Rays Notes: Coaching, Glasnow, Catcher

The Rays teaching workers is about to see some modifications this offseason, with three departures having been reported beforehand. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the membership’s head of psychological efficiency Justin Su’a is about to shift to a lowered position subsequent season resulting from household issues. Su’a has been with the membership since 2018, and it’s unclear how the Rays plan on overlaying his present tasks as he steps again right into a smaller position.

Topkin additionally notes that the Rays are making progress in filling the primary base coach emptiness created by the departure of Chris Prieto, with interviews scheduled to start this week. Triple-A supervisor Michael Johns, Double-A supervisor Morgan Ensberg, and training/participant growth assistant director Alejandro Freire are among the many inside candidates into consideration for the job, although Topkin provides the group figures to interview exterior candidates as properly. Each Ensberg and Freire performed within the majors previous to their teaching careers; Ensberg spent eight seasons within the massive leagues as an infielder for the Astros, Yankees, and Padres whereas Freire had a 25-game stint at first base with the Orioles in 2005.

Past the teaching modifications, Topkin discusses the membership’s upcoming offseason choices. Whereas the Rays have publicly indicated they might be open to an elevated payroll subsequent season, RosterResource initiatives the group for a payroll of $130MM subsequent season, a $51MM improve over the membership’s 2023 payroll. Even when the membership had been prepared to considerably ramp up payroll, the membership’s close to 40% leap in payroll earlier than any exterior additions leaves the membership prone to discover cost-saving strikes this offseason. The membership’s most evident path to trimming payroll can be dealing right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who is about to make $25MM subsequent yr in his remaining season earlier than free company.

That being mentioned, a Glasnow deal would include loads of pitfalls, most evident of which is the regarding state the rotation can be left in for Opening Day 2024. Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale would each determine to be locked into rotation spots coming into Spring Coaching, however issues get murkier from there. Shane Baz is anticipated to return from Tommy John surgical procedure subsequent season, whereas Zack Littell and Taj Bradley drew begins for the membership to combined leads to 2023. Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs might each rejoin the group late within the season after rehabbing surgical procedures that ended their 2023 campaigns early. With simply two clearly confirmed, wholesome starters moreover Glasnow coming into 2023, evidently the Rays would wish to discover a method so as to add an arm to the rotation in the event that they did half methods with the righty this offseason.

For Topkin’s half, he means that the Rays can be higher served making a choice on Glasnow as early within the offseason as attainable. Topkin notes that any commerce of Glasnow (or lack there of) would possible exert vital affect over the membership’s general offseason plan, and the earlier the membership decides on Glasnow, the earlier they’ll start on the lookout for a free agent starter to interchange him within the rotation, or, alternatively, on the lookout for different methods to trim the membership’s payroll. Outfielders Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez (the latter of whom MLBTR recently profiled as a possible commerce candidate) each had been talked about as items the Rays might doubtlessly half with this offseason, in addition to catcher Christian Bethancourt.

Bethancourt, 32, was Tampa’s major catcher in 2023, although he struggled on the plate with a .225/.254/.381 slash line in 104 video games. Late within the season, Bethancourt ceded the on a regular basis job to 26-year-old Rene Pinto, who carried out stable because the membership’s common backstop for the ultimate two months of the season. Topkin makes clear that the Rays seem poised to go in a unique route behind the plate, each noting Bethancourt as a possible candidate to depart the group this offseason and highlighting catching assist as a key want for the membership this offseason as they search for a participant to pair with Pinto behind the plate.

One attainable resolution Topkin floats is a reunion with Alex Jackson, who performed 14 video games for the membership’s Triple-A affiliate this season earlier than taking place with harm. Previous to the 2023 marketing campaign, Jackson spent the previous 4 seasons as a depth possibility for the Braves, Marlins, and Brewers, getting occasional publicity to the large leagues however solely getting an prolonged look in 2021. He’s struggled with the bat on the massive league degree so far with a profession slash line of .141/.243/.227 in 185 journeys to the plate, although at simply 27-years-0ld with a profession .851 OPS on the Triple-A degree it’s no less than conceivable he might unlock one other degree with extra constant main league alternatives. The upcoming free agent class behind the plate options the likes of Gary Sanchez and Victor Caratini as potential common choices.