Tampa Bay Rays Need Starting Pitching Upgrade to Fix Team

The Tampa Bay Rays enter this offseason at a crossroads. They’re balancing their trademark creativity with a real need for stability.

After back-to-back losing seasons, Tampa Bay isn’t just tinkering on the margins anymore. They’re targeting upgrades in the lineup and on the mound, all while dealing with those familiar financial constraints.

This piece digs into where the Rays stand, what they’re prioritizing, and how they might reshape the roster to claw back into the American League playoff picture.

The Rays’ Offensive Priorities: Outfield Power and Infield Competition

The Rays’ front office isn’t hiding it: improving the position-player group is a central focus this winter. This club has always relied on depth and versatility, but now they want more consistent production, especially in the outfield and at key defensive spots.

Outfield Production Needs a Jolt

Tampa Bay is actively searching for more offense from its outfielders. That area has lagged behind expectations lately.

The Rays aren’t demanding a superstar. They just need more reliable bats—guys who can lengthen the lineup and provide some thump in the middle or lower third.

In practical terms, that probably means targeting:

• Corner outfielders with proven power or on-base skills
• Players who can handle multiple spots while still offering above-average offense
• Veterans who can stabilize what’s been an inconsistent unit

The AL East doesn’t forgive mediocrity. The Rays know they need real production, not just a bunch of interchangeable parts.

Shortstop and Catcher: Internal Battles Ahead

Tampa Bay also wants more competition at shortstop and catcher. These are premium defensive positions, but the Rays know an offensive black hole at either spot can sink a lineup built on balance.

They’ll likely mix internal options and outside additions in spring training. The Rays like to create a crowded but competitive environment, letting performance dictate playing time.

This winter, they’ll try to raise the floor at both positions. Hoping for a breakout just isn’t enough anymore.

Rotation Strength and Uncertainty: A Thin Margin for Error

On paper, the Rays still have a promising trio at the top of their rotation. Sustainability is the big concern, though.

The organization built its identity around pitching and run prevention. But honestly, this is one of the more fragile groups they’ve had in years.

The Core Trio: Rasmussen, Pepiot, and Baz

Tampa Bay leans heavily on Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, and Shane Baz as the core of its 2025 rotation. All three flashed high-end ability last season.

But here’s the catch: each one logged a career-high workload in innings.

That raises durability questions the Rays can’t ignore:

• Can they hold up over a full 162-game schedule?
• Will the club need to manage innings more aggressively than usual?
• What happens if one or two of them go down at the same time?

The Rays aren’t treating this trio as a finished product. They’re a promising foundation, not a complete rotation.

The McClanahan Question: Planning as If He’s Not There

Two-time All-Star Shane McClanahan is the great unknown. He hasn’t thrown a pitch in a major-league regular-season game since August 2023.

Until he proves he’s both healthy and effective, Tampa Bay has to plan as if he won’t be available early on—if at all.

The Rays have always been careful with arms, and McClanahan’s situation demands that same patience. Anything they get from him in 2025 is a bonus, not something the rotation plan can count on.

Behind the Front Line: Depth Concerns and Internal Experiments

After the top names, the rotation picture gets a lot murkier. The organization still isn’t sure whether Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour can be counted on as consistent big-league starters.

Both have intriguing stuff, but neither is a reliable, innings-eating presence yet. In the high minors, options are just as limited.

Prospects like Logan Workman and Brody Hopkins are still developing, not ready for immediate impact. That leaves the Rays considering more unconventional solutions, like stretching out relievers.

One name getting some buzz is Griffin Jax, a reliever the Rays think might have the pitch mix and durability to become a starter. It’s a classic Tampa Bay move—creative, data-driven, potentially high-reward—but it also shows how thin the traditional rotation depth really is.

Veteran Arms, Staff Changes, and the Rays’ Offseason Strategy

The Rays know this winter demands more than clever tweaks. To get back in the mix, they have to blend upside with reliability in the rotation and the lineup.

Targeting Dependable, Innings-Eating Starters

Baseball operations president Erik Neander has been clear about it: they need dependable veteran starters. The 2024 rotation posted a 4.03 ERA, ninth in the American League—solid, but not elite, and it came with a heavy strain on the staff.

To stabilize the group, the Rays are:

• Exploring veteran free agents who can reliably take the ball every fifth day
• Investigating trade-market options that fit their budget and analytical profile
• Looking for pitchers with a track record of 150+ innings, even if they aren’t aces

In a season where the bullpen might already be stretched thin, adding one or two established workhorses isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Coaching Turnover and Internal Adjustments

Off the field, the Rays are dealing with some staff departures, including coaches moving to other organizations. For a franchise that relies on internal communication, buy-in, and specialized development, this kind of turnover isn’t trivial.

They’ve responded by promoting from within and realigning responsibilities, trying to keep some continuity. The Rays believe their systems are strong enough to handle the changes, but there’s going to be an adjustment period as new voices step up.

Budget Realities and the Path Back to Contention

All of this has to happen within an $85 million payroll. That number really shrinks Tampa Bay’s options at the top of the free-agent market, but it doesn’t shut the door on being aggressive in smarter ways.

Expect the Rays to:

• Chase value signings, not splashy headline deals
• Lean on trades for cost-controlled players who fit their mold
• Go after upside plays, trusting their scouting and analytics

The Rays have built a reputation for doing more with less. But after back-to-back losing seasons, the margin for error feels razor thin.

This offseason, they need to shore up the rotation with reliable veterans. They’ll also have to raise the offensive floor in the outfield and at key defensive spots.

Can their development machine turn a carefully assembled roster back into a contender? That’s the big question.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Amid overall need for improvement, Rays have to boost starting pitching