FAQ: What to watch for this Rays offseason

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ offseason began a few weeks earlier than expected, not with players hoisting a trophy on the field but with a subdued gathering in the visitors’ clubhouse at Fenway Park following a four-game loss to the Red Sox in the American League Division Series.

The defeat did nothing to dim Tampa Bay’s championship aspirations, however. The Rays remain confident they have built a sustainable small-market contender, and club executives still believe their best way to win the franchise’s first World Series is by playing in October as often as possible.

“We won't feel too sorry for ourselves here, and it's time to find a way to make it better next year,” president of baseball operations Erik Neander said the day after the Rays’ Game 4 loss in the ALDS. “And ultimately, I do believe that [with] the talent we have, we're going to kick down the door sooner rather than later and finally get the World Series we're chasing.”

Tampa Bay's next chance is next season. With a jam-packed Major League roster and a loaded Minor League system, this figures to be another busy offseason for Neander’s always-resourceful baseball operations department. As their work begins in earnest, here’s a quick look at some key things to know about the Rays' offseason.

Which players are free agents?

Tampa Bay finished the season with seven players set to enter free agency the day after the World Series ends: Nelson Cruz, Collin McHugh, Michael Wacha and David Robertson, plus the injured Chris Archer, Chaz Roe and Tommy Hunter.

It is possible the Rays could negotiate with a few members of that group to bring them back into the fold. It seems unlikely that the club will extend a one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer to any of its free agents before the deadline to do so, which is 5 p.m. ET on the fifth day after the World Series concludes. Cruz and McHugh will likely be their most sought-after free agents, with Cruz still an effective designated hitter (and respected clubhouse presence) and McHugh having reestablished himself as a dynamic multi-inning reliever.

Which players need to come off the injured list?

This might not seem like a big deal, but it’s going to mark the start of an offseason-long roster crunch for the Rays. It’s a good problem to have -- too many talented players, too much depth -- but it’s still a problem for a club that likes to utilize its entire roster throughout the season.

Tampa Bay entered the postseason with a whopping 12 players on the 60-day IL, three of whom (Archer, Roe and Hunter) will be removed from the roster as they reach free agency. The others, all pitchers, are Jalen Beeks, Yonny Chirinos, Oliver Drake, Tyler Glasnow, DJ Johnson, Colin Poche, Cody Reed, Jeffrey Springs and Ryan Thompson. They must be reinstated from the 60-day IL by the fifth day after the World Series ends.

Glasnow isn’t expected to pitch next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August, but the Rays will want to keep their ace on the roster. Chirinos could be set back a few months after sustaining a fractured elbow while throwing in September. The others could all play some sort of role next season, if deemed healthy.

Which players have options?

The Rays only have to make a decision on one player’s contract option within five days of the last out of the World Series: catcher Mike Zunino. The backstop re-signed with Tampa Bay last offseason on a one-year, $4 million deal that had the potential to reach $7 million based on Zunino’s playing time. He maxed out his option salary by playing 109 games.

That’s a fairly significant cost given the Rays’ typically low Major League payroll, but they are expected to pick it up and retain Zunino. The veteran was simply too valuable to cut ties, as he provided important defense and leadership behind the plate while also launching 33 home runs.

Which prospects do they need to protect before the Rule 5 Draft?

This is another aspect of the offseason that will stress the Rays’ 40-man roster crunch. There may not be any Top 100-type prospects who must be added this offseason to shield them from the Rule 5 Draft, but there are a bunch of likely future big leaguers the Rays will want to protect before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Nov. 19.

Generally speaking, the class of Rule 5-eligible players this year includes most college players drafted in 2018 or earlier along with high school/international players signed in 2017 or earlier. Those not added to the 40-man roster can be selected by other clubs in the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 8.

Catcher Blake Hunt (ranked as the club's No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline), acquired from the Padres in the Blake Snell trade last year, and right-hander Tommy Romero (No. 18) stand out as the top prospects most likely to be protected. Among the many others eligible and worth considering: left-hander Jacob Lopez (No. 23), outfielder Ruben Cardenas (No. 28), right-hander Tobias Myers (No. 29), catcher/infielder Ford Proctor (No. 30), infielder Jonathan Aranda, right-hander Tanner Dodson and catcher René Pinto.

