STATE OF THE RAYS

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UPDATE 12/10/09 - 9:55 PM PST
The new projected bullpen had a combined total of 57 saves in '09 after the addition of closer Rafael Soriano (2.97 ERA, 27 Sv, 75.2 IP, 53 H, 27 BB, 102 K), acquired in a trade with the Braves for Jesse Chavez. The acquisition of the 29 year-old right-hander should put an end to the closer-by-committee approach that Tampa Bay used during the last month of the season when six different relievers recorded saves.

UPDATE 12/5/09 - 5:46 PM PST
LINEUP - After Ben Zobrist's monster season in '09 (.297 BA, 27 HR, 91 RBI, 17 SB), the only question for 2010 is where he will play on the field. That could all depend on who performs better in spring training, RF Matt Joyce (.855 OPS in AAA) or 2B Sean Rodriguez (1.005 OPS in AAA). While both players might not have much more to prove at the Triple-A level, there is likely only one starting job up for grabs. If Joyce wins out, Zobrist will settle in as the 2B. If Rodriguez wins the 2B job, Zobrist can play RF. Either way, the Rays have plenty of fire power returning with Jason Bartlett (.320 BA, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 30 SB), Carl Crawford (.305 BA, 15 HR, 68 RBI, 60 SB), Evan Longoria (.281 BA, 33 HR, 113 RBI), and Carlos Peña (.227 BA, 39 HR, 100 RBI) coming off of big seasons. B.J. Upton (.241 BA, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 42 SB) and Pat Burrell (.221 BA, 14 HR, 64 RBI) will be trying to rebound from sub-par performances. The other question mark is at catcher where the recently-acquired Kelly Shoppach (.214 BA, 12 HR, 40 RBI) will battle incumbent Dioner Navarro (.218 BA, 8 HR, 32 RBI) for the starting job. However, both are arbitration eligible and non-tender candidates, so the Rays might still shop around for an upgrade at starting catcher.

ROTATION - The rotation appears to be set with 24 year-old Wade Davis likely solidifying the #5 spot after an impressive late-season audition with the team (3.72 ERA, 36.1 IP, 33 H, 13 BB, 36 K). The front of the rotation is strong with workhorse James Shields (11-12, 4.14 ERA, 219.2 IP), who is the oldest of the group (he'll be 28 this month), lefty David Price (10-7, 4.42 ERA in 23 starts), and former ALCS MVP Matt Garza (8-12, 3.95 ERA, 203 IP, 189 K) leading the way. A question mark going into 2009, #4 starter Jeff Niemann won a rotation spot in the spring and never looked back, establishing himself as a very good major league starter (13-6, 3.94 ERA). Jeremy Hellickson (9-2, 2.45 ERA, 114 IP, 72 H, 29 BB, 132 K in 20 starts between AA and AAA) isn't far behind, but the 22 year-old will likely start the season at AAA and could be next in line.

BULLPEN - J.P. Howell has been outstanding over the past two seasons (13-6, 2.47 ERA, 20 Sv, 18 holds) and was the primary closer down the stretch in '09 but he had only one save after August 29th and Grant Balfour (5-4, 4.81 ERA, 67.1 IP, 69 K, 4 Sv, 18 holds) had saves in three of the last five wins of the season. Dan Wheeler (3.28 ERA, 16 holds in 69 relief appearances) and Lance Cormier (3.26 ERA, 6 holds in 53 relief appearances) saved two games apiece. Even 34 year-old journeyman Randy Choate (3.47 ERA, 9 holds in 61 relief appearances) got into the act, saving five games after his contract was purchased from the minors in late May. Jesse Chavez (4.01 ERA, 15 holds in 73 relief appearances) joins the group after being acquired from the Pirates for Akinori Iwamura and should be a factor in middle relief. The question is, who will be the closer in 2010? There are a few in-house options in Balfour, Howell, and Wheeler, so the Rays can either stick with one of those options, go with a bullpen-by-committee again, or go after a closer this offseason.