Rays can't take advantage of solid hitting, leave runners stranded in 4-3 series opening loss to Twins ‣ October 6, 2024 - Game 1 - Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota (0-1) Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins (1-0)TB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 || 3 | 17 | 0
MIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | x || 4 | 6 | 0
Shane McClanahan: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 K Shane Baz (L, 1-1): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K Randy Arozarena: 1-4, RBI, 2 R Stone Garrett: 3-5, RBI Josh Lowe: 3-4, R
Chris Paddack: 3.1 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 2 K Bullpen (6 P): 3.8 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K Eduoard Julien: 3-4, HR, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI Byron Buxton: 1-4, HR, RBI, R Ryan Jeffers: 2-3, R
HOU | 3 | 9 | 2 BAL | 4 | 10 | 0
HOU HR: LF Yordan Alvarez, 1B Jose Abreu BAL CF Cedric Mullins: 2-5, 2 RBI, SO
Rays end home run slump but not enough as Twins complete comeback win for commanding 2-0 series lead ‣ October 7, 2024 - Game 2 - Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota (0-1) Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins (1-0)TB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || 3 | 7 | 0
MIN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | x || 6 | 12 | 0
Drew Rasmussen: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 K Hurston Waldrep (L, 0-1): 2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 K Brandon Lowe: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R Josh Lowe: 2-4, RBI Stone Garrett: 1-3, 2B
Pablo Lopez: 4 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K Ryne Stanek (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 0 H, 2 K Max Kepler: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R Royce Lewis: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R Byron Buxton: 2-4, 3B, R
HOU | 12 | 18 | 1 BAL | 7 | 11 | 0
HOU HR: 3B Alex Bregman, C Yainer Diaz BAL HR: RF Anthony Santander, SS Gunnar Henderson
Evan Longoria strikes out in possible final career at-bat as Twins sweep Rays ‣ October 9, 2024 - Game 3 - Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida (3-0) Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays (0-3)MIN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 || 4 | 12 | 0
TB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 || 3 | 7 | 0
Joe Ryan (W, 1-0): 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, 6 K Carlos Correa: 2-4, HR, RBI, R Byron Buxton: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R Royce Lewis: 2-4, 2B, R Eduoard Julien: 3-5, 3B
Zach Eflin (L, 0-1): 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 9 K Brandon Lowe: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI Randy Arozarena: 1-4, R Yandy Diaz: 1-4 Isaac Paredes: 2-4, R
BAL | 5 | 15 | 0 HOU | 4 | 8 | 0
BAL CF Cedric Mullins: 1-4, HR, RBI, SO HOU 2B Jose Altuve: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 SO
World Series MVP: OF Jason Heyward ‣ .421 Avg, HR, 6 RBI AL Postseason MVP: C Ryan Jeffers ‣ .383 Avg, 3 HR, 16 RBI NL Postseason MVP: SP Shohei Ohtani ‣ .360 Avg, 2 HR, 12 RBI AL MVP: OF Aaron Judge ‣ .336 Avg, 51 HR, 132 RBI NL MVP: SP Shohei Ohtani ‣ 17-9, 218 K, 3.40 ERA, .288 Avg, 52 HR, 150 RBI AL Cy Young: SP Gavin Williams ‣ 22-6, 171 K, 3.01 ERA NL Cy Young: SP Zack Wheeler ‣ 18-4, 208 K, 2.24 ERA AL Reliever of the Year: CP Emmanuel Clase ‣ 57 SV, 2.00 ERA, 52 K NL Reliever of the Year: CP David Bednar ‣ 48 SV, 2.01 ERA, 59 K AL Rookie of the Year: 2B Colt Keith ‣ .231 Avg, 18 HR, 70 RBI NL Rookie of the Year: CF Jackson Chourio ‣ .266 Avg, 20 HR, 76 RBI AL Hank Aaron Award: OF Aaron Judge ‣ .336 Avg, 51 HR, 132 RBI NL Hank Aaron Award: 1B Matt Olson ‣ .295 Avg, 48 HR, 134 RBI AL Gold Glove: P Reese Olson (DET), C Adley Rutschman (BAL), 1B Josh Naylor (CLE), 2B Andres Gimenez (CLE), 3B Maikel Garcia (KC), SS Gunnar Henderson (BAL), OF Jake Fraley (OAK), OF Jose Siri (TB), Mickey Moniak (LAA) NL Gold Glove: P Miles Mikolas (STL), C Sean Murphy (ATL), 1B Freddie Freeman (LAA), 2B Thairo Estrada (SF), 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (PIT), SS Mookie Betts (LAD), OF Sal Frelick (MIL), OF Cody Bellinger (CHC), Fernando Tatis Jr. (MIL) AL Silver Slugger: DH Kerry Carpenter (DET), C Adley Rutschman (BAL), 1B Nathaniel Lowe (TEX), 2B Jose Altuva (HOU), 3B Alex Bregman (HOU), SS Corey Seager (TEX), OF Aaron Judge (NYY), OF Yordan Alvarez (HOU), Juan Soto (NYY) NL Silver Slugger: DH Shohei Ohtani (LAD), C Will Smith (LAD), 1B Matt Olson (ATL), 2B Ketel Marte (ARI), 3B Austin Riley (ATL), SS Trea Turner (PHI), OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL), OF Cody Bellinger (CHC), Fernando Tatis Jr. (MIL)
After another ALDS exit, what does Tampa need to do in the off-season to get over the hump?
Adam Berry -- MLB.com Beat Reporter
For the fifth time in six postseason appearances, the Tampa Bay Rays failed to get past the ALDS, getting swept by the Minnesota Twins to bring their postseason record under manager Kevin Cash to 17-23 with eleven of those wins coming in the team's 2020 World Series appearance.