But there simply aren’t enough 40-man roster spots to protect all of them -- much less additional candidates like Calvin Faucher, Tristan Gray, Miles Mastrobuoni, Kenny Rosenberg and Phoenix Sanders -- while maintaining Major League talent and depth. Therefore, the front office will have to make carefully calculated and considered decisions on who they add to the roster and who they’re willing to leave unprotected.

Which players are eligible for salary arbitration?

A better question might be: Which players aren’t eligible for salary arbitration? The Rays have a massive class of 19 arbitration-eligible players.

They are: Nick Anderson, Beeks, Chirinos, Ji-Man Choi, Adam Conley, Yandy Díaz, Drake, Glasnow, Andrew Kittredge, Jordan Luplow, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Francisco Mejía, Brett Phillips, Reed, Springs, Joey Wendle, Matt Wisler and Ryan Yarbrough.

Who might be a non-tender candidate?

According to MLB Trade Rumors’ arbitration projections, the Rays’ group of 19 arb-eligible players could earn a combined $43.6 million next season. Considering those projected salaries and Tampa Bay's roster crunch, one intensified by the number of young players expected to take on prominent roles, it seems likely that at least a few of those arb-eligible players could be traded or non-tendered (if they can’t be moved) during the offseason.

There are some players who could be squeezed off the roster -- not for any performance-based reasons, but simply to create room for injured players or incoming prospects. Perhaps one of the lefty relievers -- Ryan Sherriff, Reed or Conley -- could be bumped out and brought back on a Minor League deal; the same might go for an up-and-down righty like DJ Johnson or Chris Mazza. Infielder Mike Brosseau saw his playing time wane last season, although he’s only a year removed from being a key part of the team. Anderson’s most recent setback -- he won’t pitch until after the All-Star Game following right elbow surgery -- could jeopardize the high-leverage reliever’s spot on the roster since the 60-day IL isn’t available in the offseason.

This year’s non-tender deadline is Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET.

Any other important dates to know?

The General Managers Meetings will take place from Nov. 8-11 in Carlsbad, Calif. The collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. The Winter Meetings are currently scheduled for Dec. 6-9 in Orlando. The international signing period closes on Dec. 15.

What are their needs this offseason?

It’s hard to find holes in the Rays’ roster considering they won 100 games in 2021, plus Tampa Bay will have a full season of budding superstar Wander Franco next year and the club still boasts arguably the deepest farm system in the game. The Rays might lose Cruz, a big right-handed bat, but they could then resume rotating players through the DH spot and potentially make room for young players like No. 2 prospect Vidal Bruján, No. 4 prospect Josh Lowe and Taylor Walls. If anything, they need to resolve that potential logjam of position players.

On the pitching side, Tampa Bay will benefit from a full season of high-upside starters Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, No. 1 prospect Shane Baz and Luis Patiño, but the ALDS defeat reinforced the value of having a more established, reliable arm in the rotation. And they will be losing out on the innings -- and positive veteran example -- provided by Wacha this past season.

Perhaps an experienced starter like Corey Kluber, a Rays target last offseason who signed with the Yankees, could fill that void. It’ll be hard to replace McHugh’s production in the bullpen, but surely they’ll be on the lookout as well for more versatile and experienced multi-inning arms to give manager Kevin Cash the flexibility he needs.

Who might they be willing to trade?

It’s the Rays, so … just about anybody. Not _everybody_, of course -- Franco’s not going anywhere anytime soon -- but Tampa Bay’s front office is always willing to consider anything that will make the team better now and in future seasons.

The most interesting question is whether the club will trade Glasnow, the arb-eligible ace who won’t return until 2023, but the big name to watch is likely center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who is Tampa Bay's longest-tenured (and highest-paid) player.

The Rays love Kiermaier’s defense and leadership, and he had a strong second half at the plate. But they are loaded with outfielders; Randy Arozarena, Meadows, Margot, Phillips and MLB-ready prospect Lowe join Kiermaier, while Bruján, Luplow and Brandon Lowe have all spent time in the outfield as well.

Additionally, the Rays have a lot of infielders -- including the arb-eligible Choi, Díaz and Wendle -- with Bruján and Walls presumably ready for more regular work soon enough. Perhaps they could consolidate some roster spots, either by moving big leaguers or prospects, to fill another need. They could also make moves from their pitching depth, particularly the arb-eligible group led by Yarbrough.