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Arizona Fall League starts Tuesday; Rays arbitration eligibles

The Arizona Fall League season began on Tuesday, with seven players representing the Tampa Bay Rays in Surprise, Arizona. The league is designed for some of baseball’s top Minor League prospects to refine their skills, and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who will be in attendance at almost every game.

Four pitchers and three position players will spend the next six weeks challenging themselves in Arizona. Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) gave a brief primer of the seven players representing the Rays, which you can read below:

Spencer Jones — a 10th round 2016 selection out of the University of Washington, Jones just completed his first full year in the Rays system. The 6–5 righty split time between two A-ball levels. Between Bowling Green and Charlotte, Jones was 2–4 with a 2.25 ERA over 36 outings while saving five games. In 68 innings, Jones allowed 57 hits and 21 walks while striking out 74.

Benton Moss — After missing the first half of the season due to a back injury, Moss will be picking up additional innings in the AFL. Moss, a sixth round pick in 2015 out of UNC, was 5–6 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 appearances, 14 as a starter with Charlotte and Montgomery. Moss worked 81.1 innings, after throwing 138 last year. We featured Moss in 2016 in a Prospect Spotlight profile.

Roel Ramirez — the righty was a late replacement for lefty Dalton Moats, who was to go to the AFL but was unable to because of a hand injury. Ramirez split time between Bowling Green and Charlotte. Ramirez made two appearances for the Hot Rods, going 1–0 with a 3.00 ERA. He pitched the rest of the year with the Stone Crabs, and was 2–3 with a 5.52 ERA, making 26 appearances, six as a starter. The 22-year-old Ramirez was an eight round pick in 2013 out of high school in Laredo, TX.

Burch Smith —Smith, like Moss, also is making up for lost time. After missing all of 2015 and 2016 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Smith returned to the mound this year, and finished in Triple-A Durham. Smith, who pitched in the GCL, Charlotte and Durham, was 5–3 with a 2.40 ERA over 56.1 innings and 13 appearances (12 as a starter). That doesn’t include innings Smith threw in extended spring training or the Triple-A playoffs for Durham. The Rays will decide whether to protect Smith in the Rule 5 draft (a future topic on this blog), as Tampa Bay has one more year where it controls Smith.

Brandon Lowe — the MVP of the Florida State League, Lowe was as accomplished as any hitter in the Rays system. A third round pick in 2015 from Maryland, Lowe blossomed this year, hitting .311 with 46 extra-base hits in 90 games for Charlotte. Lowe played 24 games for the Montgomery Biscuits in Double-A, and hit .253 with two homers and 12 more RBI. An area of focus for Lowe will be defense, as he had 18 errors at second base between Charlotte and Montgomery.

Kevin Padlo — the 21-year-old corner infielder missed much of the year because of a broken hamate bone, suffered while playing for the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Playing in the AFL will challenge Padlo and give him additional reps he missed during the year. In 64 games, Paldo hit .223 (.715 OPS) with 6 HR and 34 RBI for the Stone Crabs. Known for his power, Padlo was acquired in the same deal as Corey Dickerson from the Colorado Rockies.

Brett Sullivan — a conversion player who started catching in 2016, will work on getting more reps to continue to improving on his defense. A 2015 draft pick out of the University of Pacific, Sullivan has done nothing but hit since being selected by the Rays. This season, Sullivan was an All-Star in the Florida State League, hitting .301 with eight homers and 67 RBI in 83 games. Sullivan also stole 14 bases, and struck out just 29 times in 345 plate appearances, tops in the organization. Sullivan spent the last month in Montgomery, where he hit .272 with seven RBI in 24 games.

All eyes will be on Burch Smith, who seems to be the most likely of the seven to make the jump to the big leagues next season.

MLB Trade Rumors projected arbitration salaries

On Monday, Matt Swartz and MLB Trade Rumors released their annual projected arbitration salaries for the upcoming season. Of interest, the Rays have 13 arbitration eligible players on the roster: Shawn Tolleson, Adeiny Hechavarria, Dan Jennings, Brad Boxberger, Corey Dickerson, Brad Miller, Xavier Cedeno, Jake Odorizzi, Jesus Sucre, Chase Whitley, Alex Colome, Steven Souza Jr., and Matt Duffy.

