Fantasy Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays 2016 Fantasy Outlook

Sep 22, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) hits a double during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Rays 2016 Fantasy Outlook:

The Rays may have the best pitching staff in the feared AL East, but can the offense generate enough runs to keep them in the division race?

Tampa Bay Rays 2016 Projected Starting Lineup:

C: Rene Rivera (.178, 5HR, 26RBI in 298 at bats)
1B: James Loney (.280, 4HR, 32RBI in 104 games)
2B: Logan Forsythe (.281, 17HR, 68RBI, 9SB)
SS: Brad Miller (.258, 11HR, 46RBI)
3B: Evan Longoria (.270, 21HR, 73RBI)
LF: Desmond Jennings (.268, 1HR, 7RBI, 5SB in 28 games)
CF: Kevin Kiermaier (.263, 10HR, 40RBI, 18SB)
RF: Steven Souza (.225, 16HR, 40RBI, 12SB)
DH: Logan Morrison (.225, 17HR, 54RBI, 8SB with Seattle)

Rivera’s hold on the catcher job is tentative at best. Hank Conger is still around, and the team is high on Curt Casali. This is one position battle that could last long into the spring. No matter how it turns out, none are fantasy relevant. Maybe Conger could be in two catcher leagues if he wins the job, but even that is a reach.

Loney is not much of an offensive guy. He never has been. He can be of use in really deep leagues where you just need a healthy body to get you stats. He wont hurt your average. That’s about it.

Forsythe took full advantage of his first crack at playing every day. He provides decent counting stats and a good average. That makes him a good bench selection in standard leagues. He may only get better.

Tim Beckham and Nick Franklin could both push Brad Miller if he struggles. None of the three are worth a slot in standard leagues. Even in 12 team leagues, using the Rays starter would be a stretch. They are all best left for deep leagues.

Longoria is no longer an elite fantasy third baseman, but he still puts up good enough numbers to be a starter in standard leagues. He likely shouldn’t be taken before the eighth round – his glory days aren’t magically coming back – but if you can get him there, he will be an asset for your team.

Jennings was off to a decent start last year before losing the rest of the year to a minor knee injury and tooth surgery. He can still steal enough bases to warrant a pick in standard leagues. He is still a 20/20 threat if he can play a full season. I wouldn’t put a lot of faith in him staying healthy, but he is worth a pick in the later rounds. He could turn out to be a steal.

Kiermaier was a nice find for owners in 12 team or larger leagues last year that took a chance on him. He is never going to put up great numbers, but he is solid enough to round out your outfield in mid sized or deep leagues.

Souza has a lot of power potential and decent speed, but he will likely hurt your average too much to be a standard league option. He will be a solid asset in mid sized leagues, and if his average holds up, he will be worth a pick up in standard leagues.

For now, Logan Morrison is the DH, but he wont provide much in the way of fantasy production. He will be worth using in deeper leagues for as long as he starts, but he could just be keeping the seat warm for Mikie Mahtook. The job will be his if he has a good spring. Mahtook has upside, and he will be worth using in mid sized leagues and monitoring in standard leagues.

Next: How Will The Rotation Shape Up?

Oct 3, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Rays 2016 projected pitching rotation:

Chris Archer (12-13, 3.23 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 252K in 212 IP)
Alex Cobb (10-9, 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 149K in 2014; on 60 Day DL)
Drew Smyly (5-2, 3.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 77K in 66.2 IP)
Jake Odorizzi (9-9, 3.35 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 150K in 169.1 IP)
Erasmo Ramirez (11-6, 3.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 126K)
Matt Moore (3-4, 5.43 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 46K in 63 IP)
Brad Boxberger (4-10, 3.71 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 74K in 63 IP, 41/47 saves)

Archer’s win total is going to suffer in Tampa, but he is an elite strikeout pitcher and provides good peripheral stats. He is worth taking as a really good number two starter for your fantasy squad.

Alex Cobb is mostly worth targeting in keeper or dynasty formats. He put up really good numbers in 2014. He may return around Memorial Day, but he could end up struggling like Matt Moore did last year. Taking a chance on Cobb is not worth it except in deeper leagues. There is way too much risk involved if you are playing to win.

Smyly suffered a torn labrum last spring, but he was able to come back later in the year, and he bordered on brilliant. He has the potential to be nearly what Chris Archer is, but he will come at cheaper price. Smyly is a nice pick for the middle of your mixed league rotation. He may end up rivaling your ace.

Odorizzi finally came into his own last year. He still had a few bouts of inconsistency, but he is worth putting at the end of your standard league rotation. He could end up producing at a higher level than his draft slot.

Is there something in the water in Tampa? Erasmo Ramirez had a nice year last year, and is a solid candidate to do it again. If he does again, he is worthy of rounding out your standard league rotation.

Can you afford to gamble on Matt Moore? He was miserable last year in coming back from Tommy John surgery. Fortunately, most of us draft late enough that we will know how he does in the spring. If he has a good spring, I would take him in standard leagues. We all know just how good he was before the surgery. If he can get back to that point, he is at worst a number two fantasy starter. There is risk, but the reward could be huge. Just make sure you watch his spring outings closely.

Pop quiz: Who led the American League in saves last season? Andrew Miller? Nope. How about Huston Street? Nope. Wrong again. It was Brad Boxberger. His ERA and WHIP make him a risk among closers, but he should get plenty of opportunities. If you wait on saves, he will still be around in the middle rounds of your draft if you want to take a chance on him.

Next: What Prospects Are Worth Watching?

Oct 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Mikie Mahtook (27) is congratulated by Tampa Bay Rays third base coach Charlie Montoyo (25) as he hits a 3-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

We will take a look at a few prospects that could crack the majors for the Rays this year, and in what type of leagues you should be looking for them in. Let’s get started!

Blake Snell, LHP: If Alex Cobb or Matt Moore continue to struggle, Snell could find himself in the majors early on. He is one of the better pitching prospects in the majors, and could have an impact right away. Those of you in keeper and dynasty formats should be drafting him. He may be worth stashing in any league if you have ample bench slots.

Mikie Mahtook, OF: It shouldn’t take long for Mahtook to work his way into the lineup. He hit .295 with nine homers in 41 major league games last year. This is a team that really needs offense. Look for Mahtook to get into the lineup. He may not be worth standard league consideration, but I would be all over him in 12 team leagues.

Richie Shaffer, 1B: The team likes Loney at first, but they may need Shaffer’s bat. He slugged 30 homers in the minors last year, and this is a team desperate for offense. He is worth keeping an eye on in every league because of his power potential, and is worth a middle round shot in keepers and dynasty leagues.

Ryan Brett, 2B: Brett is blocked by Logan Forsythe right now, but should injuries force Forsythe to a different position, Brett could get the call. He likely wont be much of a factor outside of deep leagues where he can help in steals.

Next: Baltimore Orioles 2016 Fantasy Preview

Stay tuned for the rundown of every MLB team before Opening Day!

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