Nov 16
The 2008 25-man roster prediction is based only players currently within the organization and will be updated when trades are consummated and free agents are signed.
Last week we updated our Rays Trade Value Index, in which we ranked every player on the 40-man roster and the top prospects in the organization. Earlier this week we laid out our predictions for the Rays 2008 40-man roster and opening day payroll. The next logical step is to predict what the 25-man roster and starting lineup/rotation will look like on March 31, 2008 when the Rays open the 2008 season in Baltimore.
(Notes on the 25-man roster can be found at the end of this post)
A FEW NOTES ON THE 40-MAN ROSTER…
- INFIELD
- Evan Longoria should the opening day third baseman. Everybody says that the Dirtbag is ready.
- Akinori Iwamura is likely to the starting second baseman whether or not Evan Longoria is on the opening day roster. Even if Longoria is not on the roster, the team will want him manning the hot corner at some point in 2008, so it makes more sense to give the position temporarily to Brendan Harris, rather than move Aki in the middle of the season.
- Brendan Harris will be on the roster. If the team fails to land a shortstop through trade, Harris will keep the shortstop position warm until Reid Brignac is ready. If Evan Longoria starts the season at Durham, Harris could be at third with Ben Zobrist as the starting shortstop.
- DESIGNATED HITTER
- Rocco Baldelli and Jonny Gomes will split time at DH and both will see time in the outfield, unless one is traded in the offseason.
- BENCH
- With the Rays deciding to let Greg Norton go, the Rays will need some left handed pop off the bench and that means Chris Snelling will be the outfielder off the bench and Justin Ruggiano will be a victim of numbers and needs. If the Rays have Ben Zobrist on the bench or can find another left handed bat, Ruggiano will push Snelling for a roster spot in spring training.
- Ben Zobrist gets the edge over Josh Wilson for the utility infielder.
- The team will likely sign a veteran free agent catcher and Shawn Riggans will be back at Durham.
- ROTATION
- Top three spots are locked.
- Andy Sonnanstine would have to have a terrible spring and sleep with Joe Maddon’s girlfriend in order to lose his spot.
- The fifth spot is wide open. The team will look to fill this spot through a cheap free agent (not likely), a trade (maybe) but would prefer to see either Jeff Niemann or Mitch Talbot step-up in Spring Training and take the job.
- BULLPEN
- Al Reyes will be the closer, but look for the Rays to dole out save opportunities to others. Unless he throws out his arm (again) Reyes will be traded prior to the July 31 trade deadline.
- Juan Salas and Dan Wheeler look like the only other two guarantees in the bullpen. Salas will probably see regular save opportunities in 2008.
- The rest of the bullpen is a wide-open race and most likely two or even three of these spots will go to players not currently in the organization. As it stands now, JK Ryu will likely fill the role of long-man. We are having second thoughts on Jon Switzer. It may be more likely that either he or Kurt Birkins will fill the role of lefty. That leaves one spot up for grabs. Calvin Medlock? Scott Dohmann (who we predicted earlier this week would be DFA’d)?
2008 Tampa Bay Rays Trade Value Index [Rays Index]
2008 40-Man Roster And Payroll Predictions [Rays Index]
Nov 16
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (66-96)
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- Marc Lancaster is reporting that the Rays will feature an alternate jersey in 2009 and it will have “Tampa Bay” written across the front. [TBO]
- Baseball America previews the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Team USA is the top seed and will face Korea today. [Baseball America]
Evan Longoria (Rays) has rotated with LaRoche between playing third base and DH, and the 2006 No. 3 overall pick is 10-for-28 with two home runs, a triple and two doubles (.357/.379/.714). The former Long Beach State shortstop has also shown good defensive skills at third base.
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano (Rays), who made the team after Minor League Player of the Year Jay Bruce (Reds) dropped out to nurse a sore hamstring, hit two home runs in Team USA’s 10-7 victory over host Taiwan in the final game of pool play. With a team-best three home runs, Ruggiano is 7-for-20 with a .350/.480/.800 line.
- If there is anyplace that prospects get together you can be sure Baseball America will make a list. This time it is the “Arizona Fall League Top 20 Prospects”. Both Evan Longoria (2) and Reid Brignac (7) made the list. Brignac made the list despite going 1-642 (or something like that). [Baseball America]
- In an informal meeting, the Rays presented Bud Selig with their plans for a new stadium on the site of Al Lang Field. [tampabay.com]
- The Devil Rays have announced several changes in the last week. New Uniforms. A New Name. A New Stadium. That leaves only one more change that needs to be announced. A new sport. Maybe the Tampa Bay Rays would be more competitive as a minor league hockey team. However, we are not sure Carl Crawford’s speed would be best utilized as a goalie. Not to mention he has a below-average glove. [The Onion]
Nov 16
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (66-96)
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- Marc Lancaster is reporting that the Rays will feature an alternate jersey in 2009 and it will have “Tampa Bay” written across the front. [TBO]
- Baseball America previews the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Team USA is the top seed and will face Korea today. [Baseball America]
Evan Longoria (Rays) has rotated with LaRoche between playing third base and DH, and the 2006 No. 3 overall pick is 10-for-28 with two home runs, a triple and two doubles (.357/.379/.714). The former Long Beach State shortstop has also shown good defensive skills at third base.
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano (Rays), who made the team after Minor League Player of the Year Jay Bruce (Reds) dropped out to nurse a sore hamstring, hit two home runs in Team USA’s 10-7 victory over host Taiwan in the final game of pool play. With a team-best three home runs, Ruggiano is 7-for-20 with a .350/.480/.800 line.
- If there is anyplace that prospects get together you can be sure Baseball America will make a list. This time it is the “Arizona Fall League Top 20 Prospects”. Both Evan Longoria (2) and Reid Brignac (7) made the list. Brignac made the list despite going 1-642 (or something like that). [Baseball America]
- In an informal meeting, the Rays presented Bud Selig with their plans for a new stadium on the site of Al Lang Field. [tampabay.com]
- The Devil Rays have announced several changes in the last week. New Uniforms. A New Name. A New Stadium. That leaves only one more change that needs to be announced. A new sport. Maybe the Tampa Bay Rays would be more competitive as a minor league hockey team. However, we are not sure Carl Crawford’s speed would be best utilized as a goalie. Not to mention he has a below-average glove. [The Onion]
