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Welcome to our ongoing series of MLB team previews. As part of RotoBaller's ongoing effort to help you win your leagues, we're previewing all 30 MLB teams. For each team, we will take a look at their hitters, pitchers, prospects and offseason moves. Today we dive into the 2017 Tampa Bay Rays Team Outlook, and preview their potential fantasy baseball contributions.
The Tampa Bay Rays finished dead last in the American League East in 2016 with a 68-94 record. With a talented, young core and a payroll that has sat in the bottom three in baseball for each of the last four seasons, the Rays are somewhat stuck between win-now mode and rebuild mode.
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Offseason Moves
New general manager Erik Neander’s first offseason has produced two major free agent signings and two high-profile trades.
Catcher Wilson Ramos was brought in on a two-year deal worth $12.5MM, and is expected to be out until at least May — and possibly through the All-Star break — recovering from ACL surgery. Regardless, Ramos is a worthy investment for the Rays, who have had sub-par catcher play throughout their entire, 19-year existence.
Tampa Bay also took a low-risk flier on Colby Rasmus, who will earn $5MM in a one-year contract. Rasmus spent the last two years in Houston, and is coming off of a down season in which he hit just .206 with 15 HR. However, he did finish the 2015 campaign with 25 long balls and a respectable .238/.314/.475 slash line, and is only 30 years old.
Left-hander Drew Smyly went to Seattle as part of a three-team trade that netted the Rays speedy outfielder Mallex Smith. Smith saw 189 AB as a rookie in 2016, totaling three homers and 16 steals to go along with a .238/.316/.365 slash line. He isn’t expected to play every day, but should provide the Rays with defensive help and some much-needed speed on the basepaths.
Finally, second baseman Logan Forsythe was sent to Los Angeles in exchange for highly-touted right-hander Jose De Leon. De Leon failed to impress in his first four career starts for the Dodgers in late 2016, but the No. 33 overall prospect has two plus pitches and above-average command of the strike zone. He should find his way into the Rays’ rotation sooner rather than later.
Hitting Overview
The Rays’ lineup will look quite different in 2017, with several additions and a ton of departures. They brought in Wilson Ramos to catch, but it will likely be Curt Casali and Luke Maile splitting time behind the plate until Ramos returns. Neither player is appealing in anything but two-catcher, AL-Only leagues.
Brad Miller and Evan Longoria are serious power threats at the corner— they combined for 66 HR in 2016, and should each produce at least 25 dingers again in 2017. Matt Duffy will provide strong rate stats with a decent blend of power and speed in the middle infield, but the loss of Logan Forsythe leaves a hole at second base. Nick Franklin and Tim Beckham are expected to split time at the position to start the season, but neither one has shown enough at the major league level to warrant any mixed-league consideration.
Kevin Kiermaier has a guaranteed lineup spot given his defensive prowess, and while he hits for a low average, he is more than capable of hitting 15 homers and stealing 25 bases. His backup, Mallex Smith, is likely to rack up double-digit steals off the bench.
Last year, Tampa’s corner outfield spots were mostly occupied by Corey Dickerson and Steven Souza, who combined to smack 41 homers but each hit below .250. Now they’ve added Colby Rasmus to the mix. Unfortunately for the Rays, while all three players are probably best suited to take on platoon roles, all three will have to play almost every day — in the corners and at DH — given Tampa’s current roster.
Pitching Overview
As has been the case for the better part of the last decade, the starting rotation is the strongest facet of the Rays’ roster. Chris Archer is coming off a down year, but has the ability to bounce back as the team’s ace. Jake Odorizzi didn’t take the step forward many expected him to take in 2016, but has proven himself to be a viable option in all fantasy leagues. Alex Cobb struggled mightily in limited action after returning from Tommy John surgery, but his track record and past success make him intriguing, nonetheless. Blake Snell showed promise in his rookie season, and while he will need to improve his command in order to become a successful major league starter, his strikeout potential alone makes him appealing late in mixed-league drafts. Jose De Leon is best suited for AL-Only leagues and keeper/dynasty formats, although a few strong outings will give him some mixed-league relevance. Matt Andriese will once again be available to make a spot start or serve as an injury replacement.
In the bullpen, Alex Colome is a reliable ninth inning guy with strikeout upside, and should be one of the top 15 relievers off the board. Brad Boxberger and newly-acquired reliever Shawn Tolleson are worth keeping an eye on if Colome were to go down, but there’s not a whole lot to like about Tampa’s 'pen beyond its 28-year-old closer.
Prospects Overview
Tampa has four guys in MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects list. Willy Adames (No. 21) is a quality all-around player with solid power and speed, as well as good range and a strong arm from the shortstop position. Right-hander Brent Honeywell (No. 31) has a deep arsenal of pitches, headlined by a nasty screwball, and above-average control. De Leon (No. 33), as mentioned earlier, is praised for his fastball-changeup combination and pinpoint accuracy. Finally, Jake Bauers (No. 76) is a smooth-hitting lefty with a ton of untapped power. Only De Leon is expected to break camp with the big league club, while the other three could potentially make the jump later in the season.
Conclusion
While the Rays still aren’t anywhere close to contending in the American League, Neander managed to get younger, add depth and acquire some proven talent at a bargain. They have a solid, young staff — plus the ability to move a starter or two during the season — a lockdown closer, a ton of power in the lineup and an encouraging farm system.
