Why the rotation is Rays' strong point entering '25

5:50 PM UTC

This story was excerpted from Adam Berry¡¯s Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Last year was, in some ways, a transitional season for the Rays¡¯ starting staff.

Ace Shane McClanahan was sidelined while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Opening Day starter Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale were traded in July. Drew Rasmussen came back from an internal brace procedure in August, albeit as a multi-inning opener/reliever. Jeffrey Springs also returned midseason, only to be dealt to the A¡¯s last month.

Those injuries and moves created opportunities for others.

Zack Littell was a full-time starter for the first time in his Major League career and posted a 3.63 ERA in 29 outings. Ryan Pepiot got his first extended look and capitalized, recording a 3.60 ERA in 130 innings over 26 starts. Shane Baz looked good while posting a 3.06 ERA over 14 starts in his return to the Majors. Taj Bradley had his ups and downs, but the 23-year-old¡¯s scorching early summer stretch (a 0.82 ERA in nine starts from June 8-July 25) was a reminder of his incredible potential.

Overall, Rays starters put together a 3.82 ERA, 10th-best in the Majors and seventh in the American League. But Tampa Bay¡¯s players, coaches and officials can confidently say that the rotation should be the strength of this year¡¯s team. Why?

Start with the fact that McClanahan, a two-time All-Star, is back. The recently extended Rasmussen is preparing to be a full-fledged starter again. Littell has a full season of starting experience under his belt. Baz, Pepiot and Bradley are a year older, but no less talented.

¡°I think there¡¯s a chance we could do some pretty special stuff as a starting pitching staff,¡± Rasmussen said. ¡°It¡¯s an exciting group to be a part of, and it¡¯ll definitely be fun for us.¡±

The top six: McClanahan, Rasmussen, Littell, Pepiot, Baz, Bradley
There¡¯s a lot to like about this group, as Rasmussen noted.

McClanahan is a legitimate ace atop the rotation. Rasmussen has been dominant when healthy. Littell has given them a chance to win nearly every time he¡¯s touched the mound as a starter. Pepiot, Baz and Bradley all have untapped upside, but they¡¯d be productive enough with more of what they did last year.

They¡¯re not going to run out a six-man rotation, so it seems at this point they still have one starter too many. But hey, remember the 2023 rotation that got so much hype in Spring Training then never made a full turn together? The Rays know as well as anyone that depth can disappear in a hurry.

¡°We¡¯re all aware that it¡¯s tough to keep a group healthy and active and things to go the way you want,¡± president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. ¡°We¡¯re just going to let that play out a little bit.¡±

McClanahan, Rasmussen and potentially Baz could face workload restrictions due to previous injuries, although they¡¯re enjoying a regular offseason and should have a normal spring. Neander said the Rays have ideas about ranges for their pitchers¡¯ workloads, but they¡¯ll assess them throughout the season and ¡°monitor as we go¡± rather than setting hard-and-fast limits.

Depth options: Jacob Waguespack, Joe Boyle, Joe Rock, Ian Seymour, Mike Vasil
The Rays were impressed enough by Waguespack to put him on their Opening Day roster last year. Injuries kept him from contributing much, but they extended him for $1.3 million this year, thinking his versatility will help him carve out a role.

The wild card is Boyle, the most intriguing part of the Rays¡¯ return for Springs. The 25-year-old is big and tall (6-foot-7, 240 lbs.) and throws hard, but his command is a huge concern. Neander said the Rays believe Boyle¡¯s top-of-the-rotation upside warrants some patience in his development, which likely means he¡¯ll need some time in Triple-A. If it all comes together, he¡¯ll be a key addition.

Rock and Seymour are ticketed for Triple-A, but both left-handed prospects could debut this year after being added to the 40-man roster in November. Vasil was a Rule 5 Draft pick, so he¡¯ll have to crack the Opening Day roster or be sent back to the Mets.

Top prospects: Gary Gill Hill, Santiago Suarez, Brody Hopkins, Trevor Harrison, Jackson Baumeister, Yoniel Curet, Ty Johnson
The Rays¡¯ system is still headlined by hitters, but there¡¯s suddenly much more promise on the pitching side than there appeared to be a year ago.

Gill Hill (Rays' No. 7 prospect) broke out for Single-A Charleston last season. No. 25 prospect Harrison, a 2023 Draft pick, looked great in his professional debut. Suarez¡¯s strike-throwing gives the No. 8 prospect a high floor. And their Trade Deadline sell-off yielded three starting prospects on the rise in No. 12 Hopkins (Randy Arozarena trade), No. 18 Baumeister (Eflin deal) and No. 30 Johnson (Isaac Paredes).

Nobody here is knocking on the door of the Majors, although the hard-throwing Curet is on the 40-man roster, but it¡¯s a group worth following as they progress through the Minors.

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