The Rays did manage to get past the Wild Card round after back-to-back early exits and did so without their two best pitchers for most of the season, an impressive feat on its own. But if the Rays do want to make it back to the World Series to the win the franchise's first ever title, the sweep at the hands of the Twins is a clear indicator that there is work to be done to catch up to the top of the sport.
The cupboard is far from being bare with much of the roster under contract and locked up through arbitration. Young arms Taj Bradley and Shane Baz continued to show improvements, taking a larger role with the injuries to Drew Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan as Baz led the AL in strikeouts. Isaac Paredes is on the brink of stardom, hitting 36 dingers with 102 RBIs in a career year for the 26-year old. Like many of the Rays other top players, he's also locked up through arbitration for another three years.
The Rays will likely need to add a veteran corner infielder with the pending free agency and potential retirement of Evan Longoria. There was an outside chance that the role could have been filled with former first round pick Xavier Isaac but after an underwhelming September in the Majors, Isaac is likely headed back for another stint in the minors. Justin Turner had a very good season with the Blue Jays, batting .307 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs but at 40-years-old, it would be a bit of a gamble from the Rays. Joey Gallo has a qualifying offer from the Nationals but would be a similar addition to Longoria as he is a power-bat that could be used for situational hitting with some added value on defense.
Tampa Bay are notoriously conservative in the market but if there is a position where they can make a big upgrade to the roster, it'll be at second base. Brandon Lowe and Amed Rosario are fine players but they are just that. A power bat like Gleyber Torres could strengthen the heart of their lineup without breaking the bank as the Yankees qualifying offer for the 28-year old All-Star is four years, $27.2 million. With an expected cap room of $78 million, the team would be able to sign an all-star caliber player such as Torres or Paul Goldschmidt while still managing to retool their bullpen which currently features just three Major League arms under contract.
Pending Exclusive Free Agents
RP Phil Maton | Age 32 | 3-0, 70.1 IP, 81 K, 0.90 ERA
C Francisco Mejia | Age 29 | 107 G, .229 Avg, .298 OBP, .369 SLG, 13 HR, 41 RBI, 33 BB, 51 SO, 3 SB
2B Amed Rosario | Age 29 | 142 G, .261 Avg, .305 OBP, .413 SLG, 14 HR, 69 RBI, 31 BB, 71 SO, 18 SB
3B Evan Longoria | Age 39 | 27 G, .267 Avg, .313 OBP, .400 SLG, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 15 SO
SP Jake Odorizzi | Age 35 | AAA
RP Erasmo Ramirez | Age 34 | AAA
Notable Arbitration Eligible Players
SP Drew Rasmussen | Age 29 | 1-1, 13 K, 3.46 ERA
OF Randy Arozarena | Age 30 | 148 G, .263 Avg, .328 OBP, .424 SLG, 17 HR, 63 RBI, 52 BB, 105 SO, 30 SB
3B Isaac Paredes | Age 26 | 145 G, .267 Avg, .343 OBP, .507 SLG, 36 HR, 102 RBI, 60 BB, 121 SO, 4 SB
SP Aaron Civale | Age 29 | 17-7, 147 K, 2.75 ERA
RP Jason Adams | Age 33 | 4-1, 3 SV, 4 BSV, 19 HLD, 68 K, 3.71 ERA
CF Jose Siri | Age 29 | 139 G, .207 Avg, .258 OBP, .362 SLG, 16 HR, 56 RBI, 34 BB, 144 SO, 22 SB
RP Colin Poche | Age 31 | 3-3, 11 HLD, 56 K, 2.80 ERA
SP/RP Shane Baz | Age 25 | 18-10, HLD, 192 K, 3.74 ERA
SP Zack Littell | Age 29 | 4-10, HLD, 83 K, 5.06 ERA
SS Taylor Walls | Age 28 | 47 G, .265 Avg, .403 OBP, .333 SLG, HR, 8 RBI, 23 BB, 26 SO, 10 SB
1B Harold Ramirez | Age 30 | 105 G, .300 Avg, .338 OBP, .431 SLG, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 20 BB, 48 SO, 3 SB
Top Projected Free Agents SP Corbin Burnes SP Max Fried SP Shane Bieber SP Jordan Montgomery SP Walker Buehler
RP Phil Maton RP Jeff Hoffman RP Chris Martin RP Matt Strahm RP Matt Moore
CP Tanner Scott CP Clay Holmes CP Jose LeClerc CP Paul Sewald CP Kenley Jansen
Shane McClanahan: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 K
Chris Paddack: 3.1 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 2 K
OF Jason Heyward ‣ .421 Avg, HR, 6 RBI
C Ryan Jeffers ‣ .383 Avg, 3 HR, 16 RBI
OF Aaron Judge ‣ .336 Avg, 51 HR, 132 RBI
SP Zack Wheeler ‣ 18-4, 208 K, 2.24 ERA
CP David Bednar ‣ 48 SV, 2.01 ERA, 59 K
2B Colt Keith ‣ .231 Avg, 18 HR, 70 RBI
CF Jackson Chourio ‣ .266 Avg, 20 HR, 76 RBI
1B Matt Olson ‣ .295 Avg, 48 HR, 134 RBI
SP Johnny Cueto
SP Zack Greinke
SP Corbin Burnes
RP Chris Martin
RP Matt Moore
CP Jose LeClerc
CP Paul Sewald
C Danny Jansen
1B Pete Alonso
1B Paul Goldschmidt
1B Joey Gallo