On Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays optioned three players — infielders Jonathan Aranda and Vidal Bruján, as well as pitcher Trevor Kelley — before their final Spring Training game, moving closer to finalizing the Opening Day roster.
While Aranda spent much of Spring Training with Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, he did not get consistent at-bats. It would appear that both he and Bruján are behind Josh Lowe and Luke Raley) which appear likely to crack the Opening Day roster) in the hierarchy of players. Raley, who is out of options, hit five homers during Grapefruit League action and has played solid defense at first base and at both corner outfield positions.
The moves follow a few that came over the weekend, which included optioning Luis Patiño and Yonny Chirinos to Triple-A Durham, as well as releasing Kyle Crick and Charlie Culberson from their Minor League contracts — whittling the roster down to 40 players in camp.
Pitchers
Jason Adam, Shawn Armstrong, Shane Baz, Jalen Beeks, Colten Brewer*, Garrett Cleavinger, Cooper Criswell*, Zach Eflin, Pete Fairbanks, Calvin Faucher, Josh Fleming, Tyler Glasnow, Ben Heller*, Heath Hembree*, Kevin Kelly, Andrew Kittredge, Shane McClanahan, Colin Poche, Drew Rasmussen, Jaime Schultz*, Jeffrey Springs, and Ryan Thompson.
Catchers
Roberto Alvarez*, Christian Bethancourt, Gavin Collins*, Francisco Mejía.
Infielders
Yandy Díaz, Wander Franco, Tristan Gray*, Brandon Lowe, Isaac Paredes, Daniel Robertson*, Taylor Walls.
Outfielders
Randy Arozarena, Ben Gamel*, Josh Lowe, Manuel Margot, Luke Raley, Harold Ramírez, José Siri.
*The 10 players with a star are non-roster invites.
Four of the 40 players will start the season on the Injured List: Shawn Armstrong, Shane Baz, Tyler Glasnow, and Andrew Kittredge (who is already on the 60-Day IL).
As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, “it’s possible the Rays could move another injured player to the 60-day IL (like Baz) and put a non-roster invite on the 40-man, or make an outside acquisition. Otherwise, the Opening Day roster is fairly close to being finalized assuming health. It’s fairly likely some of the non-roster pitchers may be needed early in the season, so having a 40-man spot available would make sense.”
Meanwhile, Wander Franco was pulled from the lineup on Saturday with right quad soreness. Franco said the treatment has been going well, and he expects to be ready for Opening Day on Thursday. His self-diagnosis came after a “favorable” MRI taken on Monday. Should Franco miss any time at the start of the season, Taylor Walls would assume the position at short.