NORTH PORT, Fla. -- The Rays had plenty of plans in place as to how their Opening Day roster might shake out. Fortunately, they had plenty of backup plans, too.
After a relatively healthy Spring Training, a handful of late injuries forced Tampa Bay to adjust on the fly as the club all but officially set its Opening Day roster ahead of Tuesday’s spring finale.
Down went Taylor Walls, and up came Carson Williams. Down went Gavin Lux, and back came Richie Palacios. Ryan Pepiot couldn’t shake an injury, and Nick Martinez has been pitching through some minor soreness. So, in steps Joe Boyle.
“It's part of Spring Training,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “It seems like every team's going through this. Not surprised. I think I'm fairly optimistic that most of our injuries are manageable injuries at this point, so I'll take that as a positive.”
The Rays will officially set their Opening Day roster before Wednesday’s deadline, but this is the group they expect to carry into Thursday’s season opener against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Catcher (2): Nick Fortes, Hunter Feduccia
The Rays brought back the catching duo that finished last season, expecting a roughly 50/50 playing-time split between the two. Fortes will face left-handers and some righties, while Feduccia will play against the tougher right-handed pitchers.
First base (1): Jonathan Aranda
Coming off a breakout season, the All-Star will hit near the top of the lineup and play first most days.
Second base (1): Richie Palacios
Lux had been set to be the Rays’ regular second baseman against right-handed pitchers, but he couldn’t get over a right shoulder injury in time to break camp. Instead, the Rays brought back Palacios -- also a left-handed hitter with a patient approach -- to play the same role after sending him to the Minors.
Shortstop (1): Carson Williams
The Rays’ top prospect had a good Spring Training after an uneven introduction to the Majors last year, but it still took a late-spring injury to Walls -- after Williams had been optioned to the Minors -- to make this happen. He’s a good defensive shortstop, and he has the power to contribute offensively if he continues to cut back on his strikeouts.
Third base (1): Junior Caminero
No questions here. He’s going to play a lot, and he’s going to hit a lot.
Infield/utility (2): Ben Williamson, Ryan Vilade
Williamson will play a lot, even if he’s not technically a starter anywhere. He’ll platoon with Palacios (and eventually Lux) at second base. He’ll back up Williams (and eventually Walls) at shortstop. And he’ll play third, his natural position, on Caminero’s rare days off. Expect Williamson to finish a lot of games, given his defensive ability. Vilade can play first, second or either corner outfield spot, giving the Rays some maneuverability along with another right-handed bat off the bench.
Outfield (4): Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley, Jonny DeLuca
Mullins’ off-days will likely come against left-handed pitchers, but expect the veteran to play a lot in center field. He’ll be flanked by Simpson in left and Fraley in right, although DeLuca or Vilade could spell both. Vilade is most likely to start against left-handers, while DeLuca could play any of the three outfield spots at any point. It’s also fair to assume that the strong-fielding DeLuca will finish a lot of games, even when he’s not in the lineup.
DH (1): Yandy Díaz
He’ll occasionally start at first base, but the goal is to keep the consistently productive leadoff man’s bat in the lineup as often as possible. More DH days will make that easier.
Starting pitchers (5): Drew Rasmussen, Joe Boyle, Steven Matz, Nick Martinez, Shane McClanahan
The Rays made a late change to this group due to Pepiot’s right hip inflammation. Boyle joined the rotation to start the second game of the season after previously being optioned to the Minors, and Martinez (dealing with a minor right hamstring injury) will move back to the fourth spot to pitch the series opener in Milwaukee. The way the group is ordered has as much to do with workload management as anything.
Relief pitchers (8): Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger, Bryan Baker, Cole Sulser, Mason Englert, Ian Seymour, Yoendrys Gómez, Kevin Kelly
Jax, Cleavinger and Baker will handle the highest-leverage work in the early going. Sulser is out of Minor League options and had a nice spring. Englert and Seymour stood out, and they give the Rays a couple of reliable multi-inning options. Kelly has been an effective weapon against right-handed hitters. Gómez, who was part of Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic championship team, is out of options and offers some versatility to pitch multiple innings.
Injured list (6): Ryan Pepiot, Taylor Walls, Gavin Lux, Edwin Uceta, Steven Wilson, Manuel Rodríguez
Pepiot (right hip) isn’t expected to miss much time because he won’t need a long build-up due to the workload he established in Spring Training. Uceta (right shoulder) could be ready within the first few weeks of the season, adding a big arm to the back of the bullpen. Wilson (back) may also not be sidelined for long despite sitting out all spring. The Rays were hoping Lux (right shoulder) would serve only a short stint, whereas Walls (right oblique) could miss much of the first month of the season, if not more. Rodríguez (forearm/elbow) is aiming for a midseason return.