Fansided

Power Ranking each MLB team in aftermath of Trade Deadline

By Kyle Franzoni

Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; (Editors note: Caption correction) Kansas City Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; (Editors note: Caption correction) Kansas City Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 27, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder David DeJesus (7) singled during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder David DeJesus (7) singled during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

16: Tampa Bay Rays

ACQUIRED: RHP Eduar Lopez (from Angels), RHP Chih-Wei Hu (from Twins), RHP Alexis Tapia (from Twins)

TRADED: OF David DeJesus (to Angels), RHP Kevin Jepsen (to Twins)

In the NBA, teams that float around the middle of the pack tend to stay around the middle of the pack. However, the Tampa Bay Rays don’t play in the NBA and while they are currently stuck in the middle of the pack, they have no intention of staying there too long.

After a few years of moderate success in Tampa, the Rays finally succumbed to injury issues and a general inability to hit the ball in 2015. However, they’ve still managed to stay in the playoff picture in a weak American League. It’s that ability to stay alive that kept Tampa silent at the deadline.

The Rays have a great core of young pitching to build around and with some of those arms now starting to trickle back from injuries and surgeries, there is some hope for the future. Tampa Bay wasn’t going to sacrifice that strength in order to rebuild, but rather say those returning players as the influx of talent they’ll need for next season. If they can add some bats to build around Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay could be right back in the thick of the AL East race.

Of course, a three-game deficit isn’t much in the Wild Card race either, but there are a lot of teams to climb over. It can be done, but the Rays won’t likely be the team to do it in 2015.

Next: 15: Baltimore Orioles

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