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Rays’ offseason focus appears set on aim to contend
- Updated: January 3, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG — A little more than one month remains before the Rays report to Port Charlotte, Fla., for Spring Training, and there might not be as much offseason work left to do as one would think.
Heading into the offseason following a 68-win season, Tampa Bay could have declared its intentions to rebuild. Ostensibly, that would have meant shipping some of the team’s higher-priced players to contending teams for prospects. However, based on the Wilson Ramos signing, the Rays appear set on trying to be contenders in the American League East this season.
Translation: If Tampa Bay does trade any of its coveted starting pitchers, the yield would likely be a piece that could help it in the 2017 season rather than seeds for future Major League crops.
• Hot Stove Tracker
Operating under the premise that the Rays plan to keep their team intact, they don’t have any gaping holes to fill. The infield is set with Evan Longoria, Matt Duffy, Logan Forsythe and Brad Miller. They have Luke Maile and Curt Casali starting the season at catcher, with Ramos on the way at the midpoint. Kevin Kiermaier is in center field, Steven Souza Jr. is in right and Corey Dickerson is the left …
