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The Rays completed a significant trade with the Athletics on the previous day, acquiring three players and a Competitive Balance Round draft pick in exchange for left-handers Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez. Tampa’s president of baseball operations, Erik Neander, expressed that the decision to move Springs was a tough one, noting that the A’s were very interested in him.
It was widely expected that the Rays would be trading from their rotation depth this offseason, particularly Springs and Zack Littell, given that they were the highest-paid rotation candidates. Despite still having six starters on the roster, including new addition Joe Boyle from the Springs trade, the Rays do not plan on trading any more starting pitching, according to Neander.
Boyle, who has MLB experience with the A’s, is likely to start the season in Triple-A due to control issues. Neander sees Boyle as a work in progress with significant potential for improvement.
Offseason improvements for the Rays are still ongoing, with upgrades expected at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The team may look for outfield depth and is open to adding a more offensive-oriented shortstop. Taylor Walls is currently slated as the starting shortstop in the absence of Wander Franco, with his defensive skills being highly valued by the Rays.
While Walls’ offensive performance has room for improvement, the Rays appreciate his defensive prowess. Any potential acquisition at shortstop would likely be short-term, with top prospect Carson Williams expected to debut later in the 2025 season.
The Rays have a history of making creative moves, as seen in their interest in Juan Soto earlier in the offseason. Though their offer to Soto may not have gained traction, it demonstrates the team’s willingness to explore unique opportunities to improve the roster.
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