The number in parentheses is a player’s estimated Major League service time (Years.Days) through 2017 (172 days constitutes a full year of Major League service, per the collective bargaining agreement).

The Rays do not have any Super Two players this season.

Shawn Tolleson (5.109) – $1.0MM
Adeiny Hechavarria (5.060) – $5.0MM
Dan Jennings (4.171) – $2.5MM
Brad Boxberger (4.109) – $1.9MM
Corey Dickerson (4.101) – $6.4MM
Brad Miller (4.094) – $4.4MM
Xavier Cedeno (4.060) – $1.4MM
Jake Odorizzi (4.042) – $6.5MM
Jesus Sucre (3.137) – $1.3MM
Chase Whitley (3.123) – $1.0MM
Alex Colome (3.118) – $5.5MM
Steven Souza (3.072) – $3.6MM
Matt Duffy (3.059) – $900K

The 13 players below are projected to make up half of the Rays current $80MM payroll (roughly $41.4MM). Stu Sternberg is expected to cut the payroll in 2018, although it is not certain is how.

Getting to know the Rays new pitching coach, Kyle Snyder

Kyle Snyder earned a World Series ring with “that team” in 2007. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

Last week the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they would be parting ways with longtime pitching coach Jim Hickey, in what was called a mutual decision. His replacement, Kyle Snyder, has spent the last four seasons as a Minor League pitching coach (or coordinator) within the Rays farm system.

“It was just time” for the Rays to shake up their coaching staff, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote on Friday. Hickey seemed likely to leave when his contract was up after the 2018 season, said he had a “difference of opinion” about the team’s plan to utilize relievers earlier games. The pitching coach has to sell those strategies to the staff, and with the young talent they have coming down the pike — be them sooner or later — Snyder is better positioned to do that, opined Topkin.

The changes to the coaching staff have resulted in just one coach (bullpen coach Stan Boroski) remaining from the Joe Maddon/Matt Friedman era, so current skipper Kevin Cash now has more of his own people in place.

He connects with pitchers in whatever way is necessary to help them get better, Cash told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday. And that has been glaring throughout the last three years of his work.

You may be asking, “who is Kyle Snyder?” Per the Rays press release, under Snyder’s watchful eye, the Triple-A Durham Bulls set a single-season Minor League record with 1,421 strikeouts this season.

Snyder, 40, becomes the eighth pitching coach in franchise history, following Rick Williams (1998-2000), Bill Fischer (2000-01), Jackie Brown (2002), Chris Bosio (2003), Chuck Hernandez (2004-05), Mike Butcher (2006) and Hickey (2007-17). He began his coaching career in 2012 and has spent all six of those seasons in the Rays organization, the last three as the pitching coach for Durham. In 2017, the Bulls pitching staff set a minor league single-season record with 1,421 strikeouts. In three seasons under Snyder, Bulls pitchers combined for a 3.61 ERA. Prior to that, he served as minor league pitching coordinator in 2014, pitching coach for the Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2013 and pitching coach for Short-A Hudson Valley Renegades in 2012.

Snyder pitched parts of five seasons in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals (2003, 2005-06) and Boston Red Sox (2006-08), appearing in 93 games with 29 starts. In 2007, his only full major league season, he compiled a 3.81 ERA over 46 relief appearances and was named to Boston’s World Series roster. He was originally drafted by the Rays in the 27th round of the 1996 June Draft out of Riverview High School in Sarasota, but did not sign. After pitching three seasons for the University of North Carolina, he was selected by Kansas City in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1999 June Draft.

For Snyder, the ups and downs of his short lived playing career have proved beneficial in his post-playing career.

I would say to some degree I think it has helped me become the pitching coach that I am, Snyder said. The experiences that I’ve gone through, the frustrations that I’ve dealt with.

It is those experiences that taught Snyder to relate to each pitcher in his charge on a personal basis, “being able to speak their language,” which helps him identify how they need to be handled.

