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Rays formally announce 60-man player pool; Noteworthiness

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Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays Rays formally announced their 60-man player pool ahead of Sunday’s roster deadline. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays announced the 60-man player pool that skipper Kevin Cash and Rays Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Erik Neander will draw from for the team’s 30-man Opening Day roster.

Note: those not on the 40-man roster are designated by a *, while those in italics are headed to Port Charlotte. Finally, those designated by ** are MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects.

Pitchers (30)

Jose Alvarado, Nick Anderson, Anthony Banda, Shane Baz* **, Jalen Beeks, Diego Castillo, Yonny Chirinos, Dylan Covey*, John Curtiss*, Oliver Drake, Peter Fairbanks, Josh Fleming*, Sean Gilmartin*, Tyler Glasnow, Andrew Kittredge, Aaron Loup*, Shane McClanahan*, Brendan McKay**, Sam McWilliams*, Charlie Morton, Colin Poche, Trevor Richards, Chaz Roe, Joe Ryan*, Ryan Sherriff*, Aaron Slegers*, Blake Snell, DJ Snelten*, Ryan Thompson*, Ryan Yarbrough.

Catchers (5)

Roberto Hernandez, Chris Herrmann*, Michael Perez, Kevan Smith*, Mike Zunino

Infielders (15)

Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Vidal Brujan**, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Lucius Fox, Wander Franco* **, Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe, Jose Martinez, Kevin Padlo, Esteban Quiroz*, Daniel Robertson, Taylor Walls*, Joey Wendle.

Outfielders (10)

Randy Arozarena, Dylan Cozens*, Kevin Kiermaier, Ryan LaMarre*, Josh Lowe*, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brian O’Grady, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo.

In a Zoom call, Neander noted that versatility, flexibility, and depth are the strengths of the roster.

The position player side, I think we’ve got a group that allows us a lot of flexibility with how we match up on any given night from a handedness standpoint, from a positional versatility standpoint. There’s a lot of different ways we can put a starting lineup together. Certainly on the pitching side, versatility, adaptability has been our thing. We have a lot of pitchers that are conditioned to suit us in a lot of different roles.

— Erik Neander

The 60-man player pool is grouped by players who will participate in Summer Camp at Tropicana Field (37 players) and those who will work out at Charlotte Sports Park (23 players). Those in St. Petersburg will compete for the 30 Opening Day roster spots, while the others will participate in player development activities while also staying prepared should they be added to the taxi squad.

The bulk of the 60-man player pool was focused on big-league depth.

First and foremost we prioritized what we felt we needed to help our Major League club. And then hit a point where we had some spots we could play with where if things go haywire we have some pleasant surprises from guys in our system, kind of identified the next wave of sorts that could potentially be well down the list in terms of Major League options for us but kind of that next wave and could benefit developmentally from the experience.

— Erik Neander

Wunderkind Wander Franco, Vidal Brujan, Shane Baz, Josh Lowe, and Shane McClanahan are among those that will participate in Port Charlotte. Meanwhile, Esteban Quiroz, who played in Triple-A last season, was acquired after the pandemic began; Quiroz was a player to be named later in a trade with San Diego.

Neander expects that all big-league coaches will remain in St. Petersburg, while Field Coordinator Michael Johns will oversee the group in Port Charlotte.

As per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), the players in the 60-man pool who are not on the 40-man roster still have to be added to that group through a transaction to play for the Rays. Additions to the 60-player pool can be made, but any player removed from the group cannot be added again.

Ball clubs will start the season with a 30-man active roster for the first two weeks of the shortened 60-game campaign. The roster then will be reduced to 28, and finally to 26 for the balance of the season. Any player who contracts COVID-19 will not count against the 60-man player pool or the 40-man roster until they are deemed healthy.

