Spring training site
Port Charlotte, Fla.
2008 record
97-65, won AL East, won AL pennant, lost to Phillies in World Series
New faces
OF Pat Burrell (free agent, Phillies); RHP Jason Isringhausen (free agent, Cardinals); RHP Joe Nelson (free agent, Marlins); OF Matt Joyce (trade, Tigers); OF Gabe Kapler (free agent, Brewers); RHP Lance Cormier (free agent, Orioles); LHP Brian Shouse (free agent, Brewers); 2B Adam Kennedy (free agent, Cardinals); IF Morgan Ensberg (free agent, Indians); RHP Derek Rodriguez (Rule 5, White Sox)
Biggest offseason acquisition
The Rays lost Rocco Baldelli but upgraded with Pat Burrell, who was a major force for the Phillies in beating Tampa Bay in the World Series.
Gone but not forgotten
RHP Edwin Jackson (trade, to Tigers); OF Rocco Baldelli (free agent, to Red Sox); DH Cliff Floyd (free agent, to Padres); LHP Trever Miller (free agent, to Cardinals); OF Eric Hinske (free agent, to Pirates), OF Jonny Gomes (free agent, to Reds)
Spring training battles
For a young team that won the AL pennant last year, Tampa Bay did a lot of tinkering. There's battles in the outfield, for the last spot in the rotation and throughout the bullpen. Injuries are the culprit for a couple of those issues, as center fielder B.J. Upton is questionable for the beginning of the season, coming off shoulder surgery, and closer Troy Percival had back surgery in the offseason.
Projected lineup
- 2B Akinori Iwamura
- CF B.J. Upton or Gabe Kapler
- LF Carl Crawford
- 3B Evan Longoria
- 1B Carlos Pena
- DH Pat Burrell
- C Dioner Navarro
- RF Gabe Gross
- SS Jason Bartlett
Projected starting rotation
- RHP James Shields
- LHP Scott Kazmir
- RHP Matt Garza
- RHP Andy Sonnanstine
- RHP Jason Hammel
Projected bullpen
- RHP Troy Percival (closer)
- RHP Dan Wheeler
- RHP Grant Balfour
- LHP J.P. Howell
- RHP Joe Nelson
- LHP Brian Shouse
- RHP Jason Isringhausen
Biggest strength
The top of the rotation was surprisingly strong and very young, and when David Price is called up at some point early in the season, it will rival those of the Yankees and Red Sox. If Crawford bounces back from a subpar 2008 and Longoria avoids a sophomore slump, the middle of the lineup should be strong again as well. Iwamura, Bartlett and Navarro are underrated up the middle.
Glaring weakness
Gabe Gross (.242 career hitter) wouldn't be starting for many teams in right field. If Gabe Kapler or Matt Joyce start hot, Gross might be back on the bench. And who knows what the Rays will get out of a second season of Percival at closer.
