Tampa Bay Rays
2016: 68-94, fifth place. Manager: Kevin Cash (third season). He’s here: C Wilson Ramos, OF Colby Rasmus, OF Mallex Smith, RHP Shawn Tolleson, RHP Tommy Hunter, RHP Jose De Leon, OF-INF Rickie Weeks, C Jesus Sucre.
He’s outta here: LHP Drew Smyly, 2B Logan Forsythe, RHP Kevin Jepsen, LHP Enny Romero, RHP Steve Geltz, INF Alexei Ramirez, OF Mikie Mahtook, INF-OF Taylor Motter. Projected lineup: 1B Logan Morrison (.238, 14 HRs, 43 RBIs in 107 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.246, 12, 37, 21 SBs, Gold Glove in 105 games), 3B Evan Longoria (.273, 36, 98), 2B Brad Miller (.243, 30, 81), DH Corey Dickerson (.245, 24, 70), LF Mallex Smith (.238, 3, 22, 16 SBs in 72 games with Atlanta), SS Matt Duffy (.258, 5, 28 in 91 games with Giants and Rays) or Tim Beckham (.247, 5, 16 in 64 games), RF Steven Souza Jr. (.247, 17, 49 in 120 games), C Curt Casali (.186, 8, 25 in 64 games) or Wilson Ramos (.307, 22, 80 in 131 games with Washington). Rotation: RH Chris Archer (9-19, 4.02 ERA, 233 Ks in 201⅓ innings), RH Alex Cobb (1-2, 8.59 in 5 starts), RH Jake Odorizzi (10-6, 3.69), LH Blake Snell (6-8, 3.54), RH Matt Andriese (8-8, 4.37). Hot spot: Starting rotation. The Rays thrive on pitching and defense, and neither was nearly as consistent a year ago as it was when Tampa Bay made the playoffs four times from 2008-13 under manager Joe Maddon. Any chance of re-emerging as a serious contender likely begins with Archer, a first-time All-Star two years ago who must rebound from losing 19 games in 2016. Cobb returned from Tommy John surgery late last season and is trying to regain the pre-injury form that had him on track to be the opening day starter in 2015. Odorizzi looks to build on a strong second half that bolstered his confidence, while Snell and Andriese are being counted on to show why management was comfortable with trading left-handers Matt Moore (last summer) and Drew Smyly (this winter). Outlook: The Rays have missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, but a budget-minded front office feels spending modestly in free agency to sign Ramos and Rasmus, trading for Smith and pitching prospect De Leon, and giving defensive whiz Kiermaier a six-year, $53.5 million contract will help the club escape the AL East cellar. A lingering question is whether Tampa Bay has done enough to improve the overall talent around team leader Longoria, especially since Ramos, Duffy and Boxberger figure to begin the season on the disabled list.