In a piece on the Rays Radio blog, Solondz reckoned there are five key questions that Neander and Cash will seek to answer as they determine the Opening Day roster:

  1. How many pitchers will they carry? With 30 players, there’s no limit at the start of the season as to the total number of pitchers a team can carry. Since you’re protecting your position players from injury too, would an even split make sense, or would you carry more pitchers or more position players?
  2. How far are the starting pitchers stretched out and how many starters do the Rays use? Are any of the Rays starters able to go five or six innings by Opening Day? One would think Tampa Bay will be cautious, especially with the possibility of at most just a few exhibition games. Could the Rays use a six-pitcher rotation? Seattle is one example of a team that already has committed to this idea to start. If starters are able to give the Rays five innings, does that limit the need for as many bulk pitchers (Brendan McKay, Jalen Beeks, Anthony Banda, Trevor Richards)? If that’s the case, Tampa Bay would have a greater need for more true relief pitchers. Also, remember that there are unique extra-inning rules and this likely means less total innings to cover another important consideration.
  3. Do the Rays add a non-roster player? This would require a 40-man move, and the team could do that without waiving anyone by putting Brent Honeywell on the 60-day injured list since he’s not expected to pitch for Tampa Bay this year. That’s assuming the team was willing to start his MLB service clock. Right now, reliever Aaron Loup and catchers Kevan Smith and Chris Herrmann are the three non-roster players slated to workout at Tropicana Field. Part of this determination would depend upon how each of the players performs and looks over the next few weeks.
  4. How does the pitching total impact the position player pool? Do the Rays have 14 pitchers, 15, more than that? How does this impact the position players selected? Once the number of position players is determined, the Rays will have to make sure they have the right amount of flexibility, and that includes positional coverage, or a balance in terms of lefties, righties, and switch-hitters on the roster. Can Tampa Bay carry multiple extra right-handed infielders like Mike Brosseau and Daniel Robertson? The same applies to having Nate Lowe since there are left-handed bats Yoshi Tsutsugo, Brandon Lowe, Joey Wendle, and Ji-Man Choi that can play the infield.
  5. Do the Rays get creative with the 30-player roster? If the roster is expanded, you could add a third catcher. However, adding catchers Smith or Herrmann would require a roster move as mentioned above. Another consideration is having a possible player that would primarily as a late-inning or extra-inning pinch-runner. Remember that the tenth inning begins with a runner at second. Would you consider putting a Vidal Brujan or a Lucius Fox on the team to handle that sort of role, or would the lack of MLB experience make the Rays less likely to go that route?

Noteworthiness

— Both Yoshi Tsutsugo and Ji-Man Choi are expected to be back in time for the opening of Summer Camp, on Thursday.

— Neander: “I really, really, really like our group.”

— According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), Rays officials are “actively exploring” ways to attend games at Tropicana Field this season. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman isn’t discounting the idea.

The mayor is open-minded on this. He’s talked to the Rays. Everyone would like to see the trajectory of the (coronavirus) data change. But the mayor is receptive to learning more. … Let’s hear more about how we keep everyone safe.

— Mayor Rick Kriseman’s communications director Ben Kirby

Topkin also said Rays officials confirmed they are looking for ways to host fans at the Trop while working with area authorities about coronavirus concerns.

We miss the passionate support our fans bring to Tropicana Field and Al Lang Stadium, but the health and safety of our fans, players, coaches, and staff remains paramount to our reopening plans. We continue to work closely with local authorities and experts to determine a safe path forward.

— Brian Auld

Given the spike in COVID-19 cases, it would appear that the key sticking points would be plans for socially distanced seating and the number of fans that would be allowed to attend games. Under the state’s phased reopening plan, venues could open at 50% capacity, but the Rays seem likely to target a lower number.

— In the same article, Topkin spoke with Tampa Mayor Jayne Castor about the continued attempts by Tampa and Hillsborough County officials to woo the team away from St. Petersburg.

To be clear, Tampa officials recently moved a CRA away from downtown and to areas of actual need, i.e. Tampa’s already non-existent stadium funding apparatus is now even more non-existent. That’s not to mention COVID-19, an economic recession (if not depression), and Tampa’s police chief who is losing the faith of citizens and local leaders based on his response to the Black Lives Matter protests and marches across the bay.

If I may, this is the opposite of the Overton Window — using a milquetoast distraction to draw attention away from Castor’s formidable first-term challenges. Mayor Castor, how about reallocating police funding to things the community actually needs and let the mayor of St. Petersburg worry about the Rays when the time is right?

