For Rays, ‘offense’ should be a significant priority

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – To address an essential need this off-season, the Tampa Bay Rays did little to move the needle. Here was a team that declined in significant offensive categories during the 2024 season and did little by way of additions to gather any help.

Aside from signing Danny Jansen as the likely everyday catcher, there existed little movement to awaken a slumbering offense. While starting pitching is considered the strength of the team and Erik Neander, the team’s president of baseball operation, added bodies to the bullpen, the ability to generate offense, manufacture runs and create more production apparently was left unanswered on the drawing board.

“The bones of a very competitive team are there,” Neander said at the conclusion of last season. “We need to find a way to cash in on opportunities and that will come, I think, from most of the group we have. We have to find ways to get where we were five years prior. To get there, we need to find a way to score more runs.”

To find such a need, Neander promised, “that will be a lot of our focus in the off-season.”

In the end, that turned into a false promise. While concerns about a lagging offense generated the most on-field interest, the bulk of the Rays’ attention focused on Tropicana Field, damage to the structure from two hurricanes in October, and how such economic realities of repairs directly influenced the dialogue surrounding a new stadium.

The uncertainty about a proposed $1.3 billion new playground for the Rays and a construction timeline may have affected the ability to attract free agents and directly address Neander’s principal concern. The fact the Rays signed only a catcher, which was a priority, left the rest of Neander’s agenda unanswered.

While infielder Brandon Lowe led the club in home runs with 21 last season, the next three highest in total, Jose Siri, with 18, Isaac Paredes with 16, and Randy Arozarena, with 15, all were traded during the 2024 session or after. Save Lowe, only two players who hit homers in double figures, Josh Lowe with 10 and Yandy Diaz with 14, remain on the current 40-man roster.

For the 2024 season, the Rays, as a team, hit 147 home runs and that was second fewest in the American League, The Chicago White Sox hit an AL-low 133 round-trippers. Plus, the Rays drove in 564 runs for their 162 games (an average of 3.4 runs per game). Again, the White Sox drove in the fewest in the AL with 485 RBIs.

Compare those numbers to the bangers of the 2023 season.

Two years ago, the Rays hit 230 home runs. The Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers tied for the Al lead with 233 homers and the Angels banged 231 round-trippers. For the season, the Rays drove in 827 and was second the AL behind the Rangers (845).

A principal challenge facing field manager Kevin Cash and the attempt to regain numbers from two years is to field an everyday batting order and assure hitters their roles. Cash is noted for the management of match-ups and that includes matching relievers with hitters and generating a left-right combination at the plate.

Based in past history, that could be a test. Cash, who enters his 10^th season as Rays’ skipper, remains nearly transfixed on the need to create favorable match-ups. That could mitigate running out an everyday line-up based on the consistency of roles, ability to manufacture runs and play “small ball” to the Rays advantage.

What’s next? … The Rays have until March 31 to present plans, drawings, and documents on the new stadium proposal. To date, little has been generated. Earlier this year, the city of St. Petersburg committed to repairing the Tropicana Field roof and, as part of the agreement, the Rays agreed to play in the facility for three years, 2026, 2027, and 2028. That three-year period would allow for construction of the new stadium and the Rays could begin play for the 2029 season. Then there’s the question of which material is right for your needs, and that’s where https://mastermixconcrete.co.uk/news/different-types-of-concrete-strengths-and-their-uses/ provides invaluable insights. It offers a comprehensive breakdown of options, including the advantages of choosing C20, C30 or C35 concrete for your next project. To complicate matters, the city of St. Peterburg told the Rays the city is not obligated by a structured timeframe to repair the Trop. That could leave the Rays without a home field beyond the 2025 season. For the coming season, the Rays will use the New York Yankees’ spring facility, Geoge Steinbrenner Field for their 2025 home games. Beyond that, there is no guarantee of anything.

Get the gloves and bats ready … pitchers and catchers report to the Rays’ spring camp at Port Charlotte on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Position players report the following Sunday, Feb 16. The pre-season schedules open on Friday, Feb. 21 against the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and the home opener is Sat., Feb 22 against Boston. The Rays open the regular season at home, at Steinbrenner Field, on Friday, March 28 against the Colorado Rockies at 4:10 p.m.

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