Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Dodgers

 

If you're gonna have one of the most humiliating losses in franchise history, it had better be at the hands of a good team. And the 2024 Dodgers, let it not be forgotten, were a very, very good team. One of the most terrifying hearts of an order in recent memory, a great bullpen, a rotation that somehow stuck itself together by September, and some of the most dramatic hero moments you could ask for. Freddie Freeman walking off in Game 1 is all you could have asked for. He's already a Hall of Famer, he's already a Dodgers hero, he's already a World Series winner, and he's already one of the most beloved MLB figures still active, but this was another big piece for the wall at home. I had to make another custom of him for this year, to commemorate his dominant World Series performance, even after so many setbacks. You cannot help but respect that.

Here's how strong the 2024 Dodgers' bullpen was: it was able to withstand the primary closing option hitting a wall and getting injured. Evan Phillips went into this year as RP1, saved 18 games, yet struggled mightily compared to his prior progress. His 3.62 ERA and -0.6 WAR indicate a season derailed by a May injury that he couldn't completely come back from. His ERA was 0.66 before the injury, and then the earned runs kept piling up throughout year, despite a rebound in August. Phillips, for the first time since taking the ninth, had a human year, hence his middle relief role in the playoffs.

2025 Prediction: Eventually becomes a more reliable closer again, but it doesn't happen overnight.

Blake Treinen, meanwhile, made a triumphant return to the Dodgers' pen after missing essentially two straight seasons. He was stellar in both 2020 and 2021, but that did its damage and made it so he couldn't return til this year. Unsurprisingly, Treinen's 2024 was pretty solid, as in 50 games he had a 1.93 ERA, a 7-3 record and 56 Ks. During the postseason he went 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 8 Ks in 9 appearances, saving three games. Nobody had really thought of Treinen as a particularly great closer since 2018, but this was the kind of stuff LA could rest their season on, and he delivered.

2025 Prediction: Something comparatively underwhelming. But it'll be for the Dodgers so he'll get somewhere with it.

The transitional closer in between Evan Phillips and the deadline was longtime relief specialist Daniel Hudson, who'd outlasted his 2010-era battery-mate in Arizona, Ian Kennedy, in the majors. Hudson held a 3 ERA over 65 games, went 6-2 with 63 Ks, and saved 10 games. For a 37-year-old rounding what would be the last curve of his MLB career, that's excellent. His postseason was a little rockier, he had a 7.50 ERA in 7 appearances, but he got to finish his career with a winner, which is all every pitcher wants.

There were two fairly big rookie prospects that got a shot for the Dodgers this season. Andy Pages got the call as an OF piece after James Outman underperformed. Pages has been a long-heralded prospect for the Dodgers, and while he did hit .248 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs, his defense left a lot to be desired. Also underwhelming were his playoff stats, as he went 4-for-19 with 4 RBIs and 2 homers. He's 23, he's still young, it's not too worrying, but the book on him seems a tad inflated at the moment.

2025 Prediction: Something clicks in a way that it couldn't with Outman this year.

Additionally, River Ryan was one of many Dodgers starting prospects to be thrust into the MLB rotation this year. Though he was expected to bubble in triple-A this year, he got the call in late July and pitched 4 pretty strong major league games, with a 1.33 ERA and 18 strikeouts. His control, and his dominance, were almost unlike other pitchers his age, even in that same system. Inevitably, 4 games into his season he had some throwing issues, and would be out for the rest of the season, and probably 2025's, rehabbing from Tommy John. But the Dodgers still have high hopes for Ryan; they wouldn't have cut James Paxton to bring him up if they didn't.

2025 Prediction: No MLB action probably, but given who the team's getting back next year, it won't wound them tremendously.

The Dodgers had an extremely wise trade deadline, as two of their big moves, Tommy Edman and Jack Flaherty, were crucial in getting them that ring. They also swung Kevin Kiermaier for outfield depth, and while it became clear how far from his prime Kiermaier was, he still got to win his first World Series ring with this team. In 34 games he hit .203 with 12 hits and 8 RBIs. He only made 2 plate appearances during the playoffs, and neither were noteworthy.

