Tampa Bay Devil Rays - The Covid-19 Years (2020-2029)
 
   
 
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                                                2020  
        Yr P W L   Yr P W L   Yr P W L               Decade  
        2020 1 40 20   2023 2 99 63   2027                     Click  
        2021 1 100 62   2024         2028                     on Logo  
        2022 3 86 76   2025         2029                        
                  2026                                  
                                                       
   
  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 Shane McClanahan (8.54) -  23  
  2023 - WC Lost to Texas  Zach Eflin (3.5) -  13  
    Tyler Glasnow (5.49) - 12  
  BallPark: Pete Fairbanks (3.43)  10  
  Tropicana Field Ryan Yarbrough (0.14) -   10  
    Drew Rasmussen (6.06) -  10  
  Team Name: Josh Fleming (-1.22) -   9  
  Rays Diego Castillo (1.68) -   9  
    Andrew Kittredge (2.92) -  8  
  Owner:  Colin Poche (1.56) -  8  
  Consortium led by Stuart Sternberg Corey Kluber (0.77) -  7  
    Jeffrey Springs (3.92) -  7  
  General Managers: Jason Adam (3.35) -  6  
  Erik Neander (2020-2021) (2022-2023 president) Blake Snell (1.11) -    4  
  Peter Bendix (2022-2023)    
    Catchers:  
  Managers: Mike Zunino (2.77)  -    10  
  Kevin Cash  Francisco Mejia (2.39) -  6  
       
  No Hitters: First Basemen:  
  None Yandy Diaz (11.05) -   26  
    Ji-Man Choi (0.57) -   6  
  Hall of Famers:    
  None Second Basemen:  
    Brandon Lowe (10.01) -    17  
  Rookie of the Year: Luke Raley (2.81) -   6  
  2021 - Randy Arozarena    
    ShortStop:  
  MVP: Wander Franco (11.53) -  23  
  None Taylor Walls (6.0) -  11  
       
  Cy Young: Third Base:  
  None Isaac Paredes (6.82) -  13  
    Joey Wendle (5.02) -   11  
  Notable Events:    
    Outfield:  
  2020 -  Tampa Bay continued to get better in '20 finishing 40-20 and Randy Arozarena (11.09) -   34  
  making it to the World Series. They had won 90 and 96 games the  Manuel Margot (5.36) -   17  
  previous two seasons. As usual, it was the pitching that propelled the Rays. Josh Lowe (4.03) -  13  
  Despite their previous success, the Rays had a nine year streak coming Kevin Kiermaier (6.17) -   12  
  into '20 where they had a below league average offense. In '20, the offense Harold Ramirez (3.32) -  8  
  scored eleven more runs than the league average to break the streak.  Jose Siri (2.35) -  7  
  Meanwhile, Tampa's pitching was significantly better than the league Austin Meadows (2.19) -   6  
  average in '20. The Rays performed four games better than their runs Brett Phillips (2.94) -  4  
  totals would indicate because their bullpen was outstanding so that    
  Tampa Bay was winning the close ones. Notable Events:  
       
