Playing for 2013?
January 8th 2011 19:01
Finally, the Tampa Bay Rays had a no-hitter go their way. After being no-hit and perfect-gamed in the past year, the Rays at last had one of their own, thanks to Matt Garza, who went on to win 15 games last year as the Rays won the AL east. After a series of moves and losses this off-seaon, the AL East title chances for next season were long gone. And now, so is Garza.
Everyone knew Carl Crawford was going. The same with Rafeal Soriano. Carlos Pena was the first of two players who will now play in Chicago next season. The bullpen demolished with the losses of Joaquin Benoit, Randy Choate, and Dan Wheeler to go along with the loss of Soriano. And then to put the cherry on top, Jason Bartlett and Garza, two major pieces brought in that helped the Rays rise to the top of the AL in 2008, were traded away.
With these losses and trades, even if Tampa Bay doesn't want to admit it, it's clearly the start of a rebuilding process. Guys like Evan Longoria, David Price, Ben Zobrist, and B.J. Upton will still patrol the confines of Tropicana Field, but their chances of contending this year for even a wildcard have clearly gone out the window. They will still have one of the better rotations in baseball as long as Jeremy Hellickson pitches any where close to way he did in his spot starts last year and James Sheilds doesn't collapse with his recent production having fallen off quite a bit.
With this trade, the Rays pick up Chris Archer, who was 15-3 and had a 2.34 ERA between Double and Triple-A last season, while being named the top pitcher in the Cubs' system. I think Archer will end up having at the least decent success in the majors. I'm still not sure on the other hand about OF Brandon Guyer, who will be 25 already by spring and is only in Double-A, but was named the top prospect in the Cubs' organization.
The Rays pick up other decent-to-good prospects, but nothing that will effect the top squad this season, except for Sam Fuld, who could work some time in te outfield. Robinson Chirinos could end up as a September call-up, and Hak-Ju Lee has a decently high ceiling, but was in Single-A.
3rd place in the east may be a win this season for Tampa Bay. The Yankees are still the Yankees, and the Redsox have out spent every team this off-season. Hellickson will move in the rotation, but what about the other open spots. Reid Brignac will most likely take Bartlett's place, but first base is still a bit of a question mark, as is the the final outfield spot, that could go to Fuld, Matt Joyce, or top prospect Desmond Jennings. The bullpen is still very dwindled and rather weak.
But the one thing that's been long determined, is that the Rays will take the "Florida Marlins" approach and build from the inside and go for a title for a year or two, before starting back from the farm system, because they don't have the money for big free agents. It's their only option, seeing as they're in a small market, and call it no support or tough economic times, but the seats aren't being filled in that dump of a dome. So we'll play for 2012. or 2013. But for now, we'll wave bye to contention.
Everyone knew Carl Crawford was going. The same with Rafeal Soriano. Carlos Pena was the first of two players who will now play in Chicago next season. The bullpen demolished with the losses of Joaquin Benoit, Randy Choate, and Dan Wheeler to go along with the loss of Soriano. And then to put the cherry on top, Jason Bartlett and Garza, two major pieces brought in that helped the Rays rise to the top of the AL in 2008, were traded away.
With these losses and trades, even if Tampa Bay doesn't want to admit it, it's clearly the start of a rebuilding process. Guys like Evan Longoria, David Price, Ben Zobrist, and B.J. Upton will still patrol the confines of Tropicana Field, but their chances of contending this year for even a wildcard have clearly gone out the window. They will still have one of the better rotations in baseball as long as Jeremy Hellickson pitches any where close to way he did in his spot starts last year and James Sheilds doesn't collapse with his recent production having fallen off quite a bit.
With this trade, the Rays pick up Chris Archer, who was 15-3 and had a 2.34 ERA between Double and Triple-A last season, while being named the top pitcher in the Cubs' system. I think Archer will end up having at the least decent success in the majors. I'm still not sure on the other hand about OF Brandon Guyer, who will be 25 already by spring and is only in Double-A, but was named the top prospect in the Cubs' organization.
The Rays pick up other decent-to-good prospects, but nothing that will effect the top squad this season, except for Sam Fuld, who could work some time in te outfield. Robinson Chirinos could end up as a September call-up, and Hak-Ju Lee has a decently high ceiling, but was in Single-A.
3rd place in the east may be a win this season for Tampa Bay. The Yankees are still the Yankees, and the Redsox have out spent every team this off-season. Hellickson will move in the rotation, but what about the other open spots. Reid Brignac will most likely take Bartlett's place, but first base is still a bit of a question mark, as is the the final outfield spot, that could go to Fuld, Matt Joyce, or top prospect Desmond Jennings. The bullpen is still very dwindled and rather weak.
But the one thing that's been long determined, is that the Rays will take the "Florida Marlins" approach and build from the inside and go for a title for a year or two, before starting back from the farm system, because they don't have the money for big free agents. It's their only option, seeing as they're in a small market, and call it no support or tough economic times, but the seats aren't being filled in that dump of a dome. So we'll play for 2012. or 2013. But for now, we'll wave bye to contention.
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