Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander just lately held his finish of season press convention, the place he indicated that the membership figures to prioritize bettering behind the plate after an 80-82 season that noticed them stave off elimination from postseason rivalry till the ultimate week of September regardless of participating in a serious sell-off previous to the commerce deadline. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions relayed a few of Neander’s feedback from the tip of season presser, the place he discusses the choice to promote over the summer time and the membership’s future headed into 2025.
When discussing his resolution to dump key, controllable items like outfielder Randy Arozarena and third baseman Isaac Paredes at this summer time’s commerce deadline, Neander readily acknowledge the likelihood that the membership might have been capable of cobble collectively sufficient further wins to sneak into the postseason had they determined in opposition to promoting. With that being mentioned, Neander provided a serious signal for optimism headed into the approaching winter: After slicing greater than a 3rd of the membership’s anticipated payroll commitments for 2025 off the books over the summer time (with Topkin suggesting that $45MM in 2025 {dollars} got here off the books previous to the deadline), the Rays now have a wholesome quantity of monetary flexibility with which to function this winter.
It’s a serious change from simply final offseason, when the membership needed to half methods with costly veterans Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot as a way to get payroll inside the membership’s small market funds. This winter, not solely is an analogous cost-cutting dump not crucial, however Topkin suggests the membership may have some room to make additions this winter. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Tampa’s 12-man arbitration class to make a mixed $25.6MM in 2025. Even when Tampa retains every of these gamers and workout routines Brandon Lowe’s $10.5MM membership possibility for subsequent 12 months, RosterResource means that would depart them with slightly below $75MM on the books for subsequent 12 months. That’s $14MM under the membership’s 2024 mark, $4MM under the place the membership ended up in 2023, and $11MM under their 2022 determine.
That must be greater than sufficient payroll flexibility for the Rays to deal with their acknowledged precedence this winter of bettering behind the plate. Ben Rortvedt figures to stay in place as a member of the catching tandem after an honest season the place he posted a wRC+ of 87 whereas taking part in strong however unspectacular protection behind the plate. Discovering a right-handed catcher to enrich the lefty swinging Rortvedt, although Topkin cautions that the membership is more likely to concentrate on short-term options behind the plate given their perception in teen Dom Keegan. The 24-year-old was chosen by the Rays within the fourth spherical of the 2022 draft and since then has made it to Double-A, right here he hit a formidable .285/.371/.435 in 104 video games this 12 months.
Topkin notes that with Keegan set to start the 2025 marketing campaign in Triple-A and the potential of him rising as an possibility behind the plate as quickly as this season, Neander and his entrance workplace seemingly view Keegan as a possible long-term reply behind the plate. A great center floor for the membership may very well be pursuing an older catcher who may be extra open to a one-year deal corresponding to Elias Diaz or Kyle Higashioka. The addition of both participant would offer the membership with a strong platoon companion for Rortvedt whereas not blocking Keegan in the long term.
Except for upgrading behind the plate, Topkin provides that Neander plans to search for methods to deal with the membership’s lackluster offense. The membership’s 95 wRC+ was good for simply twenty third within the majors this 12 months, and their offensive flaws have been additional uncovered by the truth that the staff scored simply 604 runs this 12 months, lower than any membership besides the traditionally dangerous White Sox. Whereas that dearth of runs appears to counsel that the membership must look to make important modifications to the offense, Neander really instructed that he hopes the membership can enhance its offense internally.
There’s some logic to that, as offensive stalwart Yandy Diaz received off to a chilly begin in 2024 earlier than heating up and rebounding with a robust second half, whereas Christopher Morel struggled badly in his first half-season of labor away from Chicago after being dealt by the Cubs within the Paredes commerce. Extra typical seasons from Diaz and Morel, in addition to a robust first 162-game marketing campaign from thrilling teen Junior Caminero, might enhance the membership’s offense in a rush. Even so, nevertheless, it’s straightforward to think about the membership profit an amazing deal from an exterior improve to the lineup at a place corresponding to shortstop, the place each Jose Caballero and Taylor Partitions clocked in nicely under league common this 12 months.