— C’mon Burgers and Tampons, wear your masks.

— In all seriousness people, wear your damn masks.

— For the love of God, WEAR A FUCKING MASK!

Rays players and staff are cautiously excited for the shortened 2020 season

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SS Willy Adames making a play during Spring Training 1.0, earlier this year.

If Tyler Glasnow had to sum up a collective feeling shared by his teammates in one word, it would likely be “ecstatic.”

Everyone was just ecstatic. We’re all in the group chat, so I think guys are just arranging to travel back to Tampa (Bay) or wherever they’re going. And then we’re going to pick it up from there.

— Tyler Glasnow

Even though the 60-game 2020 campaign could be perceived as a public health disaster waiting to happen — which is a very valid criticism of the league’s plan — it would appear that barring any unforeseen circumstances, Spring Training will resume the middle of next week.

Tampa Bay enters Spring Training 2.0 ahead of its peers in some respects. Over the past month, between 10 and 18 players have participated in voluntary staggered workouts at Tropicana Field three times a week. Rays skipper Kevin Cash told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) that that would help them in a shortened season, in a media Zoom call on Wednesday.

I think it’s been very helpful. Certainly, it’s been beneficial to the players in getting them built up. We’ve learned a lot over the last month on implementing some of our own protocols.

— Kevin Cash

Cash also praised the buy-in by the staff, including players, who have been respectful of the safety protocols that have been enforced over the last month. Supplementary details, on how the team will practice once camp officially opens on Wednesday, are expected over the next few days.

While none of the big-leaguers on the roster have come down with COVID-19, Rays General Manager Erik Neander acknowledged the challenge ahead of the team during the media Zoom call.

We’re going to have to be extra cautious, we’re going to have to be disciplined, there’s going to have to be some sacrifices made, all for the spirit of trying to give our team a chance to compete this year and get this season in. I think we all collectively recognize what’s at stake and that we’re going to have to be really disciplined in our behaviors to make sure we’re not putting any individual at risk, we’re not putting families at risk in any undue ways and we have the opportunity to play.

— Erik Neander

Tampa Bay will be faced with a difficult slate of games, which will prove to be challenging for the Rays.

Consider that two-thirds of the schedule will be against division rivals, while the other third will come against some fairly accomplished National League East teams. The Yankees will be a good team once again, and Boston’s pitching staff should benefit from the shortened season. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have a young talented squad, and the abbreviated season could work in their favor. Then there are the Interleague matchups, which will include 14 games against the reigning World Series champions, not to mention Atlanta, the Phillies, and the Mets. Contrast that with a team like the Twins or Cleveland, who will battle teams from the other two Central Divisions. They may have an advantage in accruing additional wins … wins that could benefit either squad in the hunt for a postseason berth.

Still, a 60-game sprint could benefit the Rays pitching staff, one of the best in the game. Aside from building up any given hurler, neither Cash nor Kyle Snyder will need to worry about limiting the number of bullets fired by Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, Yonny Chirinos, Tyler Glasnow, and Brendan McKay. Neil Solondz put things succinctly, saying, “In a 60-game season, even if a player makes 12 starts and averages seven innings (highly unlikely based on the buildup time and the depth of the Rays staff), that’s only 84 innings.”

Moreover, depth favors Tampa Bay. The Rays used 57 position players in 2019, and 33 pitchers. The pitching staff likely won’t be stretched out by the end of July, making relievers or bulk pitchers that can throw 50-to-60 pitches incredibly valuable. If, for example, Charlie Morton can toss four-to-five innings in his first few starts, the Rays should have enough pitching depth to fill the middle innings before Cash can turn to the back end of the bullpen.

To that end, Neander revealed a priority heading into Sunday’s “Summer Camp” roster deadline: add players that can help the club win as many games as possible during the shortened regular season. Put another way, Neander wants to carry enough depth to protect the team from injury or illness. The last few spots on the taxi squad will be used for developmental purposes, which will benefit prospects like Shane McClanahan and Wander Franco, both of whom now have a shot of making their big league debut in 2020.

