The Tampa Bay Rays are preparing to begin their spring training for the 2014 season. The team is coming off another successful season, making the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons.
Unlike many recent years, the Rays do not have to begin spring training discussing the loss of any marquee players needing to be filled with an unproven prospect.
That fact coupled with the amount of talent added to the roster has this year’s team being mentioned as perhaps the greatest Rays team ever. That is quite an expectation to set, considering the team has won at least 90 games in five of their last six seasons and made the World Series in 2008.
Rays manager Joe Maddon shared his excitement on this year’s team with Roger Mooney from the Tampa Tribune.
You can argue 2010, that was a pretty good team. And 2008 turned out to be pretty good also. All I know is I like the names a lot, but I just can’t sit here and tell you unequivocally that this is the best team we’ve ever had. We’ve had some good teams go to spring training in the past, also. … I like the names. I say that every year. I think Andrew did a great job of balancing everything out is the best way to describe it.
No matter how the team looks on paper, it will mean nothing if the Rays do not bring it all together on the field.
That process starts when pitchers and catchers report on Friday.
All statistics courtesy of baseball-reference.com unless otherwise noted.