As new season begins, Rays again aim to win big with less
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Coming off an AL batting title, Yandy Díaz again once more Tampa Bay's offense. Photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The Rays have reached Opening Day with no major offseason additions, journeymen in the pitching rotation, the team's highest-paid player off the roster — and World Series ambitions.
Why it matters: This is Rays baseball: Doing more with less. While other teams splash money around, Tampa Bay develops in-house talent, finds hidden gems and, usually, wins.
Catch up quick: The Rays went 99-63 last season, the fourth best record in Major League Baseball and good enough for 2nd place in the AL East and a Wild Card playoff berth.
- They were quickly swept by the eventual-champion Texas Rangers.
- The Rays have now lost seven postseason games in a row dating back to 2021.
State of play: The Rays had one of the best offenses in baseball last year and should again, anchored by left fielder Randy Arozarena and first baseman Yandy Díaz.
- Díaz, who hit for a team-record .330 average, was the first Rays player to lead the AL in batting for a season.
Stunning stat: The 2023 Rays were second in the AL in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and stolen bases, per CBS Sports.
Moving on: The Rays' loudest offseason move was trading pitcher Tyler Glasnow and his $25-million salary to the Dodgers.
- In typical Rays fashion, the return was a pair of high-upside contributors: pitcher Ryan Pepiot, who's expected to join the rotation immediately, and outfielder Jonny DeLuca.
- DeLuca will start the year on the injured list after he was hit by a pitch during spring training and broke his hand.
Glaring absence: Star shortstop Wander Franco has been on leave since August when he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl and paying for her silence. He was arrested in the Dominican Republic on New Year's Day.
- He and his attorney have said little in response to the allegations, though Franco told reporters in January that "everything is in God's hands."
What they're saying: ESPN's panel of experts forecast the Rays to miss the playoffs, while MLB.com Rays writer Adam Berry predicts they make the postseason and win a series.
- His reason for hope: the team's "seemingly unfailing ability to figure it out no matter what comes their way."
- "That machine is still humming, as there is still plenty of talent in their clubhouse, savvy on their coaching staff and ingenuity in their front office."