Today was the annual spring training press conference down in Port Charlotte with the Rays brass and Kevin Cash in attendance speaking to the media about the upcoming spring and 2019 season.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – The title mentions post-season and that’s exactly what one of the key topics was at today’s press conference. Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom, couldn’t stress that enough. All the moves made and the moves that still could be made are focused on one thing – getting the Rays back to October.
“Our whole goal here has been to get to a point where we had a core of players who can compete in this division and compete in the post-season,” Bloom said. “We wanna be competing for the post-season so anything we do will be with that in mind.”
The skipper echoed those sentiments and discussed the tall task of competing in the AL East.
“We’re in a division where we saw two teams win 208 games,” Cash said. “We have to believe Toronto and Baltimore will continue to get better. The expectations I think we’ll control them from inside.”
Youth movement continues
General Manager, Erik Neander, spoke very highly about the production the Rays got from their core of young players in 2018 and his excitement for their continued progress in 2019. Second-year players like Willy Adames, Christian Arroyo, and Austin Matthews to name a few. But it was 27-year old Yandy Diaz that sparked some conversation as to what his role will be this season.
“He wants to be a really good player and wants the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” Neander said of the newly acquired Diaz. “I think that’s something we’re gonna provide for him here. It’s a fresh environment for him, it’s a fresh start.”
Diaz was brought over from Cleveland in the trade that sent 1B Jake Bauers to the Indians this off-season. Cash said he along with Nate Lowe, Brandon Lowe, and Ji-Man Choi will all get reps at first base this spring.
“The Opener” isn’t going anywhere
Plenty of smack talk has been made around the league about “the opener.” Cash and Co. are standing pat and only interested in winning baseball games – something they did 90 times a season ago.
The rotation, as it were, will start with LHP Blake Snell followed by RHP Charlie Morton and then RHP Tyler Glasnow. The final two spots will likely be openers or a combination of an opener followed by a bullpen day, something also used quite a bit last season.
“The Opener” himself – Ryne Stanek! #Rays #RaysUp #SpringRays pic.twitter.com/PawRBI8t3u
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) February 12, 2019
“We’re gonna have very similar plans as to what we did last year,” Cash said. “Looking at what some of these guys did whether it was the opener or the bullpen that followed him they all had pretty special seasons. Credit to Yarbs, Chirinos, Stanek, they bought in. We’re gonna need that again.”
Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow. The first full squad work out takes place on Monday and is open to the public.
