Rays’ spring training site, pitching will be the strength of this club. At least at the start of camp, that is the expectation.
With a starting rotation of righties Ryan Pepiot, Shane Baz and Taj Bradley, Neander and field manager Kevin Cash believe a pair of lefties, Shane McClanahan (who went down on Aug. 3, 2023, and underwent two Tommy John surgeries) and Jeffrey Springs will provide Tampa Bay with one of the strongest starting rotations.
Springs underwent Tommy John surgery on April 24, 2023, but did return late in the season. In seven starts, he went 2-2 and posted a 3.27 ERA. McClanahan (who did not pitch at any level in 2024) and Springs have been given “the green light” for full, off-season activities and both are expected to report to Port Charlotte healthy and on time.
In speaking informally with the media during the Rays’ final home stand in late September, Cash corrected a reporter. Identifying the Rays’ potential starting rotation as a strong selection of talent, Cash smiled, “we have nine potential starters right now.”
After the All-Star game, the Rays’ bullpen became the dominant feature of the team.
After sending Shane Alexander to St. Louis and Jason Adam to San Diego, Neander restructured the core of receivers. With the addition of Hunter Bigge, Mason Montgomery, Manuel Rodriguez, and Edwin Uceta, and returning Kevin Kelly and closer Peter Fairbanks, the Rays could have a strong complement among starters, middle reivers, and a choice of several who could close.
All of which brough Neander to identify a significant weak spot. That would be the offense.
“The amount of under-performance was not lost on our group and how much we struggled this season,” Neander said. “Getting to an off-season, having a mental re-set and getting away will be helpful. Guys pressed. When you’re struggling like that, it gets harder and harder, and harder.”
For the recently completed season, the Rays averaged 3.73 runs per game and that was the second fewest in the majors (Chicago White Sox 3.13). Those runs scored was the fewest in team history and the 147 homers hit was the third fewest in the majors. The Rays hit the majors lowest .212 with runners scoring position. At the same time, the Rays won 21 games without hitting a home run and six victories without an extra-base hit.
All of which is clearly on Neander’s radar screen.
One scenario could be moving first baseman Yandy Diaz (.281 in 145 games) to DH and pursuing Tampa native Pete Alonso or Christian Walker, both free agents, to add power and defensive skills at first base.
“I don’t want to promise that we are going to bring in somebody from the outside,” Neander added. “There are some players which we are aware and available by trade or free agency. I don’t want to make any promises that will absolutely get done.”
Moving forward … Neander said the Rays are prepared to move ahead without 23-year-old shortstop Yander Franco, who signed an 11-year contract for $182 million in 2021. Franco is being held for trial on sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking and was placed on Major League Baseball’s restrictive list in July. Franco is confined to his native Dominican Republic, and a trial date has not been set.
“Players will not be available for an assortment of reasons,” Neander said. “It’s our responsibility to build a team that is equipped to handle a lack of availability. We will do what we need to do to focus on the players who are here and what we have. We’ll keep our attention there. It’s been over a year now and our attention is on the group that’s here and available.”