This is part of a 30-article series looking at each team’s depth chart headed into spring training. Tampa Bay Rays Rotation 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. Jeff Niemann 4. David Price 5. Wade Davis 6. Andy Sonnanstine 7. Jeremy Hellickson 8. Lance Cormier 9. Carlos Hernandez 10. Heath Phillips 11. Alex Torres Davis impressed in his 2010 audition, going 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA in six starts last September, so he should enter camp as the clear favorite for the fifth spot over Sonnanstine. Bullpen 1. Rafael Soriano 2. J.P. Howell 3. Grant Balfour 4. Dan Wheeler 5. Lance Cormier 6. Randy Choate 7. Andy Sonnanstine 8. Dale Thayer 9. Jeff Bennett 10. Jake McGee 11. Mike Ekstrom 12. Winston Abreu 13. R.J. Swindle 14. Paul Phillips 15. Eduardo Morlan Troy Percival, Jason Isringhausen and Chad Bradford all appear to be riding off into the sunset, but it’s not like any from the group made a real contribution last season anyway. Barring a Sonnanstine trade, the pitching staff would seem to be essentially set. It’s possible that either Choate or Sonnanstine could pitch his way off the team during spring training, but both should be penciled in for the moment.
Catcher 1. Kelly Shoppach 2. Dioner Navarro 3. Jose Lobaton 4. John Jaso First base 1. Carlos Pena 2. Willy Aybar 3. Dan Johnson 4. Ryan Shealy 5. Chris Richard Second base 1. Ben Zobrist 2. Willy Aybar 3. Sean Rodriguez 4. Reid Brignac 5. Elliot Johnson Third base 1. Evan Longoria 2. Willy Aybar 3. Joe Dillon 4. Sean Rodriguez Shortstop 1. Jason Bartlett 2. Reid Brignac 3. Ben Zobrist 4. Elliot Johnson There’s been nothing to suggest that the Rays will pursue Felipe Lopez, so it looks like Zobrist will stay at second base. It makes him a bit more of an injury risk, but he’s pretty good defensively there, making him a whole lot more valuable than he’d be as a right fielder. Left field 1. Carl Crawford 2. Sean Rodriguez 3. Gabe Kapler 4. Fernando Perez 5. Justin Ruggiano 6. Chris Richard Center field 1. B.J. Upton 2. Fernando Perez 3. Desmond Jennings 4. Gabe Kapler Right field 1. Matt Joyce 2. Gabe Kapler 3. Ben Zobrist 4. Justin Ruggiano Designated hitter 1. Pat Burrell 2. Dan Johnson 3. Willy Aybar The Rays might yet grab someone to compete with Joyce and Burrell for playing time. Jermaine Dye is one name that has come up. A reunion with Rocco Baldelli would also make some sense. Still, I think Joyce will be just fine as a right fielder against right-handers, especially since he’s a plus defender, and if he fails, then sticking Jennings in center and moving Upton to right might be an option by midseason.
