ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – While the vast majority of attention this off-season has been placed on Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays still have a baseball season to prepare. With pitchers and catchers reporting to their spring site in Port Charlotte in just over one month, composition and construction for the season ahead seemed to have been placed on the back burner.
In defense of Erik Neander, the team’s president of baseball operations, the Rays have not moved the needle dramatically. Yes, they acquired much-needed help in signing veteran catcher Danny Jansen and picking up right-hander Joe Boyle, a potential starter in a trade with Oakland.
To address depth in the bullpen, Neander acquired right-hander Eric Orze from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Jose Siri.
While catching and improving and a sputtering offense remain Neander’s top priorities, not much has changed since the last time we saw this team in late September.
“The way (the 2024 season) went was not an easy year,” Neander said after the conclusion of last season. “We really seemed stuck on .500 from the jump. Even in spring training, things felt a little off. Things were not as crisp, and we had some injuries out of the gate. You have obstacles that are different every year.”
If Neander addressed the catching dilemma with Jansen, offensive production would remain paramount. Here was a team that batted, collectively, .230 and only the Angels, Mariners, and White Sox had lower team averages. The 147 home runs were next to last in the American League and only the White Sox (133) hit fewer. In RBI production, the Rays knocked in 564 runs and that was next to last in the AL (the White Sox drove in 485 runs),
Coming into spring training, the strength of this club remains on the hill. With a potential of 8-10 starters and a veteran bullpen, field manager Kevin Cash is poised to gain production from his pitching staff.
At the same time, there should be caution given to the return of right-hander Drew Rasmussen and lefty Shane McClelland. Both are coming off Tommy John surgery Rasmussen appeared in 16 games went 0-2 and posted a 2.83 ERA last season.
Undergoing Tommy John surgery on Aug. 15, 2023, McClanahan sat out the entire 2024 campaign. During his post-season remarks, Neander said McClanahan, drafted in the first round in 2018 out of the University of South Florida, should be ready to go at full strength this spring.
With confidence in his recovery, the Rays signed Rasmussen to a reported $8.5 million deal for the next two seasons and, with incentives, could be worth up to $28 million. The 29-year-old from Puyallup, Wash. Is clearly in the mix in what could be one of the strongest rotations in baseball. Joining these are right-handers Ryan Pepoit. Zack Littel, Shane Baz, and Taj Bradley.
Among prospects, right-hander Gary Gill Hill, the Rays 7th prospect according to MLB.com should receive a look in spring training as well as righty Ty Johnson, the club’s 30th prospect, according to MLB.com.
All of which should create a comfort level on the mound.
At the plate remains another story. Cash, Neander, and other decision-makers need to find a way to generate offense. At this point, this appears easier said than done.
On the legal front … On Jan. 9, the Rays avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year deal with righty Zack Littell ($5.72 million), righty Shane Baz ($1.45 million), lefty Garrett Cleavinger ($1.2 million), and catcher Ben Rortvedt ($1.125 Million), These figures were reported by MLB.com. The Rays will go to an arbitration hearing with shortstop Taylor Walls.
Elsewhere … after previous hesitation, the Rays now say they will support a $55.7 million city of St. Petersburg plan to repair the damaged roof of Tropicana Field that was destroyed during Hurricane Milton in early October. Going forward, the plan set a timetable for the roof to be repaired and for the Rays to move back into Tropicana Field for the 2026 season. With that commitment, the Rays are obligated to play the following three years seasons at the Trop. That should allow a reasonable timeline for the completion of their new $1.3 billion stadium and ready for the 2029 season.
