Tampa Bay Devil Rays - The Covid-19 Years (2020-2029)
 
   
 
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  Titles: Top Rays Players of the Twenty Twenties  
  2020-Won Division; WC def Tor; ALDS def NY; ALCS def Hou; WS Lost to LA  
  2021 - Won Division; ALDS Lost to Boston Pitchers:  
  2022 - WC Lost to Cleveland Pete Fairbanks (5.43)  24  
  2023 - WC Lost to Texas  Shane McClanahan (8.54) -  23  
    Drew Rasmussen (11.16) -  17  
  BallPark: Zach Eflin (4.3) -  17  
  Tropicana Field Ryan Pepiot (4) -  14  
    Zack Littell (6.1) -  12  
  Team Name: Tyler Glasnow (5.49) - 12  
  Rays Taj Bradley (0.8)  - 10  
    Ryan Yarbrough (0.14) -   10  
  Owner:  Josh Fleming (-1.22) -   9  
  Consortium led by Patrick Zalupski Diego Castillo (1.68) -   9  
    Shane Baz (3.04) -    8  
  General Managers: Jason Adam (4.55) - 8  
  Erik Neander (2020-2021) (2022-2025 president and GM) Andrew Kittredge (2.92) -  8  
  Peter Bendix (2022-2023) Colin Poche (1.56) -  8  
   None in 2024-25 Corey Kluber (0.77) -  7  
    Jeffrey Springs (3.92) -  7  
  Managers:    
  Kevin Cash  Catchers:  
    Mike Zunino (2.77)  -    10  
  No Hitters: Francisco Mejia (2.39) -  6  
  None    
    First Basemen:  
  Hall of Famers: Yandy Diaz (16.05) -   39  
  None Jonathan Aranda (4.1) -  8  
       
  Rookie of the Year: Second Basemen:  
  2021 - Randy Arozarena Brandon Lowe (12.41) -    30  
    Luke Raley (2.81) -   6  
  MVP:    
  None ShortStop:  
    Wander Franco (11.53) -  23  
  Cy Young: Taylor Walls (10) -  19  
  None    
    Third Base:  
  Notable Events: Isaac Paredes (9.22) -  19  
    Joey Wendle (5.02) -   11  
  2020 -  Tampa Bay continued to get better in '20 finishing 40-20 and Junior Caminero (0.9) -   8  
  making it to the World Series. They had won 90 and 96 games the     
  previous two seasons. As usual, it was the pitching that propelled the Rays. Outfield:  
  Despite their previous success, the Rays had a nine year streak coming Randy Arozarena (11.79) -   38  
  into '20 where they had a below league average offense. In '20, the offense Josh Lowe (4.93) -  19  
  scored eleven more runs than the league average to break the streak.  Manuel Margot (5.36) -   17  
  Meanwhile, Tampa's pitching was significantly better than the league Jose Caballero (3.6) -  16  
  average in '20. The Rays performed four games better than their runs Kevin Kiermaier (6.17) -   12  
  totals would indicate because their bullpen was outstanding so that Jose Siri (4.25) -  11  
  Tampa Bay was winning the close ones. Harold Ramirez (3.32) -  8  
       
