The Tampa Bay Rays
There’s a saying going around the baseball world that all the veteran talent in the Major Leagues is in five cities: New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago. Meanwhile, all the young talent is found in one city, Tampa.
The Tampa Bay Rays parlayed that young talent into a trip to the 2008 World Series. The question entering the 2009 season is can the Rays do it again?
To begin their quest to repeat as American League champions, the Rays addressed their top priority which was acquiring a middle-of-the-order run producer. The Rays did that by signing free agent Pat Burrell. The left fielder was part of the Philadelphia Phillies winning World Series team and will likely DH for the Rays.
The Rays also acquired Gabe Kapler, a free agent signing from the Milwaukee Brewers. Kapler will platoon in right field with the other “Gabe,” Gabe Gross. Rays also added depth to their outfield by trading for Detroit Tiger Matt Joyce.
The Rays, confident in the first four arms of their rotation, acquired Joyce by trading away 14-game-winner Edwin Jackson. To replace Jackson as the fifth starter, the Rays will have righties Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel, as well as southpaw David Price, battle for the job.
To fortified their already dominate bullpen, the Rays added right-handers Joe Nelson and Lance Cormier and left-hander Brian Shouse.
Right-handers Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour will handle the closer role until Troy Percival returns from back surgery. However, the hard throwing 39-year old assures the team he’ll be ready on opening day.
Fans will have to do without one of their favorite outfielders, Rocco Baldelli, in 2009. The team let Baldelli sign with the Boston Red Sox. Rays also lost outfielder Eric Hinske and DH Cliff Floyd.
Manager Joe Maddon will have the challenge of guiding his young team without the benefit of surprising opponents—his team now has a target on their backs.
While his young players gained valuable postseason experience, stars like third basemen Evan Longoria, center fielder B.J. Upton and catcher Dioner Navarro are still under 25.
His formidable starting rotation features ace James Shields, lefty Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine. The old man of the bunch is Shields, he's 27-years old.
It appears, at least from press clippings and sound bites, that Maddon and the Rays realize that what they accomplished in 2008 means nothing in 2009. That’s good news for Rays fans and bad news for the rest of the American League.
Rays home opener is April 13th against the New York Yankees. During that same home stand, the Rays will also play the Chicago White Sox in a four game series.
The Rays open the season April 6th against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park.
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