Signing Rosario creates an enviable problem for Rays

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- For the Rays, signing free-agent infielder Amed Rosario on Tuesday was a pretty easy decision.

They loved his character and all the reports they received on the Tampa resident’s reputation as a teammate. They’re obviously intrigued by his proven ability to hit left-handed pitching and, as a bonus, the desire to improve he showed by visiting Driveline Baseball during the offseason. They like his baserunning. His defensive versatility -- he'll play second base, shortstop and the corner-outfield spots -- made him a better fit for their roster.

All that for just $1.5 million, with $500,000 more available through incentives? Probably too good to pass up, even with Spring Training camp underway at Charlotte Sports Park.

“Erik [Neander, the Rays' president of baseball operations] thought, and our group thought, he can help us immediately be a better team come Opening Day,” manager Kevin Cash said. “And I'm glad we did it.”

Rosario has been an everyday player in the past, but that won’t necessarily be required of him with the Rays. He can give Jose Caballero a day off at shortstop, although his defense there slipped last year to the point that the Dodgers moved him to the other side of the bag. He can spell Brandon Lowe at second or Josh Lowe in right against a left-handed starter. If a lefty’s pitching, he’s playing.

But every move makes an impact. The playing time he’ll now receive would have gone to somebody else before this signing. So, how does it affect the rest of the Rays’ roster?

First, let’s look at how Tampa Bay’s 13-man position-player group could shape up for Opening Day, starting with the players who are locks if healthy.

Catcher (2): René Pinto and a backup, possibly Alex Jackson
Infield (4): Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe, Caballero, Isaac Paredes
Outfield (3): Randy Arozarena, Jose Siri, Josh Lowe
DH/outfield (1): Harold Ramírez
Infield/outfield (1): Rosario

That’s 11 players, leaving two available spots. Considering what the Rays have said about Jonathan Aranda, and the way his left-handed bat complements the rest of their roster, he seems like the frontrunner for a spot that could go to him or fellow left-handed hitter Richie Palacios.

That would leave one spot, at least until slick-fielding shortstop Taylor Walls is fully recovered from offseason surgery on his right hip, that most likely comes down to outfielder Jonny DeLuca or infielder Curtis Mead. But they also have Yu Chang, Osleivis Basabe and perhaps top prospect Junior Caminero, among others, to consider.

Either way, some interesting players could get squeezed out to Triple-A to start the season. But that’s kind of the whole point of competition in camp, isn’t it?

“If you’re trying to be good, if you’re trying to be competitive, to navigate a 162-game season, you’ve got to construct a camp where you get to the end [and] you’re going to have hard decisions,” Neander said. “You know you’re going to be sending out some players that are very likely to impact your club at some point in the future.”

Because Rosario is versatile enough to handle four positions, the Rays can spend the spring evaluating those players to determine who will help their team the most come Opening Day, regardless of which positions they play.

If it’s DeLuca, for example, Rosario can play more infield. If it’s Mead, maybe he spends more time in the outfield. If it’s Chang as a defensive-minded backup shortstop, Rosario can focus on second and the outfield. If Ramírez is traded, and Aranda or Palacios claim left-handed DH at-bats, Rosario could be on the other side of that platoon.

In other words, his role might not become entirely clear for another month. And there will be more questions to answer down the road, like what happens when Walls returns? And how does the infield accommodate Caminero when he’s ready for The Show?

Those answers will come in time, but the Rays believe they’re better now with Rosario than they were last week.

“We’ve got some competitions in camp,” Neander said. “Depending on how those all get sorted out, the ability to help us at both positions up the middle as well as the outfield gives us a lot of different ways to put this together and come away with a better club than had he not been here.”

In other words, his role might not become entirely clear for another month. And there will be more questions to answer down the road, like what happens when Walls returns? And how does the infield accommodate Caminero when he’s ready for The Show?

Those answers will come in time, but the Rays believe they’re better now with Rosario than they were last week.

“We’ve got some competitions in camp,” Neander said. “Depending on how those all get sorted out, the ability to help us at both positions up the middle as well as the outfield gives us a lot of different ways to put this together and come away with a better club than had he not been here.”