Tampa Bay Rays are not planning to have a six man rotation

The Tampa Bay Rays are in an extremely enviable situation that also could become a source if trouble in that they have one starting pitcher too many. Entering camp, the Rays currently have the following arms* projected for the rotation (Games Started, Games pitched):

LHP Shane McClanahan (74 GS, 74 G since 2021)
RHP Drew Rasmussen (50 GS, 87 G since 2021)
RHP Zack Littell (43 GS, 57 G since 2023)
RHP Ryan Pepiot (26 GS, 26 G in 2024)
RHP Taj Bradley (25 GS, 25 G in 2024)
RHP Shane Baz (14 GS, 14 G in 2024)

Are all six vying for the starting rotation?

McClanahan has already been named the Opening Day starter. At times last season, Pepiot, Bradley, and Littell all performed as the best hurlers in the rotation. Baz and Rasmussen both impressed in their returns from surgery in 2024; the Rays signed Rasmussen to an extension in January with the intention of making him an integral part of their starting rotation. Erik Neander even stated that, “[he] can’t wait to get him back in our rotation this coming year.”

So who’s going to get the ball every fifth day? That’s a question for six weeks from now when spring training finally comes to its merciful conclusion. Here’s some perspective on this problem from the Rays senior management.

Erik Neander

In the here and now, the Rays are working as if each starting pitcher will be taking their turn in the rotation every fifth day. Erik Neander said that is by design, but also made it clear that the team is not going to move forward with a planned six-man rotation.

“Part of going into this camp, the goal was come in ideally a little bit heavy and just let things sort themselves out. We don’t anticipate going to a six-man (rotation); we’ve been pretty clear about that. There’s just a lot between now and that point (of deciding).”

That makes some sense. At any given moment, a pitcher can feel a sudden pop or tell the team medical staff of a slight pain and suddenly that player’s season is over all in the matter of a few days or, in some cases, hours.

The Rays have been burned several times in the past in spring training and sometimes the regular season with what seemed like the best starting rotations in baseball only for injuries to claim the likes of Brent Honeywell, Nate Eovaldi, Luis Patino, Jeffrey Springs, Chris Archer, and Drew Rasmussen.

Erik Neander knows all too well the reality of this, thus entering spring with six viable arms for the rotation is a good problem to have. Also while not deluding himself into thinking that at the end of

“But with [70 some] days to go [until the end] of camp, we’re all aware that it’s tough to keep a group healthy and active and things to go the way you want. We’re just going to let that play out a little bit.”

However, if in six week’s time and the Rays front six starting pitchers all make it through the spring healthy, then a decision will have to be made.

“If you have six that are more than qualified to start, and you’re saying you’re not going to do a six-man rotation, something’s got to give.”

Kyle Snyder

According to Rays pitching coach, Kyle Snyder, the team is having each pitcher prepare for a full season’s workload as a starting pitcher.

“I can’t allow those six to get distracted. So it’s like, ‘The task is what it is. We’re building out. We’re getting ready for all of you guys to make 30 starts.”

Snyder goes on to say that the plan could change at any moment, but for now, it’s six starting pitcher for five spots but all are still being treated as six starting pitchers.

And if there’s a pivot at some point, there’s a pivot. But at the end of the day, that’s part of my job to make sure their head space stays where it needs to.”

As for why the Rays don’t want to employ a six-man starting rotation, well that’s a question that Kevin Cash answered succinctly during a ‘This Week in Rays Baseball’ podcast.

“We’d really like to keep the traditional five. You put a little more tax on the bullpen. We wanna take care of our relievers.”

If the Rays were to go with six starting pitchers, they’d limit themselves to seven players in the bullpen.

With the way the Rays current 40-man roster is configured, only one of those seven pitchers in the bullpen would have options remaining, severely limiting the Rays roster flexibility early on in a season that the Rays may have to be utilizing the Durham shuttle much more often than usual due to playing their home games outdoors at Steinbrenner Field.

Given the need to face the elements, there’s all the more reason the Rays might need to option an arm if all six starters are healthy at the end of camp and prioritize an arm in the ‘pen. (Of note: only Littell is out of options.)

*LHP Jeffrey Springs was traded alongside Triple-A starter LHP Jacob Lopez for A’s starter RHP Joe Boyle (13 GS in 16 G since 2023), prospects 1B Will Simpson and RHP Jacob Watters, and a 2025 Competitive Balance Round A pick. Boyle is expected to start the year in Triple-A.