TALENTED PITCHERS COULD LEAD REBOUND
Coming off their worst season since 2007, the Rays still have reason to be optimistic about 2017. Tampa Bay’s rotation ranked sixth in the American League with a 4.26 ERA and will be further strengthened by Alex Cobb, who returned from Tommy John elbow surgery for five starts in September. But the Rays will need to strengthen the offense, which ranked 14th in the AL in runs (averaging 4.1 per game). USA TODAY Sports’ Jesse Yomtov takes an inside look at the team. *Denotes prospect
Catcher
The Rays have had a revolving door behind the plate for years, with a catcher playing 100 games only once in the last four seasons. Any of Luke Maile, Bobby Wilson and Curt Casali could be the opening-day starter in 2017, but don’t expect to see one get a vast majority of playing time. Maile, 25, is the youngest, while Casali has hit 18 homers in 327 at-bats since 2015.
Depth chart: Maile, Wilson, Casali
First base
The Rays moved Brad Miller from shortstop to first base when they acquired Matt Duffy on Aug. 1. Coming off a 30-homer season, 27-year-old Miller isn’t eligible for free agency until 2020. Richie Shaffer had good home run totals in the minor leagues, and he will be counted on to play a number of positions for the team in 2017. Jake Bauers, 22, had a strong 2016 in Class AA splitting time between first base and right field.
Depth chart: Miller, Shaffer, *Bauers, *Casey Gillaspie
Second base
Logan Forsythe has become one of the better offensive second basemen in baseball over the last two seasons, posting a .791 OPS with 37 home runs. The 29-yearold is signed for 2017 with a 2018 club option. He has capable backups in Tim Beckham and Nick Franklin, while Daniel Robertson, 22, played 118 games at Class AAA Durham (N.C.) last season.
Depth chart: Logan Forsythe, Tim Beckham, Franklin, *Robertson
Third base
The face of the franchise for nearly a decade, 31-year-old Evan Longoria is signed through 2023. His strong 2016 campaign (a career-high 36 home runs) alleviates
fears that were starting to build after a few disappointing seasons. Josh Lowe was the Rays’ firstround pick in 2016 and could succeed Longoria one day.
Depth chart: Longoria, Shaffer, Franklin, *Lowe
Shortstop
Tampa Bay deployed Duffy at shortstop after acquiring him from the San Francisco Giants in July, putting him at the position he played primarily in the minor leagues. An excellent defender, Duffy played only 91 big-league games in 2016 and had Achilles tendon surgery in September. Miller is penciled in at first base, but he could return to shortstop if Duffy’s injuries linger. Beckham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, is 26, and it’s evident he won’t live up to that hype. Willy Adames is the best prospect in the system, but the 21-year-old probably won’t be ready until 2018.
Depth chart: Duffy, Beckham, *Adames, *Lucius Fox
Left field
Corey Dickerson will spend a fair share of time as the designated hitter, particularly if the Rays are serious about giving Mikie Mahtook an extended look. Mahtook, a first-round pick in 2011, struggled last season after a strong debut in 2015. Garrett Whitley is a long-term option in left field or center, but the Rays’ 2015 first-round pick has a long way until he’s ready.
Depth chart: Dickerson, Mahtook, Franklin, *Whitley
Center field
Kevin Kiermaier, winner of back-to-back Gold Gloves, is really the only certainty in Tampa Bay’s outfield entering 2017. One of the best defenders in the game, Kiermaier also has 39 steals over the last two seasons. Johnny Field, 24, has steadily improved in the minors and could carve out a role in the major leagues with a shortage of reserve outfielders.
Depth chart: Kiermaier, Mahtook, *Field, *Whitley
Right field
Steven Souza is recovering from late-season hip surgery, but he has totaled 33 home runs over the last two seasons. Bauers, coming off a 78-RBI season in Class AA, could force his way into the conversation as the season goes on. Cuban exile Dayron Varona, 28, spent all of 2016 in Class AAA struggling (.232 batting average in 117 games) after a promising debut season in the USA. Depth chart: Souza, Shaffer, *Bauers, *Varona
Designated hitter
The Rays will try to get Shaffer’s bat in the lineup, but there will be a number of hitters who serve as DH in 2017. This should be a place the Rays look to sign a veteran hitter such as Mike Napoli, Brandon Moss or Pedro Alvarez. Depth chart: Shaffer, Dickerson, Mahtook, Franklin
Starting pitchers
Chris Archer lost 19 games in 2016 but pitched well in the second half — 3.25 ERA in 14 starts — which should ease concerns about the 28-year-old moving forward. Jake Odorizzi continues to impress, and 23-year-old lefty Blake Snell lived up to the hype with a 3.54 ERA in 19 starts as a rookie. Alex Cobb returned from Tommy John elbow surgery in September after missing all of 2015. The Rays have a number of promising arms in the high minors who could provide major league contributions in 2017.
Depth chart: RHP Archer, RHP Odorizzi, LHP Smyly, LHP Snell, RHP Cobb, RHP Matt Andriese, LHP John Lamb, RHP Jaime Schultz, RHP Austin Pruitt, *RHP Brent Honeywell, *RHP Jacob Faria, *RHP Chih-Wei Hu
Bullpen
After leading the American League with 41 saves in 2015, Brad Boxberger dealt with an abdominal injury early in the 2016 season, opening the door for Alex Colome to take control of the ninth inning this year. Erasmo Ramirez, Danny Farquhar and Xavier Cedeno should all see meaningful innings in 2017, and don’t be surprised if one of the Tampa Bay starters ends up in the bullpen.
Depth chart: RHP Colome, RHP Boxberger, RHP Farquhar, LHP Cedeno, RHP Ramirez, LHP Enny Romero, RHP Ryan Garton