DC MLB Previews: Tampa Bay Rays

Key Additions:
Pat Burrell
Jason Isringhausen
Adam Kennedy

Key Subtractions:
Cliff Floyd
Trever Miller
Eric Hinske
Rocco Baldelli

Line Up:
1. Akinori Iwamura 2B
2. Carl Crawford LF
3. B.J. Upton CF
4. Evan Longoria 1B
5. Carlos Pena DH
6. Pat Burrell 3B
7. Dioner Navarro C
8. Gabe Gross RF
9. Jason Bartlett SS

This line up got a lot stronger and scarier with the addition of Pat Burrell. Pat was great for the Phillies and now having an actual better line up in front of him, I expect no less than 110 RBIs. The key to this offense will be BJ Upton, he is a bit shaky from the start of the season but he if he can hit like he did in the play offs, rather than what he did over the year, this team is going to mash. Longoria is probably going to be the AL MVP and Pena is going to have a great year batting behind him. Either way, this line-up is terrifying.

Rotation:
1. James Shields RH
2. Scott Kazmir LH
3. Matt Garza RH
4. Andy SonnanstineRH
5. David Price LH
Closer Troy Percival RH

David Price is going to start the year in the minors, but the rest of the rotation is solid. I look at this line up as a bunch of number 2 starters. None of them are extremely impressive, but they all do their jobs. All of these guys could finish with 15 wins. The key is the health of Percival. If Percival can stay healthy and not be over worked he will be a huge asset for this team.

Prospects:
Wade Davis, RHP Should be ready sometime in 2009. Could be a Gil Meche type.

Jeremy Hellickson, RHP: Excellent combination of command with solid stuff.

Tim Beckham, SS: Not great performance this offseason, but very young. I’m cutting him slack.

Outlook:
The Rays will be a frustrating team, because I want to say they will have a drop off, but I can't. The team actually got stronger with Pat Burrell in the line-up and that pitching staff will only get stronger with a year under their belt. I don't see them having an off year. As a matter of fact, I'm going to say they will have a ridiculous 111-51 record.