ORSP: Tampa Bay Rays

We begin our Offseason Review Season Preview (ORSP) this week with the AL East.  The order for our reviews are based on the final standings from the 2010 season, so the winner of the AL East last year was the Tampa Bay Rays, who were ousted by the Rangers in the Division Series.

Biggest Additions: Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta, Casey Kotchmann

Biggest Subtractions: Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Rafael Soriano, Grant Balfour, Dan Wheeler, Randy Choate

Offseason Review: We knew going into the offseason that the chances of the Rays signing Pena or Crawford were going to be pretty low, and that there was some talk of trading Garza.  What we didn’t know was that all three players were going to be gone as we entered the 2011 season.  However, what we also didn’t expect was the fact that the Rays would go out and sign Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon – both solid players, even though they are well past their prime of 5-7 years ago with the Red Sox.  But perhaps the biggest win for the Rays was getting these two players for a mere $7.25 million guaranteed.  To put that salary in perspective, two years ago, Manny held out for a $20 mil/year deal with the Dodgers.  In the long term, we may see this as a solid offseason for the Rays – because they were able to land 3 of the Cubs’ top 10 prospects in exchange for Garza, but, when it’s all said and done, they lost one of their top players and a bullpen piece to a division rival (Crawford and Wheeler both went to the Red Sox), and one of their best bullpen pieces to another division rival (Soriano to the Yankees).

Season Preview: Brace yourselves, Rays fans.  You’re not making the playoffs this year.  You have to love the mix of youth and veterans, and you have to love the talent that is on this team, but the Red Sox and Yankees are going to be too much this season.  Longoria is going to have another nice season, and I would never completely count out a team with Joe Maddon at the helm, but don’t expect more than a third place finish in an always difficult AL East.  But on the bright side, at least you’ll get to see Manny being Manny… that’s a bright side, right?

Final Record: 84-78, 3rd in AL East