After several roster moves, the Rays lineup appears to be set. Here’s the latest projection for Opening Day.
* left-handed hitter** switch hitter
Starting Lineup
C — Danny Jansen
1B — Yandy Diaz
2B — Brandon Lowe*
3B — Junior Caminero
SS — Taylor Walls**
LF — Christopher Morel
CF — Jonny DeLuca
RF — Josh Lowe*
DH — Jonathan Aranda
One caveat here is that primary catcher Danny Jansen is dealing with an intercostal strain. He will test out the mild injury on Wednesday, and if all goes well he will he will be slated for Opening Day on Friday.
Bench
C — Ben Rortvedt*
SS/OF — Jose Caballero
INF — Curtis Mead
OF — Richie Palacios*
The primary battle for the final bench spot was between Eloy Jimenez, who likely would have been limited to Designated Hitter, and Curtis Mead, who underwent a body transformation in his native Australia over the off-season.
2025’s biggest omission is Chandler Simpson, a high flying prospect on the base paths who has been working out in Center Field this Spring. Instead, the Rays are putting a big bet on DeLuca to handle a full time role for the first time in his career.
Simpson may yet get an opportunity if an ongoing finger injury to Palacios keeps him sidelined come Friday, although he is currently not on the 40-man roster, which may set the Rays preference on Kameron Misner or Jake Mangum, who are both rostered.
Rotation
RHP Ryan Pepiot
RHP Drew Rasmussen
RHP Taj Bradley
RHP Shane Baz
RHP Zack Littell
Following the nerve-related injury for Shane McClanahan in his throwing arm, and the option of Joe Boyle — who was acquired in the Jeffrey Springs trade — down to Triple-A, the Rays rotation appears to be set.
Bullpen
The core of the bullpen is built around four high leverage relievers who are out of options:
RHP Pete Fairbanks
RHP Edwin Uceta
LHP Garrett Cleavinger
RHP Manny Rodriguez
The Rays then had four slots open for competition, and thanks to multiple off-days in the first week, have started with four arms that should be easily optionable should the Rays need to fire up the Durham Shuttle early:
RHP Hunter Bigge
RHP Mason Englert
RHP Kevin Kelly
RHP Mason Montgomery
Bullpen length is easiest found here in Englert and Kelly, and while Kelly has pitched multiple innings throughout his Rays career, Englert shouldered 3.0 inning stints multiple times for Detroit last season.
The last man to make the bullpen was Bigge, as the Rays clearly decided length was not a primary concern for the opening week. Indeed, the Rays designated 2025 Rule 5 selection Mike Vasil, who was brought in under consideration for a long relief role. He was picked up by the White Sox.
The primary competition for Vasil was RHP Connor Seabold, who pitched last season in Korea and has added some improvement to his off-speed stuff by dropping his arm angle over the last year. He might not be on the Opening Day roster, but he seems poised to offer a significant multi-inning role in 2025.
Injured List
SS Ha-Seong Kim
LHP Shane McClanahan
RHP Alex Faedo
RHP Nate Lavender (60-day IL)
All four of these players should be expected to contribute to the 26-man roster when they return from injury. Kim steps into the starting Short Stop role, McCalanahan into the rotation as team ace, and both Faedo (out of options) and Lavender (Rule 5 selection) slot directly into the bullpen.
