The American League champions sure aren’t getting a lot of respect from the experts. Maybe that’s because the Rays didn’t do a lot over the offseason while both the Yankees and Red Sox made some big moves to bolster their pitching staffs and add some big bats.  There is a reason for that; the Rays didn’t feel they had to.
The core of this team is young and talented and they still have a ton of upside -- especially the pitching staff, which is already among the best in the AL. But while the young talent continues to grow the team will have to rely on a handful of older veterans to play key roles.
Rank: AL Champions, 1st in the AL East
Home Park: Tropicana Field
Soaking them in:
2B - Adam Kennedy * (Free Agent from Cardinals)
IFÂ Morgan Ensberg*(Free Agent from Indians)
OF - Matt Joyce (Trade with Tigers)
OF - Gabe Kapler (Free Agent from Brewers)
OF/DH - Pat Burrell (Free Agent from Phillies)
LHP - Brian Shouse (Free Agent from Brewers)
RHP - Joe Nelson (Free Agent from Marlins)
RHP - Jason Isringhausen* (Free Agent from Cardinals)
RHP - Derek Rodriguez (Rule V pick from White Sox)
RHP - Lance Cormier (Free Agent from Orioles)
Out in the Rain:
OF - Eric Hinske (Free Agent signed with Pirates)
OF - Rocco Baldelli (Free Agent signed with Red Sox)
DH - Cliff Floyd (Free Agent signed with Padres)
LHP - Trever Miller (Free Agent signed with Cardinals)
RHP - Edwin Jackson (Traded to Tigers)
*Signed minor league contract.
Strengths: Pitching, youth and upside
The Rays are loaded with young stars. We’ve yet to see the best years of hitters like B.J. Upton (24) and Evan Longoria (23) who are both rising stars and have tremendous upside.  The same can be said for what is one of the best starting staffs in the Majors and features five starters between 23 and 27 years of age James Shields (27), Scott Kazmir (25), Andy Sonnanstine (25), Matt Garza (25) and David Price (23). Just how high the upside is, is unknown but all are poised for breakout seasons at some point in the next five years. The real question is just when it’s going to happen.
Weaknesses: Offense, inexperience
The Rays offense was the one aspect of their game last year that really kept them from running away with the AL title. The team ranked 9th in the AL when it came to runs scored and only ranked ahead of Toronto within its own division.  The Rays hope they’ve addressed this somewhat by adding the bat of Pat Burrell, who’ll boost the power output of the team and because they expect Evan Longoria to take a major step forward.
However that may be an overly optimistic expectation. Last year it all came together when it mattered in the last month of the season and carried into the playoffs, but this team is young, very young and as their young stars mature they are bound to have some rough spots. For a team that relied on pitching last year one or two bumps could be enough to turn them from contenders to bystanders when it comes to the divisional race.
Potential Lineup
2B - Akinori Iwamura
CF - B.J Upton
LF - Carl Crawford
3B - Evan Longoria
1B - Carlos Pena
DH - Pat Burrell
RF - Gabe Gross
C - Dioner Navarro
SS - Jason Bartlett
Rotation
SP1 – James Shields
SP2 – Scott Kazmir
SP3 – Matt Garza
SP4 – Andy Sonnanstine
SP5 – David Price
Closer
CL – Dan Wheeler
One question that need answering:
Can the Rays repeat last year’s success? To do so they’ll either need the pitching to stand up once again and carry the team or the offense will have to improve enough to carry the pitching through the rough spots.
Prediction:
The Rays will go as far as their pitching carries them and it’s hard to predict just how far that really can be. It will be especially tough since the Yankees retooled over the winter and added two of the best free agent pitchers on the market while the Red Sox added one.  That being said, the Rays big three pitchers -- Shields, Garza and Kazmir -- look like the best young trio of pitchers to emerge since some guys named Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine helped the Braves build a dynasty.
That being said, I think the Rays will finish second, and take the Wild Card spot.
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