Who's taking the Rays' final bench spot?

SARASOTA, Fla. -- When the Rays acquired Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade this winter, they envisioned both young players helping the big league team immediately. That won’t happen now, after DeLuca suffered a broken hand that will sideline him for six weeks on a hit-by-pitch in the Dominican Republic this weekend.

A right-handed hitter who can play center field, DeLuca seemed to have the inside track to the last bench job as an extra outfielder who could platoon with the left-handed hitting Josh Lowe -- assuming Lowe is healthy by Opening Day. The battle for that final spot is now down to Curtis Mead and Richie Palacios, who both offer different profiles and skillsets to a team that heavily values platoons and versatility.

Mead, the team’s No. 3 prospect, is a right-handed hitting 3B/2B the team tried out at shortstop during Tuesday’s 12-8 loss to the Orioles. Palacios, acquired in a trade with St. Louis this winter, is a left-handed hitting outfielder who can also play second base.

Ultimately, both players figure to impact the team at some point this season regardless of what happens in these last few weeks of camp. But in the short term, DeLuca’s injury affects the complexion of Tampa Bay’s bench ahead of Opening Day, and the Rays will need to make choices. From this vantage, it looks like Mead fits better on the roster offensively, Palacios defensively.

Here’s a breakdown of the situation and how it might shake out:

Scenario 1: Mead in, Palacios out
What needs to happen: The Rosario-in-right experiment flops

Mead’s always been a bat-first prospect and probably has a higher offensive ceiling than Palacios. But whether he fits on this roster hinges on how the right-handed hitting Amed Rosario takes to right field, where the Rays are hoping he can form a platoon with the left-handed hitting Josh Lowe.

Primarily a shortstop during his seven-year big league career, Rosario is moving to second base this year so José Caballero can play short. The right field experiment is to provide more chances to get his bat in the lineup against lefties, whom Rosario crushes.

“[Rosario has] got to get reacquainted with two positions, which just means he’s got to play a lot,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s a guy who wants to play, so that helps a lot. He’s having a really solid spring. Every day, there is comfort for him in the outfield, and also for us.”

The thinking is if Rosario can handle right, he’ll platoon with Josh Lowe against left-handed pitching. It would open up chances for Mead to do the same with Brandon Lowe at second base.

If Rosario can’t, that limits Mead’s path. He also plays third, but the Rays’ third basemen are all right-handed hitters. Asked if he’s comfortable enough to see Rosario in right on Opening Day, Cash on Tuesday said, “Right now, I don’t see why not.”

Scenario 2: Palacios in, Mead out
What needs to happen: Palacios shows he can play center

If the Rays are comfortable with Palacios in center field, that’s a big plus for his chances at the Opening Day roster. He did play center field in the Minors, but only has eight games of big league experience there from last year with the Cardinals. He’s yet to play there in a game this spring, but that’s on the docket for the final few weeks of camp.

“His athleticism should allow him, I think,” Cash said. “For a guy that can run over and play second base, I don’t see why he couldn’t play center.”

Offensively, that Palacios is a left-handed hitter makes him a tougher fit at second base and right field because Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe are left-handed. But maybe the Rays decide it’s more valuable to have someone who can play center field in a pinch. Their options there are very limited now behind starter Jose Siri.

Scenario 3: Lowe isn’t ready for Opening Day, after all

All of this could be moot if Josh Lowe doesn’t break camp healthy. Lowe was shut down for six days on Feb. 29 with the idea that he likely would not play for 10-15 days after being irritated by left hip inflammation. He’s doing baseball activity but is still about a week away from returning to game action, Cash said. That would give him about a week to test the hip in games before Opening Day.

Asked specifically about Lowe’s chances at being healthy on Opening Day, Cash said there is a possibility. But at this point, he’s not ready to commit one way or another.

Without Lowe, there are two spots -- one for Palacios, and one for Mead. Palacios could conceivably assume Lowe’s spot as the left-handed hitting right-fielder, and Mead could platoon with Brandon Lowe at second when Rosario plays right against lefties.