To steal a line from professional wrestling: “It’s Monday morning, and you know what that means.”
Every Monday during Spring Training, I try to project what the Opening Day roster will look like for the Tampa Bay Rays. Sometimes it’s good. Other times, I just get it all wrong. Either way it’s fun to see if I can think like a member of the front office.
As always, there are ground rules that accompany these projections:
- Only players on the spring roster as of Sunday will be used in the projections come Monday. That means Luke Raley, who was acquired earlier this week from the Los Angeles Dodgers, is eligible, but Ryon Healy, who FanSided’s Robert Murray reports has agreed to a minor-league deal but has not officially signed, is not.
- No trade predictions. It’s hard enough to try and do this with all of the players in Port Charlotte. I don’t need the rumor mill to add any spice to the equation.
- Injured lists are in play. The 10-day, 15-day, and 60-day IL’s are fair game when necessary.
- Pitcher limits are in effect. The league will enforce a 13 pitcher maximum on active rosters (not counting players considered two-way players).
With all that said, let’s get moving on the second draft of this projection.
Pitchers
photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
The 13 pitchers I have on the Opening Day roster this week is a little different than what we saw in the initial projection. That’s because the team went out and signed reliever Jason Adam this week, and while he does still have an option remaining, I could see him securing a spot on the right field line come April 8, which would allow another arm that may be coming back from injury to not have to rush back and risk reaggravating a problem. We’ll see if the coaching staff takes advantage of that situation.
Pitchers (13): Jason Adam, Shane Baz, JT Chargois, Pete Fairbanks, J.P. Feyereisen, Andrew Kittredge, Corey Kluber, Shane McClanahan, Colin Poche, Brooks Raley, Drew Rasmussen, Matt Wisler, Ryan Yarbrough
Catchers
photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
The status quo is holding up for the backstops, and I believe my theory to be the one the front office will hold to if either major league catcher gets injured: sign a veteran. I would expect to see Kevan Smith or even Wilson Ramos on this roster before Rene Pinto or Ford Proctor.
Catchers (2): Francisco Mejia, Mike Zunino
Infielders
photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
Things remain the same when it comes to the infielders, especially when you have players like Vidal Brujan and Taylor Walls, whose versatility allow you to use them in almost any type of situation, including in the outfield if needed. It’s why I’ve kept both on the roster.
Infielders (6): Vidal Brujan, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco, Brandon Lowe, Taylor Walls
Outfielders
photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
Even with Luke Raley being brought in this week, I don’t see him displacing any of the three outfielders currently on the roster that play the corner spots. Now if one of them were to be moved…that could be a different story. But that hasn’t happened yet, so we can’t make that assumption.
Outfielders (5): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brett Phillips
Injured List
photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
Two players have already been moved to the 60-day injured list, and I would expect to see one more end up there. Plus, the addition of Jason Adam could allow another pitcher to take his time coming back from injury, with multiple arms returning from Tommy John and thoracic outlet surgeries.
15-day injured list: Ryan Thompson
60-day injured list: Nick Anderson, Yonny Chirinos, Tyler Glasnow