Notice: Trying to get property 'display_name' of non-object in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/src/generators/schema/article.php on line 52
keyboard_arrow_uptop

Kiss 'Em Goodbye is a series focusing on MLB teams as their postseason dreams fadewhether in September (or before), the division series, league championship series or World Series. It combines a broad overview from Baseball Prospectus, a front-office take from former MLB GM Jim Bowden, a best- and worst-case scenario ZiPS projection for 2012 from Dan Szymborski, and Kevin Goldstein's farm system overview.

Today we look at the Tampa Bay Rays. It's time to kiss 'em goodbye.

Projected 2012 Lineup
A full season of Jennings will make this lineup a lot more potent, but they still have a big hole at first base and DH, which are spots most teams get a lot of offensive production from.

Batting order
LF: Desmond Jennings
CF: B.J. Upton
3B: Evan Longoria
RF: Matt Joyce
2B: Ben Zobrist
1B: ?
DH: ?
C: John Jaso
SS: Sean Rodriguez

Rotation
SP: David Price
SP: James Shields
SP: Matt Moore
SP: Jeremy Hellickson
SP: Jeff Niemann


Bowden's Bold Move
The Rays two biggest long-term needs are catcher and first base and they could use either Wade Davis or Jeff Niemann as trade bait to solve those issues. The Rays will target clubs that have multiple top prospect catchers, such as the Toronto Blue Jays with Travis D'Arnaud and J.P. Arencibia, as well as the Cincinnati Reds, who have both Devin Mesoraco and Yasmani Grandal. Among the first base prospects on their trade target list are the Reds' Yonder Alonso, who is blocked at the major league level by Joey Votto, and Brett Wallace of the Astros, who was a disappointment in 2011 but is still considered a future No. 5 hole hitter. Logan Morrison of the Marlins, who could be moved from left field to first, is also a possibility, since the Marlins are looking for starting pitching, as is Mike Carp, who is behind Justin Smoak in Seattle.

The Rays should look to trade Davis to the Reds as the centerpiece of a package that would net them Alonso and/or Grandal. Davis has a 4.22 ERA in almost 400 career innings in the AL East, and his numbers would look a lot better in the NL Central. If that doesn't work out, then a deal with the Blue Jays for first baseman Adam Lind or D'Arnaud could be made.

The Rays need to trade for inexpensive offensive that they control and they have the pitching depth to make it happen. Jim Bowden

Hopes and Fears
Best-case scenario ZiPS projection: 96-66

The coda to the season, being the first team eliminated from the playoffs, is ultimately unsatisfying, but the Rays can still be proud of the 2011 team. Generally written off after an extremely poor start, the Rays were an elite team after the first week of the season. Kotchman and Johnny Damon are both free agents, but the rest of the core remains intact for 2012. Some may say that the Rays lucked into Kotchman, but as long as the team is willing to continue to make low-risk, high-upside moves, the team should be able to at least adequately replace him. As usual, the Rays have a surplus of starting pitching thanks to the latest products of their pitching factoryMoore and Alex Cobband should be able to address weaknesses with trades in the offseason.

Worst-case scenario: 79-83
The offense isn't as deep as the pitching staff, and while it'll be nice to have Desmond Jennings for a whole season in the majors, the lineup is unlikely to be good enough to compensate if the Rays finally roll snake eyes and are unlucky with the pitching next year. Even having seven legitimate major league starters is no guarantee; the Boston Red Sox didn't expect to be starting Kyle Weiland or Andrew Miller down the stretch either. The Rays are a tightly-run organization and are equipped to deal with nasty surprises, but they're not invincible. Dan Szymborski, Baseball Think Factory

Organizational Future
The Rays have long been a model for drafting and player development, but now that they're good and not drafting at the top anymore, the superstar pipeline might be running thin. Matt Moore (who to be fair, was an eighth-round pick) is the best pitching prospect in baseball, but the system falls off quickly from there, as the last three draft have failed to produce, with the ugly performances this year by 2010 first round picks Josh Sale and Justin O'Conner especially glaring. For the first time in a long time, this is not one of the best systems in the game, and the Rays could be challenged to remain competitive in baseball's toughest division. Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus

A version of this story originally appeared on ESPN Insider Insider.