     Stuart Sternberg has led a consortium that bought the Rays in '04. 2024 - In a blockbuster trade with the Dodgers, a classic poor feeding the rich  
  Considering the tight income stream that Tampa has had to work with baseball trade, the Rays trade ace Tyler Glasnow, 29, and OF Manuel Margot  
  in his seventeen years of ownership, Sternberg's success with Tampa to LA in exchange for prospects righty Ryan Pepiot, 26, and OF Johnny DeLuca.  
  has been nothing short of remarkable. They've finished over .500 nine    
  times with six post season appearances and two World Series appearances. 2024 - The Rays have been elite from 2018-2023. Their severe downturn during  
  Considering that the first four years of Sternberg's tenure were below the latter half of '23 and the fact that there is a real possibility that their best   
  .500 as the franchise was gearning up, that's nine of the last thirteen player, Wander Franco, will never play for them again are very concerning.  
  winning seasons. Add in that the Rays have been in the toughest    
  division in baseball with the big spending Red Sox and Yankees  Offense:  
  and Sternberg's achievements go to another level of remarkable.  Tampa's robust offense scored 112 more runs than the league average and that was  
    without Franco for half a year. They've had a potent lineup with six players topping  
      Erik Neander has been GM since 2016 and has obviously done a twenty home runs and four more in double figures (Franco 17 and Luke Raley 19).  
  fantastic job. One of owner Sternberg's biggest strengths has been  To replace Franco, they traded Raley to Seattle for SS Jose Caballera.   
  putting an outstanding management team together. Andrew Friedman  TB is one of only a couple teams where Raley won't be missed.  
  was Sternberg's first GM and after being wildly successful in Tampa, The team has a near circular lineup with power all up and down the lineup  
  Friedman moved on to LA where he has been wildly successful with The one thing they are missing, with Franco gone, is a superstar to anchor   
  the Dodgers. Neander was kicked upstairs to President in '22 with the lineup  
  Peter Bendix promoted into the GM slot. □ C Rene Pinto, 27, '13 IFA, 6 16 .252  
    □ 1B Yandy Diaz, 32, '19 trade from Cleveland, 22 78 .330  
     Kevin Cash has been Tampa's manager since 2015. He, also obviously,  □ 2B Brandon Lowe, 29, '15 3rd round pick, 21 68 .231  
  has done a great job. He took over for Joe Maddon, one of the best,    SS Jose Cabballero, 27,  '24 Trade with Seattle, 4 26 .221  
  who took over for the legendary Lou Piniella. These have been the three    SS Wander Franco, 23,  '17 IFA, 17 58 .281, suspended from baseball  
  field managers during Sternberg's tenure, you couldn't do better.     SS Carson Williams, 20, '21 1st round pick, minors 23 81 .257, top prospect  
       3B Isaac Paredes, 25, '22 trade from Detroit, 31 98 .250  
  2021 - The Rays win the Divison with a 100-62 mark, but disappoint in the   3B Curtis Mead, 23, '20 trade from Phillies, 1 5 .253, top prospect  
  post season dropping the ALDS to Boston   3B Junior Caminero, 20, '22 trade from Cleveland, 1 7 .235, top prospect  
       OF Randy Arozarena, 29,  '20 trade from St Louis, 23 83 .254  
  2022 - Generally 86 win season aren't considered down years for small    CF Jose Siri, 28, '22 trade from Houston, 25 56 .222  
  market teams, but it is for Tampa. Nonetheless, the Rays make it to the    OF Josh Lowe, 26, '16 1st round pick, 20 83 .292  
  post season as a wild card but lose in the WC round to Cleveland. □ OF Johnny DeLuca, 25, '24 trade from LA, 2 6 .262  
      OF Harold Ramirez, 29, '22 trade from Cubs, 12 68 .313   
  2023 - Tampa enters the season with a competitive team filled with good    
  hitters and solid pitchers. The lineup is circular with 1B Yandy Diaz, Pitchers:  
  2B Brandon Lowe, SS Wander Franco, 3B Alex Paredes,  The pitching is a bit more problematic for Tampa. They gave up a healthy 83 runs  
  OF Randy Arozarena, OF Jose Siri OF Harold Ramirez and OF Josh Lowe less than the league average last year. However, they gave up their top starter  
  all good sticks.  Tyler Glasnow in a trade to LA and they are beset with injuries, a common problem  
  On the mound Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, Taj Bradley Drew over the years for Rays pitchers. Tampa has always been able to stay ahead of the  
   Rasmussen and Zach Elfin are a solid rotation. The bullpen could be better.  curve by continually producing new studs to replace the injured old ones.   
    A remarkable record, really, however, their farm system has been geared more  
  2023 - Tampa has a big year winning 99, but finishing second to the Orioles. towards position players the past few years, which has served them extremely well  
  They lose the Wild Card to eventual World Series Champs Texas. up until now, but there may not be the usual plethora of potential replacements  
  They got off to a 57-28 start but cooled off to a 42-35 finish. Hitting is Tampa's this time around.  
  strong point and losing Wander Franco to domestic issues hurt the offense greatly.  □ RHP Zach Elfin, 30, '23 FA from Phillies, 16-8 3.50  
    □ RHP Aaron Civale, 29, '23 Trade with Cleveland, 7-5 3.46  
  2023 - Tampa trades 1B prospect Kyle Manzardo, 22, to Cleveland for righthander □ RHP Zack Littell, 28, '23 waivers from Boston, 3-6 3.93  
  Aaron Civale, 28, at the trade deadline. □ 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