I really try to prioritize the human being, Snyder said. The building of a relationship, understanding that establishing trust takes time. There is an element of trial and error to a lot of what we do as coaches, and without that trust it’s going to be difficult to connect and reach guys and/or influence their careers, which is the common goal.

Players like Brent Honeywell, Jacob Faria, and Ryne Stanek raved about the job he’s done.

It’s simple: look at the numbers, said tHoneywell. Look what he produces. Look at his minor-league career. He knows what he’s doing.

Faria piggybacked on Honeywell.

Everything is individualized for each pitcher he works with. There is nothing cookie-cutter about him.

Stanek also added:

He’s very good at relaying information, and knowing when somebody needs to be left alone. He has a very good feel how to help.

Cash made clear that his comfort factor with Snyder goes back to playing in Boston.

There’s a history there, and fortunately for me coming into the organization (in 2015) I felt like we kind of picked up right where we left off, Cash said. Throughout the last three years Kyle and I have had countless conversations talking about young pitchers coming up,” many of whom will be part of the staff in 2018.

The changes made for a special episode of This Week in Rays Baseball. Neil Solondz talked to GM Erik Neander, Snyder and Topkin, and you can stream that episode below.

Rays and Jim Hickey mutually part ways; team announces coaching staff moves

New broke Tuesday afternoon that the Rays have parted ways with longtime pitching coach Jim Hickey in a move that has been called mutual. (Photo Credit: Gary Shelton Sports)

The Tampa Bay Rays announced several changes to Manager Kevin Cash’s coaching staff Tuesday afternoon. Former third base coach — and former manager of the Triple-A Durham Bulls — Charlie Montoyo will take over the role of bench coach, replacing Tom Foley, who will transition to a new, unspecified position with the club. Assistant hitting coach Jamie Nelson will not return to his role as a Major League coach, and a new role for him within the organization is being explored. Finally, the biggest news of the day, the Rays and pitching coach Jim Hickey have decided to part ways after 11 seasons. Former Durham Bulls pitching coach Kyle Snyder has been promoted to Major League pitching coach in Hickey’s wake.

I am so grateful to Fo, Hick and Nelly for all of their contributions to our major league club. They are tremendous coaches and even better people, and they’ve had such positive impact throughout the Rays organization, said Cash. I’m glad that Fo and Nelly will have new opportunities to help the Rays, and I will always appreciate my time with Hick and wish him the best. At the same time, I’m excited for what Kyle will contribute to our staff, and for the wealth of experience that Charlie will bring to his new role.

This decision came as a shock to many fans, who believed that — in spite of the Rays third consecutive losing season under the tutelage of Cash — much of the coaching staff would remain unchanged going into the upcoming season.

With a year remaining on Hickey’s contract, it felt like foregone conclusion that he would return next season. Not only is he considered to be one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, but Hickey also has been with the team for over a decade. The decision was said to be mutual, and as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) — who broke the story this afternoon — put it, the likely spin will be that both sides felt it was time for a change.

The team and Hickey had a difference of opinion on the direction the team was going, one that could not be resolved.

Going forward we probably had a little bit of a difference of opinion on the strategies employed to get the most out of our pitchers, Hickey told Topkin on Tuesday. I only had one year left on my contract and I wasn’t 100 percent on board with the direction, so we simply agreed to mutually part ways one year prior than we probably would have anyway.

If body language in the dugout speaks to anything, Cash and Hickey’s relationship appeared to be tense at best, and acrimonious at worst … although that is an matter of opinion, based on the few mid-game broadcast shots of the two of them together.

Hickey, 56, joined the organization in 2007, and led the Rays pitching staff to the playoffs four times in six years. He is known for his ability to resuscitate the career of veteran relievers — such as Fernando Rodney (who performed to a 0.60 ERA in 2012 under Hick’s watchful eye), Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Soriano, and most recently Sergio Romo to name a few — as well as his impressive work to help acclimate young pitchers to the big leagues.