  □   Stuart Sternberg has led a consortium that bought the Rays in '04. Notable Events:  
  Considering the tight income stream that Tampa has had to work with    
  in his seventeen years of ownership, Sternberg's success with Tampa 2024 - In a blockbuster trade with the Dodgers, a classic poor feeding the rich  
  has been nothing short of remarkable. They've finished over .500 nine baseball trade, the Rays trade ace Tyler Glasnow, 29, and OF Manuel Margot  
  times with six post season appearances and two World Series appearances. to LA in exchange for prospects righty Ryan Pepiot, 26, and OF Johnny DeLuca.  
  Considering that the first four years of Sternberg's tenure were below    
  .500 as the franchise was gearning up, that's nine of the last thirteen 2024 - The Rays have been elite from 2018-2023. Their severe downturn during  
  winning seasons. Add in that the Rays have been in the toughest the latter half of '23 and the fact that there is a real possibility that their best   
  division in baseball with the big spending Red Sox and Yankees  player, Wander Franco, will never play for them again are very concerning.  
  and Sternberg's achievements go to another level of remarkable.     
    Offense:  
   □   Erik Neander has been GM since 2016 and has obviously done a Tampa's robust offense scored 112 more runs than the league average and that was  
  fantastic job. One of owner Sternberg's biggest strengths has been  without Franco for half a year. They've had a potent lineup with six players topping  
  putting an outstanding management team together. Andrew Friedman  twenty home runs and four more in double figures (Franco 17 and Luke Raley 19).  
  was Sternberg's first GM and after being wildly successful in Tampa, To replace Franco, they traded Raley to Seattle for SS Jose Caballera.   
  Friedman moved on to LA where he has been wildly successful with TB is one of only a couple teams where Raley won't be missed.  
  the Dodgers. Neander was kicked upstairs to President in '22 with The team has a near circular lineup with power all up and down the lineup  
  Peter Bendix promoted into the GM slot. The one thing they are missing, with Franco gone, is a superstar to anchor   
    the lineup  
  □   Kevin Cash has been Tampa's manager since 2015. He, also obviously,  □ C Rene Pinto, 27, '13 IFA, 6 16 .252  
  has done a great job. He took over for Joe Maddon, one of the best, □ 1B Yandy Diaz, 32, '19 trade from Cleveland, 22 78 .330  
  who took over for the legendary Lou Piniella. These have been the three □ 2B Brandon Lowe, 29, '15 3rd round pick, 21 68 .231  
  field managers during Sternberg's tenure, you couldn't do better.  □   SS Jose Cabballero, 27,  '24 Trade with Seattle, 4 26 .221  
    □   SS Wander Franco, 23,  '17 IFA, 17 58 .281, suspended from baseball  
  2021 - The Rays win the Divison with a 100-62 mark, but disappoint in the □   SS Carson Williams, 20, '21 1st round pick, minors 23 81 .257, top prospect  
  post season dropping the ALDS to Boston □   3B Isaac Paredes, 25, '22 trade from Detroit, 31 98 .250  
    □  3B Curtis Mead, 23, '20 trade from Phillies, 1 5 .253, top prospect  
  2022 - Generally 86 win season aren't considered down years for small □  3B Junior Caminero, 20, '22 trade from Cleveland, 1 7 .235, top prospect  
  market teams, but it is for Tampa. Nonetheless, the Rays make it to the □   OF Randy Arozarena, 29,  '20 trade from St Louis, 23 83 .254  
  post season as a wild card but lose in the WC round to Cleveland. □   CF Jose Siri, 28, '22 trade from Houston, 25 56 .222  
    □   OF Josh Lowe, 26, '16 1st round pick, 20 83 .292  
  2023 - Tampa enters the season with a competitive team filled with good □ OF Johnny DeLuca, 25, '24 trade from LA, 2 6 .262  
  hitters and solid pitchers. The lineup is circular with 1B Yandy Diaz, □  OF Harold Ramirez, 29, '22 trade from Cubs, 12 68 .313   
  2B Brandon Lowe, SS Wander Franco, 3B Alex Paredes,     
  OF Randy Arozarena, OF Jose Siri OF Harold Ramirez and OF Josh Lowe Pitchers:  
  all good sticks.  The pitching is a bit more problematic for Tampa. They gave up a healthy 83 runs  
  On the mound Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, Taj Bradley Drew less than the league average last year. However, they gave up their top starter  
   Rasmussen and Zach Elfin are a solid rotation. The bullpen could be better.  Tyler Glasnow in a trade to LA and they are beset with injuries, a common problem  
    over the years for Rays pitchers. Tampa has always been able to stay ahead of the  
  2023 - Tampa has a big year winning 99, but finishing second to the Orioles. curve by continually producing new studs to replace the injured old ones.   
  They lose the Wild Card to eventual World Series Champs Texas. A remarkable record, really, however, their farm system has been geared more  
  They got off to a 57-28 start but cooled off to a 42-35 finish. Hitting is Tampa's towards position players the past few years, which has served them extremely well  
  strong point and losing Wander Franco to domestic issues hurt the offense greatly.  up until now, but there may not be the usual plethora of potential replacements  
    this time around.  
  2023 - Tampa trades 1B prospect Kyle Manzardo, 22, to Cleveland for righthander □ RHP Zach Elfin, 30, '23 FA from Phillies, 16-8 3.50  
  Aaron Civale, 28, at the trade deadline. □ RHP Aaron Civale, 29, '23 Trade with Cleveland, 7-5 3.46  
    □ RHP Zack Littell, 28, '23 waivers from Boston, 3-6 3.93  
    □ Righty Ryan Pepiot, 26, '24 trade from LA, 2-1 2.14  
    □   RHP Taj Bradley, 22, '18 draft 5th round pick, 5-8 5.59  
    □ Closer Pete Fairbanks, 30, '19 trade from Texas, 2-4 2.58 25 saves  
    □  Closer Jason Adam, 32, '22 FA from Cubs, 4-2 2.98 12 saves  
    □ Lefty Reliever Colin Poche, 30, '18 trade from Arizona, 12-3 2.23  
    □ Righty Reliever Chris Devenski, 33, '23 trade from Anaheim, 6-4 4.46 0 saves  
    □ Lefty Reliever Garrett Cleavinger, 30 '23 trade from Anaheim, 1-0 3.00 0 saves  
    □ Righty Reliever Phil Maton, 31 '24 FA from Houston, 4-3 3.00 1 saves  
    □ Lefty Reliever Tyler Alexander, 29 '24 waivers from Detroit, 2-1 4.50 0 saves  
    □ Righty Reliever Shawn Armstrong, 33, '22 FA from Miami, 1-0 1.38 0 saves  
    □ LHP Shane McClanahan, 28, 1st round pick '18 draft, 11-2 3.29, Out - TJ Surgery  
    □   RHP Drew Rasmussen, 28, '21 trade from Milwaukee, 4-2 2.62, Out - TJ Surgery  
    □ Lefty Reliever Jeffrey Springs, 31, '21 trade from Boson, 2-0 0.56, Out - TJ Surgery  
    □ RHP Shane Baz, 23,  '18 trade from Pittsburgh, Out - TJ Surgery  
    □ RHP Cole Wilcox, 24,  '21 trade from SD, minors 6-8 5.23  
    □ Righty Reliever Kevin Kelly, 25,  '23 obtained from Colorado, 5-2 3.09, AAA  
    □ Lefty Mason Montgomery, 22  '21 draft 6th round pick, minors 7-4 3.98   
       
