Rays ‘optimistic’ about improving in 2017

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays faced an interesting situation entering the offseason. The good news was they were set at almost every position. The bad news was most of those players were part of a 68-win season.

So the Rays’ front office had to roll up its collective sleeves and determine what went wrong in 2016 and what would help turn the club in a winning direction for ’17.

Some of the rebuilding began at last year’s non-waiver Trade Deadline, when Matt Moore was dealt to the Giants for Matt Duffy and a pair of prospects.

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Duffy had played third base for San Francisco. Prior to that, he’d been a shortstop — and a good one — which is why the Rays traded for him. He arrived on the disabled list due to issues with his left Achilles that ultimately led to season-ending surgery in September. However, what the Rays saw when he did play told them they had a shortstop for 2017.

That allowed the Rays to move slugging Brad Miller to first base. Add those two to Evan Longoria at third and Logan Forsythe at second, and Tampa Bay has a solid infield for next season.

Kevin Kiermaier will return to center field, and Steven Souza Jr. appears earmarked for right. The Rays signed free-agent catcher Wilson Ramos to a two-year deal, which leaves left as the only …

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