The Tampa Bay Rays are getting set for the start of spring training, and the team is going to have a couple of key positions worth watching.
Coming into the 2026 campaign, the Rays will be an interesting team to watch. This winter, they have focused on improving their depth quite a bit, which could be something that helps them succeed over the course of a long regular season.
Injuries to key players in 2025 were one of the reasons why the team struggled in the second half and ultimately finished eight games under the .500 mark. The front office has been very active in trying to help fix that this winter with an eye toward the future as well.
Even though they have been active, they do still have a couple of looming question marks on the roster heading into the year. Who will be the starting shortstop on Opening Day is one of them, and also whether they will get enough production behind the plate. Furthermore, one of the top questions will be regarding who will be in the starting rotation.
Adam Berry of MLB recently wrote about a pitcher with something to prove on the Rays heading into 2026, being Joe Boyle.
Boyle Could Be in Rotation for Opening Day