Thank you for reading

This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.

Subscribe now
You need to be logged in to comment. Login or Subscribe
SaberTJ
10/05
What exactly is a projection of a 5-hole hitter for Wallace? Is this a 5 hole hitter on the Yankees or the Astros?
jedjethro
10/06
Brett Wallace really? Maybe in an alternate universe where he's at least an average hitter for a first baseman.
Dawsonb
10/05
Uhh, Wade Davis for Adam Lind? Ok, I'm cool with that. Do thatdeal now, please.
timber
10/05
If the Rays need a first baseman, surely Bowden must think that the ultimate splash would be Prince. The heck with budgets!
EricMeeker
10/05
I know its not the Rays way, but Albert Pujols would be a great fit for this lineup. Obviously he'd be a good fit for just about any team, but he seems to me to be a perfect fit for the Rays. Most of the names Jim Bowden mentions won't help in 2012, and this team is set up to win for the next several seasons, so it may make sense to gamble on signing a Hall of Famer to help get them get over the top. I just don't see Mesoraco or Alonso as being that guy next year or the year after. A bold move for the Rays would be to go for it, not swap prospects. Of course I have no expectations that TB will be in on the Pujols sweepstakes.
nalex83
10/06
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/article1195248.ece
jdouglass
10/06
If the Rays are going after a big-hitting 1B who was in the STL organization in 2011, I'd think Matt Adams before I'd think Pujols.
ddufourlogger
10/05
Hadn't thought of the Rays as a match to the Reds for a trade, but it makes some sense. No way they'd want Davis or Niemann though; the Reds have plenty of #4 and 5 starters. Shields, maybe. He with Hak-Ju Lee or Alex Torres for Alonso and Grandal might fly...
Deadheadbrewer
10/05
Of all the teams, TB seems the best place for Fielder or Pujols. Most teams are set at 1B or aren't in contention, but the Rays have need and would look DARN good with one of those two players batting fourth. Their payroll was only something like $41M this year, so perhaps there's room to add a $20M 1B? I guess the question is--is there anything that the Rays can do that will finally put fans in the seats?
mrdannyg
10/05
Niemann or Davis as part of a deal for Arencibia or D'Arnaud is actually a pretty workable solution. As a Jays fan, I hope we're getting more than that in a deal, but he makes a fair point.

Not sure I see Adam Lind going anywhere, as I think the Jays would consider him to be undervalued now, and haven't shown much trust in Cooper. If trades like this ever happened, I could see something like Arencibia and Cooper in a deal involving Archer, McGee or Torres.
marshaja
10/06
Bowden's template.

IF 'Team needs first basemen'
then IF 'team has money'
then 'Sign Prince Fielder'
else 'Trade for Yonder Alonso'
else 'Make something else up'
hotstatrat
10/06
This sort of complaint is really getting tiresome. Fielder and Alonso are available - that's why they keep getting mentioned. Do you want something creative and implausible or repetitive and realistic? Do you have a better idea?
jedjethro
10/06
The Rockies have never liked Chris Iannetta. I bet the Rays could easily pry him away. That would be at least one good on-base bat with some power
eighteen
10/06
This would makes sense if Iannetta's defense and ability to work with pitchers can overcome his offensive limitations. Unless he has a lot to offer behind the plate, I'd go after the kids with the big upside.
Oleoay
10/06
"Mike Carp, who is behind Justin Smoak" - Damning with faint praise
Dawsonb
10/10
How about Desmond Jennings for Travis D'arnaud and Travis Snider. Is that fair? That Jays would need to add more, correct?