Many of the Rays starters had nothing but complimentary words for Hickey:

Hickey is one of the most intellectual people I know. He’s also one of the best people persons I know. The combination of his ability to analyze and apply information, as well as communicate to his players is what causes him to enhance pitchers careers, young and old, said Chris Archer.

From him helping me prepare prior to every major-league start I’ve made to our wide ranging chats after practice, on the plane, over a meal, I’m going to miss many many things about Hickey and his influence on our organization.

Odorizzi made note of his appreciation for Hickey:

Hick was the best pitching coach I have ever been around. He helped me grow a lot as a pitcher over the time I was fortunate to work with him. So a lot of the pitcher I am today is because of him and the work he put in with me. … I know wherever he goes next that team will be getting a great leader to their pitching staff.

Free-agent Alex Cobb was effusive in his praise for the mutually ousted coach:

I’m not going to try to explain how great Jim Hickey is. There’s really nothing I can say that would speak louder than his track record. All I can say is how fortunate I was to have him when I got to the big leagues. No one could have prepared me better.

In a late afternoon conference call, Kevin Cash lauded Hickey, but also acknowledged that with the influx of young pitchers in the Rays system, he felt Snyder “could make a huge impact” on them.

Topkin reached out to the new pitching coach, Kyle Snyder, who said it’s been a whirlwind day but he’s extremely grateful and excited by the challenge. Snyder also called it “a daunting task” to replace Hickey, and he hopes to build on his success and philosophies.

As for the other moves, Cash said that Foley was “invaluable to the organization and instrumental to me as a manager,” however, he felt that Montoyo will be an asset with in-game decision-making as the bench coach .

The Rays PR Department wrote about all the moving pieces in a press release, which you can read below:

Foley will step into a new role in 2018-his 23rd season in the organization-and remain heavily engaged with the major league team. In doing so he concludes a 16-year tenure on the Rays major league coaching staff, the longest in franchise history. Foley served as bench coach for the last three seasons (2015-17) following 13 seasons (2002-14) as the third base coach. Only three other coaches in the majors have a longer tenure with their current team than Foley did: San Francisco’s Ron Wotus (since 1998) and Dave Righetti (since 2000), and Alfredo Griffin (since 2000) of the Los Angeles Angels.

Hickey served as the Rays pitching coach for 11 seasons (2007-17), more than half of the franchise’s existence. Only one American League pitching coach had been at his post as long: Chicago’s Don Cooper (since 2002). During Hickey’s tenure, the Rays led the AL with 127 shutouts (tied with the Angels), .247 opponents’ batting average and 1.28 WHIP, and ranked second with a 3.95 ERA and 13,988 strikeouts. Meanwhile, 96 percent of those games (1,709 of 1,783) were started by pitchers under the age of 30. The Rays have had at least one pitcher make the All-Star Team in each of the past eight seasons, and none of those eight pitchers had ever been an All-Star prior to working with Hickey.

Nelson spent the last five seasons (2013-17) as a major league coach. He began his professional coaching career in the Rays organization in 2000, and that time includes five seasons (2003-07) managing Rookie-level Princeton.

Montoyo, who turns 52 later this month, enters his 22nd season in the Rays organization. He becomes the ninth bench coach in club history, following Frank Howard (1998-99), Bill Russell (2000), Hal McRae (2001), Billy Hatcher (2001-02), John McLaren (2003-05), Bill Evers (2006-07), Dave Martinez (2008-14) and Foley (2015-17). He served the last three seasons as the Rays third base coach after 18 seasons managing Rays affiliates at every level in the minor league system. He compiled a 1,266-1,142 (.526) record as a minor league manager, including a 633-515 (.551) mark at Durham. In eight years (2007-14) as the manager at Durham, he guided the Bulls to seven International League South Division titles, a league-record six trips to the International League finals and two Governors’ Cup championships (2009 and 2013).

Montoyo played 10 seasons (1987-96) professionally as an infielder in the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies organizations, and spent 27 days in the majors with Montreal in 1993.

