Countdown to Opening Day: #14 Tampa Bay Rays

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#14 Tampa Bay Rays: Out-Priced for Price, no Ray of Hope

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Desmond Jennings
2B Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
DH Matt Joyce
RF Wil Myers
1B James Loney
LF David Dejesus
SS Yunel Escobar
C Ryan Hanigan

PROJECTED ROTATION
David Price
Alex Cobb
Matt Moore
Chris Archer
Jake Odorizzi

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Grant Balfour

Set-up: Heath Bell

Top Prospect: Jake Odorizzi (RHP)

Everyday until the day he does not get traded this season David Price will be in the news. Yes, he is not built be a Ray for long. He warrants too much money for the low small budget boys from Tampa to tie him

David Price

up. But Price is here to stay this season, make the playoffs, and help this team win the World Series - that is they can let the media garbage go in one ear and out the other.
In order for the Rays make a run at it, they really need their sophomores and young guns to stand tall and take it to the next level. I am looking directly at you Wil Myers, Matt Moore, Desmond Jennings, and Chris Archer. Maybe not all four need to be all-stars, but atleast improve on their major league stats to this point.
One day I believe the Rays will break through and win a World Series, more so than their small budget counterparts from the West, the Oakland A's. The AL East is tough and I don't think they are made for a Tampa parade this year, but they will be in the mix all season. Enjoy David Price will he is still in town.

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - The Rays found out real quick what it is like to have some one as feared as Evan Longoria hitting behind Evan Longoria. Wil Myers takes a step forward and his production helps Longoria grab a MVP award that was a long time coming. A season for the ages makes it easier Price to walk away for mega-bucks, fond of where it all started in Tropicana Field.

REAL TALK - There are too many questionable every day starters for me to pick them to make the playoffs in the challenging AL East. The bench is not as strong as it has been in the past and 500 at-bats from David Dejesus, Matt Joyce, Yunel Escobar, and even James Loney (can't do it two years in a row) is a bit terrifying.

Breakout: Matt Moore (LHP)

Bust: James Loney (1B)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Jake Odorizzi (RHP)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 92-71 (2nd in AL East)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 86-74 (4th in AL East) 

**Check back tomorrow for the San Diego Padres*