Neil Solondz likewise touched on the subject of overall team health, which will play a large role this season. “This covers two areas. For one, the coronavirus. It’s certainly an unknown and the situation with the Phillies in Clearwater that if one case can become a cluster quite quickly. It’s especially a concern in Florida as case numbers continue to rise. If the virus impacts a team for multiple weeks that can be the difference between making the postseason and not doing so. Remember that there are still only 10 playoff spots, so margins will be quite thin. In addition, it’s also unclear what kind of physical condition all players are in, and how quickly they’ll be able to ramp up and return to form. Are muscular injuries like groins, hamstrings, etc more likely to occur? Remember that any injury, even if it’s “minor” and causes an individual to miss two weeks, that amounts to nearly a quarter of a season. The teams that stay the healthiest have a huge advantage in a shortened year.”

One thing is certain, it will be incumbent on the Rays to get off to a quick start since they could ostensibly win or lose the AL East with a bad month, or even one or two bad weeks of play.

At any rate, a 2020 season no longer appears to be a hypothetical concept … fingers crossed, of course.

MLB announces 60-game 2020 season

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As seen on the Tampa Bay Rays Instagram site.

After Major League Baseball’s owners unanimously agreed to launch a 60-game season on Monday, the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association finalized a return-to-play game plan Tuesday night. Rays players will report to Tropicana Field on July 1, while Spring Training — albeit an abbreviated camp — will resume two days later, on July 3.

In the interest of health and safety for players and personnel, there will be some new rules and procedures. Anthony Castrovince (MLB.com) created a handy guide to all of those changes, procedures, and safety protocols, which you can read below:

When does the season start?

After the July 1 report date and an abbreviated camp, the regular season is anticipated to begin on July 23-24.

How many games will be played?

MLB has submitted a proposed 60-game schedule to the MLBPA to review. It has not yet been finalized. To limit travel distances, teams would play a majority of games against their division opponents (40, or 10 against each division opponent) and the rest against their geographic counterpart in the other league (in other words, AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, AL West vs. NL West).

What is the postseason format?

The same it has been since 2012: Five playoff teams from each league (three division winners, two Wild Card winners), with the winner of the Wild Card Game in the AL and NL advancing to a best-of-five Division Series against the top division winner. The League Championship Series and World Series remain best-of-seven.

Will the designated hitter be used in both leagues?

Yes. Though the universal DH for both 2020 and 2021 was part of a proposal rejected by the players, it remains a piece of the 2020 health and safety protocols. With an abbreviated “second Spring Training,” an effort is being made not to overtax pitchers by having them hit.

So for now, it is possible that the NL could return to its traditional rules with pitchers hitting again in 2021.

Where will camps take place?

Most clubs are expected to conduct training at the ballparks in their home cities (not their Spring Training facilities).

Will there still be a Trade Deadline?

Yes. But instead of July 31, it will be Aug. 31. Players must be on a club’s roster by Sept. 15 in order to be eligible for postseason play.

What will the rosters look like?

To help ease players into competition, each club will have a 30-man roster for the first two weeks, 28 for the next two weeks, and 26 for the remainder of the season.

Teams will submit lists of 60 players eligible to play in 2020 — the 40-man roster plus a “taxi squad” of 20 players.

Will there be any in-game rule changes?

With a tight schedule and a desire to limit time on the field, the Minor League rule for extra innings will be in effect. That means every half-inning after the ninth will begin with a runner on second base. The designated runner would be the player who made the final out in the prior half-inning (or a pinch-runner for that player), and the pitcher would not be charged with an earned run if that runner scores (it would be scored as if the runner had reached on an error).

Please note that this rule is only in place for 2020 and only in effect for the regular season. Extra innings in the postseason would not begin with a runner on second.

Anything else related to gameplay I should know?

Yes, a few things to note.

1. Position players pitching: There was supposed to be a new restriction for 2020 that said position players could only pitch if the game was in extra innings or their team was ahead or trailing by more than six runs. There will be no such requirement for this season.

2. Three-batter minimum: This is an offseason rule change for 2020 that will remain. Relievers who enter the game must face at least three batters or finish an inning before being removed (with exceptions for injury or illness).