Snyder, 40, becomes the eighth pitching coach in franchise history, following Rick Williams (1998-2000), Bill Fischer (2000-01), Jackie Brown (2002), Chris Bosio (2003), Chuck Hernandez (2004-05), Mike Butcher (2006) and Hickey (2007-17). He began his coaching career in 2012 and has spent all six of those seasons in the Rays organization, the last three as the pitching coach for Durham. In 2017, the Bulls pitching staff set a minor league single-season record with 1,421 strikeouts. In three seasons under Snyder, Bulls pitchers combined for a 3.61 ERA. Prior to that, he served as minor league pitching coordinator in 2014, pitching coach for the Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2013 and pitching coach for Short-A Hudson Valley Renegades in 2012.

Snyder pitched parts of five seasons in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals (2003, 2005-06) and Boston Red Sox (2006-08), appearing in 93 games with 29 starts. In 2007, his only full major league season, he compiled a 3.81 ERA over 46 relief appearances and was named to Boston’s World Series roster. He was originally drafted by the Rays in the 27th round of the 1996 June Draft out of Riverview High School in Sarasota, but did not sign. After pitching three seasons for the University of North Carolina, he was selected by Kansas City in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1999 June Draft.

The New What Next: Twins Vs. Yankees — an American League Wildcard Game preview

The 2017 MLB Postseason kicks off tonight when the New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins in the AL Wildcard Game in the Bronx. Paul Molitor will hand the ball to 34 year old right-hander Ervin Santana, while 23 year old right-hander Luis Severino will take the mound in his first postseason appearance. The Yankees won the season-series, 4-2, including a three-game sweep of the Twins toward the end of September.

The winner of the Wildcard Game will move on to face the number one seeded team in Cleveland.

Brian Dozier was the offensive leader for Minnesota this season, collecting a .269 average with 34 home runs and 93 RBI. Dozier fared well against the Yankees this season, going 6-19 but with just one RBI. Miguel Sano was activated from the disabled list last weekend and could add some thump to the lineup for this one. The slugger belted two homers and collected four RBI in three-games against the Evil Empire in 2017.

Minnesota ranked seventh in the majors after they averaged 5.03 runs per game, combining to hit .260 as a team.

Aaron Judge will be in the spotlight after he put together a phenomenal rookie campaign in which the 25 year-old slugger paired 52 homers with 114 RBI. Judge damaged the Twins in six games, going 6 of 19 at-bats with two home runs and six RBI. Judge, however, can be pitched to; the Rays were incredibly successful against Judge because they kept the ball at the bottom of the zone and on the outside corner. Thanks to his time with the ChiSox, Todd Frazier is very familiar with Minnesota. Frazier went 5-39 with four RBI against the Twins this season, and belted two homers with three RBI in 21 career at-bats against Santana.

The Bronx Bummers ranked second in the majors after they averaged 5.30 runs per game, combining to hit .262 as a team.

The Twins 4.59 team ERA is worrisome, placing them in the bottom third in the Major Leagues. The Yankees pitching staff, on the other hand, was terrific, performing to a 3.73 team ERA — ranking them fifth in the big leagues.

As Adam Rauzino (Winners and Whiners) noted, Ervin Santana has been outstanding on the road this season, going 10-3 with a stifling 2.71 ERA in his 17 road starts. Furthermore, Santana has pitched well against the Yankees over the last three seasons, limiting them to 10 runs (nine earned) in 25.2 innings which equates to a solid 3.16 ERA. The Twins did score three runs in three innings against Severino this season, plus the Twins feature solid Postseason experience as Santana and Mauer have seen action in the playoffs.

Pitching Matchup

Santana will make his ninth career postseason appearance. The right-hander turned in an excellent season, performing to a 16-8 record and a 3.28 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP over 211-1/3 innings of work. He was solid in his lone start against New York, limiting the Yankees to just two runs over 5-2/3 innings in a game Minnesota lost 2-1. The 34 year-old has struggled against the Yankees over his career, going 6-10 with a sub-optimal 5.66 ERA in 20 career starts. He, however, has limited the Yankees to only 10 runs (nine earned) in 25-2/3 innings of work over the last three seasons. Santana has struggled in his postseason career, notching a poor 5.56 ERA in 22-2/3 innings. Key Matchups: Greg Bird (2-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Jacoby Ellsbury (10-34, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Brett Gardner (11-31, 3 2B, 2 BB), Chase Headley (4-13, 2B), Matt Holiday (2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Aaron Judge (1-3, HR, RBI), Austin Romine (2-3, 2B, RBI)

