Saw this post from @rays.outlet on instagram about the projected lineup via fan graphs, had a few opinions I would like to share

The catcher problem: I like the fedducia/fortes duo, I think Fedducia has honestly huge upside, I really like what he brings to the table I think they just need to deal with him having bad production, to help him develop, I think one of the main reasons the rays haven’t had an above average catcher (apart from zunino that one year) is because they always bring in older guys that they don’t let develop long enough in the big leagues. Obviously it would be incredible to bring in a guy like j.t realmuto, but we have to think about it at the end of the day it’s just not going to happen.

Middle infielders: I think a move definitely has to be made, obviously we’re all holding out for Marte, but we can’t sit here and act like he’s 100% going to end up a Ray. As much as I want Carson Williams to play in the big leagues all year I am not opposed to him spending some time in Durham to hopefully fix the strikeout problem. But one thing is for sure, we cannot have Taylor walls and Richie palacios playing the middle infield and expect to be competitive. Some alternatives, I think moving Aranda to second and have yandy primarily at first would work in the long run, and possibly even converting chandler simpson to second base, if their not gonna use his speed in center field because his arm and route running is weak, why not just plug him at second like he did in college. I also think a trade for Luis rengifo would be good, realistically i think that’s the option their going to take, wouldn’t take much to get him and would provide the defense we were missing from b Lowe.

Pitching needs to be addressed: I think the rotation of Shane, ras, pepiot, Boyle, and matz would work but I think we need another 4 or 5 starter just because I’m worried about Boyle, the way that he can be one of the best pitchers in the league for 2 weeks, to being the worst, another pitcher just to protect us from a Boyle implosion would be nice, I think the bullpen is good where it’s at, maybe another arm that has soldified himself, but I think we also need to remember that the eras were inflated last year due to gms

23 comments

  3. The bottom of that lineup is when you visit the restroom because I see a lot 123 innings if the big dogs don’t eat

  11. It is very hard to see this as a true contending roster. I actually quite like the pitching both in the rotation and the pen, and the team defense can hopefully be better up the middle.

    But the outfield was a disaster last year and in response the front office basically just scrapped together a bunch misfit toys and is gonna hope for the best again. Are we really trying year 3 of the “maybe Josh Lowe is good and healthy this season”? Maybe Melton can be an everyday mainstay out there and the Rays are right about him but there is very little to get excited about out there

  12. This roster is very very bad. Walls as anything other than a platoon start here and there make them not a serious team.

  16. There will be no injuries this year! I’m putting it out there. None! The healthiest season in Rays history.

    Oh man, we are screwed.

  17. I think we’d no better just having Taylor patrol the whole middle infield and have a pitcher bat than risk Richie getting hurt 1 play into the season.

  18. Not a very inspiring lineup. They’ve surprised me in the past though so I guess we’ll see.

  21. Ian Seymour is next in line if any of the top 5 SP go down, and we have depth behind him (Yoendrys Gomez, Joe Rock, Osvaldo Bido). I’m not too worried about the rotation. 

    That offense as it stands is not the offense of a contender. We have a BLowe shaped hole at 2nd. Mullins in OF is an improvement over someone like Morel but IDK how much he really moves the needle. He was an All Star in 2021 but it’s 2026 now. I don’t know if JLowe is the answer in RF anymore, seeing as he’s had only one good year in his career, in 2023. Catcher continues to be a question mark.

    As it stands this is probably a 75ish win team. Not truly bad but not good enough to contend in the brutal AL East. We’ll have moments of hope but be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

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