    2025  
     Tampa won 99 games in '23. They fell off a cliff and won only  80 in '24  
    And worse, their run differentials indicated a whopping 26 game drop off   
    between '23 and '24 from 100 to 74. What happened?  
    What happened was that the Tampa offense scored an incredible 256 runs less  
    in '24 than they did in '23. And that happened with almost the identical lineup  
    in '24 than '23. The only significant difference in the lineups was SS Wander Franco  
    was not there in '24. But, as talented as he is, his war was 5.5, not 26.  
    Every single player, save 2B Brandon Lowe, who held steady, fell off a cliff  
    offensively. This kind of thing rarely happens and I believe this  
    is the second biggest year to year drop off in big league history.  
    The 1931 Cubs dropped 278 runs. The 1919 Red Sox dropped 244 runs.  
    The 2024 Braves dropped 233 runs. The 1951 Red Sox dropped 223 runs.  
     The 1931 Phillies dropped 214 runs. The 2024 Rangers dropped 198 runs.  
    The 1962 Yankees dropped 191 runs. The 1936 Tigers dropped 189 runs.  
    So the question is - what the hell really happened?  
    We'll  guess that the Rays will hit better at the Yankee minor league Ft   
    Lauderdale park as the dark dank dungeon they have been forced to play in,   
    Tropicana Field, no longer exists.  
       
    2025 Hitting   
    The Rays have gotten rid of a lot of the culprits and replaced them with   
    players within the organization. Guys like Junior Caminero, Christopher Morel,  
    Jonny DeLuca and Jonathan Aranda. Good luck with that. In their favor, Tampa  
    had the top rated minor league organization in baseball last year. So there's  
    some talent in the pipeline, but not much for this year.  
    The best of the youngsters is SS Carson Williams, 22, who hit twenty homers  
    in AA last year. Probably will be ready in '26.  
       
    2025 Pitching:  
    The Rays are really good at developing young pitchers. Which is a particularly  
    good thing since they always need a lot of them as injuries take their toll year in  
    and year out. For instance, in '25, half of the Rays projected rotation recently  
    had TJ surgery. Plus the Rays dealt away a third to the A's, Jeffrey Springs, in the  
    off season for some prospects. If healthy, Shane McClanahan, 28, is the staff ace.  
    He was 11-2 3.29 before going down with TJ surgery in '23. The other TJ recovery  
    is righty Shane Baz, 26, 4-3 3.06. Righty Taj Bradley, 24, was 8-11 4.11 and is  
    poised to take his game to the next level. Righty Ryan Pepiot, 27, was 8-8 3.60  
    and has the stuff to move his game to the next level, as well. Zach Littell, 29,  
    8-10 3.63, rounds out a very strong rotation.  
    The bullpen is OK, not as strong as the starting rotation. The most effective hurlers   
    in the pen are Pete Fairbanks, 31, Kevin Kelly, 27, Jason Adam, 33, Edwin  
    Uceta, 27 and Manny Rodriguez, 28.