03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 17
MLB ’24 AL EAST PREVIEW TAMPA BAY RAYS
Sunday, March 24, 2024 17
2023: 99-63, second place, lost to Texas in Wild Card Series | Manager: Kevin Cash (10th season) | Opening Day: March 28 vs. Toronto
OVERVIEW
ONE TO WATCH
1B Yandy Díaz
(AL-best .330,
22 HRs, 78 RBIs,
.932 OPS)
TOP HITTERS
LF Randy Arozarena (.254, 23, 83, .789 OPS), RF Josh Lowe (.292,
20, 83, .835 OPS), 3B Isaac Paredes (.250, 31, 98, .840 OPS), DH/
OF Harold Ramírez (.313, 12, 68, .813 OPS), CF José Siri (.222, 25,
56, .813 OPS).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Zach Eflin (16-8, 3.50 ERA), RH Aaron Civale (7-5, 3.46 in 23
starts with Cleveland and Tampa Bay), RH Zack Littell (3-6, 3.93),
RH Ryan Pepiot (2-1, 2.14 in 8 appearances, 3 starts, with Dodgers), RH Taj Bradley (5-8, 5.59).
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Jason Adams (4-2, 2.98 ERA, 12 saves), RH Pete Fairbanks (2-4,
2.58, 25 saves), LH Colin Poche (12-3, 2.23), RH Kevin Kelly (5-2,
3.22), RH Phil Maton (4-3, 3.00 with Houston).
OUTLOOK
The Rays have been both resourceful and resilient, enduring key injuries and numerous cost-saving moves to make the playoffs each
of the past five seasons. With three starting pitchers — two-time
All-Star lefty Shane McClanahan and right-handers Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs — expected to miss all or a significant
portion of 2024 while recovering from injuries, the budget-minded
club’s ability to improvise and remain competitive in one of
baseball’s toughest divisions will be tested again. Glasnow
is the latest elite pitcher Tampa Bay has traded for
promising young players or prospects who’ve
helped the Rays prosper over the past
decade-plus. Eflin will lead a retooled
rotation, with the 26-year-old Pepiot
— acquired from the Dodgers in
the Glasnow trade — filling one of
the spots. There’s uncertainty,
too, about the future of All-Star
shortstop Wander Franco, who
hasn’t played since August,
when MLB and authorities in
the Dominican Republic began
investigating accusations
that Franco had an improper relationship with
a minor.
— Associated Press
ELSA/
GETTY
HE’S HERE
RHP Ryan Pepiot, SS Jose Caballero, OF Jonny DeLuca, RHP Phil Maton, INF Amed Rosario (left), C Alex Jackson,
RHP Manuel Rodriguez, RHP Naoyuki Uwasawa.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
RHP Tyler Glasnow, OF Manuel Margot, OF/1B Luke Raley, LHP Jake Diekman, RHP Andrew Kittredge, C Christian Bethancourt,
LHP Jalen Beeks, LHP Josh Fleming.
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