Severino will make his first career postseason appearance after he turned in a solid 2017 campaign. The right-hander accompanied a 14-6 record over 31 starts with an impressive 2.98 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He made one career start against Minnesota on September 20, allowing three runs over three innings in a game the Yankees won 11-3. Severino has amassed 230 strikeouts over 193-1/3 innings, resulting in a 10.71 K/9 ratio. Key Matchups: Jason Castro (1-1), Brian Dozier (1-1, BB), Joe Mauer (1-2, RBI), Jorge Polanco (1-2, 2 RBI), Kennys Vargas (1-1)

Rays front office begins preparations for upcoming season, Foley to step down as bench coach

Let the official autopsy of the Tampa Bay Rays disappointing 2017 campaign begin. On Monday morning, the Rays front office began taking steps toward preparing for 2018 season, when Senior Vice Presidents Chaim Bloom and Erik Neander met with the media, along with Manager Kevin Cash.

(Audio courtesy of Neil Solondz/Rays Radio)

No real epiphanies came out of the media session. Rather Bloom, Neander and Cash reiterated that they feel confident in the core group of players, but they have a lot to determine before they can come up with a cohesive philosophy or plan for next season.

And while they acknowledged that the team is in a better position defensively than it was going into the 2017 season, they also conceded that there are currently more questions than answers. Two huge questions are lingering over the front office staff going into the 2017 Winter Meetings:

How will they rebuild the bullpen, since three key figures (Tommy Hunter, Steve Cishek, Sergio Romo) that made a huge impact on the team are hitting the free-agent market? Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote about that very topic, saying, “that a good mix helps, and it’s not all about high fastballs at high velocity. Adding Cishek, a sidearmer who gets ground balls to get out of innings, was a huge benefit. Having two different-style lefties in Jose Alvarado and Dan Jennings was also a boost. A variety of looks can be a big plus.”
How will they balance the powerful, 228 homer hitting team (79 with men were on base) with one that can get on base often and drive in runs? After all, Tampa Bay ranked sixth in the American League (and majors) in home runs, but 14th in the league in runs. That is due in part because they led the AL in strikeouts.

There also were questions about fielding a competitive team that prioritizes run prevention, like the 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2013 Rays.

Cash recognized a lot of positives from this season, but he contends there weren’t enough to overshadow the disappointment of not being in the postseason.

If we begin to start accepting 80 (wins) or something that’s not good enough, said Cash. I don’t know where we’re going.

Evan Longoria mirrored those comments in the clubhouse, saying this season was disappointing because he thought this group was very capable of being one of the five AL playoff contending teams.

Also making waves Monday afternoon, Rays bench coach Tom Foley will be stepping down from his current position to take on a new role with team.

Per Topkin, Foley will take another position in the organization in what was described as a mutual decision between Foley, manager Kevin Cash and team officials.

They were looking to make a change and I wanted to make a change and pretty much contemplated a lot of things this year as the year was going on. It’s worked out great for both sides, I think, and I’ll start a new chapter in the Rays organization again, said Foley who has been with the franchise in some capacity since 1996.

Foley has been a member of the team’s coaching staff for 16 long years (13 years as third base coach, three as the bench coach), and the travel has been “wearing” on him. His new role with the team is as of now undefined, although he is expected to have an active role during Spring Training and the regular season and, as Topkin reported, also may perform special assignment duties on the minor-league side.

All in all Foley is looking forward to spending more time around his home in north Pinellas County while still working in the game.

It is not yet known whether the team will seek to replace Foley internally or externally, or if another other changes might be made to Cash’s staff.

Of note, current third base coach Charlie Montoyo is said to be on a list of candidates for the newly vacated managerial position with the New York Mets, and it remains to be seen whether he might be considered for a promotion within the Rays. Team officials likely will not comment until they officially announce the moves.