Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash set the starting rotation on Tuesday afternoon. Of note, the Rays will go with a four man rotation for the time being.
As of now, Tampa Bay will go with the rotation of Chris Archer, Drew Smyly, Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore.
#rays rotation is Archer, Smyly, Odorizzi, Moore. Ramirez starts year in ‘pen
— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) March 29, 2016
Citing the injury of Brad Boxberger and the abundant number of off-days in the month of April, RHP Erasmo Ramirez will be a full-time member of bullpen while the closer remains on the disabled list ― likely until mid May. When the team is in need of a fifth starter, like on April 16, that pitcher will either be Ramirez ― if he had pitched three or four innings a few days before ― or someone like Blake Snell or Matt Andriese.
#Rays Cash said Ramirez won’t be just a long guy. Could pitch in 7th with 1 run lead, could pitch in 9th with 1 run lead.
— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) March 29, 2016
As for Ramirez, Cash told Roger Mooney (Tampa Tribune) that Erasmo won’t be just a long-man. Rather he could pitch in seventh with a one-run lead, or in the ninth to close things out.
When In say Erasmo is going to the bullpen, he’s going to the bullpen to get big outs, Cash said. He’s going to be right in that grouping off game’s on the line situation. We have all the confidence in the world. He might pitch in the seventh with a one-run lead. He might pitch in the ninth with a one-run lead. Given times, let’s say we’re up by two or three and we bring him in the sixth, he might finish the game out. He’s versatile. We know how his arm responds. We’re fortunate to have him in that position.
So why Ramirez and not someone like Smyly? Last week Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey told Ron Diaz, in a radio interview with 620 WDAE, that Erasmo would be the best option for relief work, as it takes him less time to get stretched out and warmed up. The Rays manager also touched on the fact that Ramirez is more versatile, and his arm responds well in between appearances. (see the quote above)
What does the future hold for the 25 year-old righty? According to a tweet by Mooney, Ramirez is uncertain of his role when looking at the scheme of things. Erasmo said he doesn’t know when/if he’ll return to rotation, “I’ll just be in the bullpen doing my best,” he said.
However, if Cash’s remarks speak to anything, Ramirez will likely end up in the rotation again.
The one thing we will try and avoid is to build him up in-season to make one start just to put him back in (the bullpen). It’s one thing to build him up to get him back to the rotation when that day comes. We’ll hurt our chances of winning games if we try to do that.
What could this mean for the rest of the roster?
Temporarily moving Ramirez to the bullpen allows the team to carry 11 pitchers and 14 position players, giving the team the ability to carry an extra position player for at least the first month of the regular season.
The possible Opening Day roster shakes out like this:
There still is a position battle that has not been sorted out — that being the one behind the plate. By all accounts Rene Rivera has had a good Spring, and Curt Casali has been deemed the probable the Opening Day catcher, leaving Hank Conger as the likely candidate to be optioned to Triple-A Durham.
In the end the extra position player not only grants Cash more flexibility with the players on the bench, it gives him the opportunity to pick and choose the most favorable match-ups over the course of the game. It also buys the team a little more time to shop James Loney.
For what it’s worth this is just my opinion. One thing is certain, however, we’ll know more by the end of the week.