3. Suspended games: If a game gets cut short due to weather before it becomes official (less than five innings), it will be continued at a later date rather than started from scratch.

What protocols will be in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Among the most pertinent measures are as follows:

• Players, coaches, and support staff will be tested for COVID-19 every other day during Spring Training, the regular season, and postseason.

• Players will receive temperature/symptom checks twice per day.

• Antibody testing will be conducted once per month.

• Social distancing will be encouraged as much as possible both on the field and off. Players and other team personnel not participating in the game will be sitting in the stands, at least six feet apart.

• Non-playing personnel must wear masks in the dugout and bullpen at all times.

• No pregame exchange of lineup cards.

• No celebratory contact (high-fives, fist bumps, hugs, etc.).

• No spitting or chewing of tobacco and/or sunflower seeds. Chewing gum is allowed.

• A ball will be thrown out once it has been touched by multiple players.

• Fights are strictly prohibited.

What happens if a player tests positive for COVID-19?

There will be a COVID-19 related injured list, with no minimum or maximum length of placement. A player may be placed on that list based on a positive COVID-19 test or confirmed exposure or if a player exhibits symptoms requiring self-isolation for further assessment. Any player who tests positive will not be allowed to return until he tests negative twice.

What about the regular injured list?

Rather than a 10-day injured list for position players and a 15-day injured list for pitchers, there will be a 10-day injured list for all players in the shortened season. The 60-day injured list will be reduced to 45 days.

What if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in a team’s city?

MLB has the right to relocate teams — in the regular season and postseason — to neutral sites for health and safety reasons.

Noteworthiness

— On Tuesday, the Rays officially added first-round draft pick Nick Bitsko, to a long list of highly acclaimed pitching prospects within Tampa Bay’s farm system.

https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1275552749430681601?s=20

According to Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), Bitsko’s $3-Million signing bonus is slightly more than the $2,831,300 slot value for the No. 24 pick.

Obviously it’s a great organization, and they’re top-level in developmental and stuff like that. The reclassification decision back in the fall, I think it was the right decision overall for me to do something and further my career in baseball and see how far I can take this throughout pro ball and see how far I can go. …I think it’s a great day, obviously a big, I guess, relief … not having to worry about the shenanigans and stuff like that. It’ll be fun to see how I develop this summer.

— Nick Bitsko

— Rays player representative, Tyler Glasnow, told Marc Topkin the team realizes that sacrifices during the 60-game abbreviated season have to be made.

I think everybody understands that you’re not going to be out and living your normal life. There’s sacrifices to be made. The majority of people’s schedule will be home-field-home, and that’s kind of how it has to be for the next two-three months. …We’ve had a good amount of conversation about that. Charlie (Morton) and a few other dudes, a lot of us have mentioned that we kind of need to kind of lookout for one another. That nobody can go out and be irresponsible at this point. Everybody needs to follow the same rules, whether it’s at home or on the road. We’re going to have to really grind the season out, limit our exposure as much as possible, and then just do whatever you want in the offseason.

— Tyler Glasnow

“There will definitely be a 60-game season”

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It would appear that something other than wedding ceremonies WILL take place at the Trop in 2020. (Photo Credit: Unknown)

After negotiations with the Major League Baseball Players Association failed to result in an agreed-upon deal, the league issued a statement on Monday — Major League Baseball’s 30 owners unanimously agreed to launch a 60-game 2020 season. The vastly condensed campaign will proceed under the terms of the late March agreement previously reached between the league and the MLBPA.

“There will definitely be a 60-game season,” Tweeted Bob Nightengale (USA Today), yet both sides still have to reach an agreement on labor and health and safety protocols, delaying Manfred’s final implementation of the season.

Assuming the union agrees to restart Spring Training, and sign off on health and safety protocols, players will show up to their home cities for workouts. They will also undergo several days of COVID-19 testing before they begin a three-week Spring Training camp starting in early July. The 60-game regular season will start the weekend of July 24 and will feature universal DH and expanded playoffs.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred “told MLB owners that he had no plans to implement a season Monday or even Tuesday, a high-ranking official told USA TODAY Sports,” writes Nightengale.

