The Rays have a prime opportunity in the AL East and in the AL in general.
The Red Sox are looking the weakest they ever have in most recent memory considering they just won a world series two years back. After only winning 84 games last year they face even more challenges this year seeing as they no longer have the face of the franchise Mookie Betts and also considering the state of their precarious-looking rotation and bullpen plan just keeps getting worse with the recent news of frontline ace Chris Sale facing more injury problems.
The AL superteam in Houston that knocked the Rays out in the ALDS last year is showing signs of weakness after losing the top starting pitcher in baseball to free agency in Gerrit Cole, as well as having to face the forthcoming immense amount of hatred from everyone in the MLB who’s pissed that they didn’t get punished nearly enough for their highly illegal sign-stealing scandal.
And the toughest beast Tampa Bay will have to go through in New York is already facing lots of injury trouble to their rotation. Breakout young starter Domingo German will be starting the first quarter and a bit of the season on the restricted list following the released case of his domestic abuse. The ever-talented lefty James Paxton will be out for at least three months after receiving surgery to his back. And the most shocking recent news of former frontline ace Luis Severino being shut down for all of 2020 surely is the biggest blow to that Yankees pitching staff. The offense is also taking some licks as both sluggers Judge and Stanton are already facing injury problems. That’s not to say though that this Yankees team is now in flux because they certainly are not, but they are in a very vulnerable spot as far as superteams can be and it’s worth noting that all these factors should be a key factor for the Rays being able to win more games this year.
The Rays must surely see all the news and realize that they now have a prime opportunity to win lots of games and be something more than just a wild card hopeful team. They spent the offseason making sure one of the top pitching staffs in baseball would be healthy come opening day hoping to see the Snell-Morton-Glasnow and Co. rotation in full action for 2020, as well as bolstering a middle of the pack offense by trading for and signing new bats with lots of upside. New Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo will certainly add lots of pop to a Rays lineup lacking home runs and even add versatility to the infield and outfield platooning plan that will be in full effect. They also traded for offensively minded hitters in both Jose Martinez and Hunter Renfroe, as well as intriguing outfielders with lots of prospect in Manuel Margot and Randy Arozarena. Some of the players on last years roster are also projected to take some even bigger steps forward with guys like shortstop stalwart Willy Adames primed for an offensive breakout or even slugger Yandy Diaz, who if healthy has the chance to be a top hitter in the game with his tremendous line-drive power.
This is a Rays squad that is one of the strongest ever in franchise history coming off of a 96 win season and not planning to slow down there. For all the criticism they receive from the media constantly regarding unorthodox strategies or criminally underpaying their star players, the Rays have persevered and followed their own teambuilding plan to get to the position they are with their team currently. They know the division and league they play in is tough and that was always in the mind of Rays fans when thinking about playoff chances and beyond that, but now with the AL East and the rest of the league as open as it is now, the Rays must hit the ground running come opening day and try to keep that momentum going as long as they can.
And if they can make it that far, well who knows? Maybe Troptober in the World Series won’t be such a far fetched idea.