And while that delay does leave open the slightest of cracks for one last round of negotiations, after months of failed discussions, it doesn’t seem likely that an agreement will be met in the next few days.

We will have more on this as the news unfolds.

Noteworthiness

— I love baseball, and I love the Rays, however, I’m not sure how I feel about the league’s decision. Give me a few days to put my thoughts together.

— For what it’s worth, Rays players continue to work out at the Trop:

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Tossin’ it around

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Do I even ask the question? #whenandwhere

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Tampa Bay Rays 2020 draft selections (day two)

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The Tampa Bay Rays picked LHP Ian Seymour, out of Virginia Tech, as their second-round pick of the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft.

The Tampa Bay Rays capped the final day of the 2020 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by selecting three pitchers — LHP Ian Seymour, and right-handers Hunter Barnhart and Jeff Hakanson — and shortstop Tanner Murray.

Senior Director of Amateur Scouting Rob Metzler told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) that he was pleased with the overall outcome.

I thought it was a great outcome. These were players that across the board we think are talented prospects. They have the physical ability, the mental ability, the makeup, aptitude to compete their way through our system, and have impactful roles.

— Rob Metzler

As with yesterday, let’s break down Tampa Bay’s four picks.

Ian Seymour

Like Nick Bitsko before him (and likely many other amateur players) in the 2020 draft class, Seymour was hurt by COVID-19 in terms of his draft position. The lefthander went 3-0 with a 2.21 ERA and an 8.0 K/BB across 20-1/3 pre-pandemic innings. In his final start, Seymour punched out 14 batters (a school record for an ACC game) against Georgia Tech. All this after a solid showing in the Cape Cod League in 2019 where he posted a 6.5 K/BB across 25-1/3 innings.

The left-hander boasts an average 94 mph fastball that tops out at 96 mph and a plus changeup. He is also developing a slider and a cutter.

Seymour switched from a two-seam to a four-seam fastball in the Cape Cod League, which he attributes to an increase in velocity.

I was able to take the fall off at school because I threw that whole summer. With my strength coach at school, and I’m from Massachusetts so I work with Cressey Sports Performance up here. We came up with a program for weightlifting, a lot of explosive conditioning type stuff.

— Ian Seymour

Hunter Barnhart

Barnhart, the 96th overall pick, showed tremendous growth this season prior to the pandemic, with an increase of his fastball velocity to 96 mph while striking out 18 across his first 11 innings of work. The southpaw also boasts an impressive curveball and a changeup, both of which are plus pitches. Barnhart felt his velocity jumped in part due to his commitment to baseball.

The 6’2″ and 195-pound right-hander had the fifth-best control among high school pitchers according to MLB.com.

Tanner Murray

The 6’2″ 170-pound shortstop wasn’t drafted out of high school and became a walk-on to start his collegiate career. In his time at UC Davis, Murray hit .342 hitter with three home runs in a home ballpark that was 410 feet to centerfield and 385 feet to the power alleys. Scouts believe that he will accrue additional power with a turn to professional baseball.

Murray slashed .310 BA/.372 OBP/.535 SLG/.907 OPS over 16 games before the pandemic, with one home run. In 2019, he hit .364 across 64 games at UC Davis. Although he had a tough summer in the Cape Cod League, hitting .211, Murray dramatically improved his batting average in the postseason, hitting .375.

Jeff Hakanson

With their sixth and final pick of the 2020 draft (the 155th pick overall) the Rays selected Hakanson a local product who went to Jesuit High School in Tampa. The righty was off to a great start as UCF’s closer prior to the pandemic, striking out 20, and allowing just one walk and one hit over 8-1/3 scoreless frames. Hakanson earned saves in six of his seven outings, all of which were scoreless.

Hakanson watched the Rays as a kid and told Solondz how excited he is by the selection.

It’s just incredible. There’s no way to put it into words. Just going to Rays game as a kid, just hoping one day I could be out there.

— Jeff Hakanson

The right-hander boasts a 94-97 mph fastball and a power slider. He is also developing a two-seam heater and a better changeup. His herky-jerky delivery — which adds deception — paired with a high spin rate makes it difficult for batters to barrel up Hakanson.