2025 Prediction: Has something of a comeback year split between two teams.

And hidden beneath the Tommy Edman acquisition was the arrival of Michael Kopech, who set the league ablaze in 2018 before injuries limited him going forward. Kopech was mainly a bullpen guy for the White Sox so far this year, and not a particularly successful one. In 24 games with the Dodgers, Kopech became the team's secret weapon, and pushed into a gear not thought reachable. Kopech went 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA, 29 Ks and 6 saves down the stretch. Then, during the postseason, he had a 3 ERA in 10 games, with 10 strikeouts and a win. Again, that three-team trade with the Sox and Cardinals was perfect for the Dodgers, because they got two guys they couldn't have won this Series without.

2025 Prediction: I don't wanna be crass and say 'immediately gets hurt again', but that is his track record.

Coming Tomorrow- A lot of key members from an impressive but outshined Giants team. 

What Went Down Friday Night

 

or I Got Handed Yankee Tickets with 24 Hours' Notice and All I Got Was This Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Home Run.

The thing about being a Yankee fan and yet living 2 hours from New York is that when you only have the occasional opportunity to go to a game, the outcome doesn't really matter. You're honestly just grateful to be there. It's Yankee Stadium, toughest ticket in the area, decent seats courtesy of a colleague that has been thanked and given reciprocal enjoyment. It's just nice to get the opportunity, y'know? 

And the opportunity that night was...nice. I'm not gonna mince words, it was very cool. Apparently season ticket holders, for their troubles, get an extra game up in a suite every so often, and this colleague went 'shit, I can't make that night, how about Jordan and his dad', and so we went and there we were in a smaller space, no chance of getting beer spilt at our feet, easy access to popcorn and chicken fingers and the like, whatever sodas we wanted and a choice between three beers that the Yankees were willing to give out willy-nilly. It was one of those 'we may never be this way again' sort of things. And so with all of that, and a very nice view from right field, the game could have gone any which way.

Ultimately, though, this was the third Yankees-Blue Jays game I'd caught in the last 365 days, and the second one in regular season play. Like the last one, it was a loss for the home team, and very much like the last one, the Yankee bats refused to show up. It was like getting a throne's view of the most obvious lion chow in the coliseum. Oswaldo Cabrera hit a home run. Not any of the people that usually hit home runs, not Judge or Rizzo or Gleyber or any of them, but Oswaldo Cabrera had one. So that was nice I guess.

But really, the game was about the Jays' just outplaying us on so many levels. They outhit us obviously, as Vlad Jr. and, surprisingly, Brandon Belt made quick work of the pitching. They outpitched us, as Yusei Kikuchi was surprisingly sharp on the mound against a power-friendly Yankee team. And they outplayed us in the field, which...if you pay Kevin Kiermaier, you had better be. Kiermaier is still as dangerous in center field as he always was, and he robbed us of a few near-triumphs, as he's prone to. 

It was really as simple as that. The Jays showed up, the Yanks didn't. Ya figure if we'd come all that way they would have maybe done something cool during the game but, hey, beggars can't be choosers. It was still an excellent night at the ballpark, and now that we're 5 days from it I can 100% confirm it didn't get me sick. 

It's looking like I'll be back at the Stadium in a couple months. It will, refreshingly, not be against the Blue Jays. Moreover, it'll be an NL team that's a little bit more of an exciting matchup, with no offense meant towards Vlad Jr. 

Coming Tonight: Look who finally decided to start hitting in Philly?

Kevin Can Wait

 

As the Toronto Blue Jays warm up, the Boston Red Sox shake off their slow start, and the New York Yankees continue their amazing momentum......the Tampa Bay Rays are also here.

The injury issues that have plagued this team since the start of the season are still keeping this team from true dominance, and has held them to third. With Wander Franco, Mike Zunino, Brandon Lowe and J.P. Feyereisen injured, and now closer Andrew Kittredge out for the rest of the season, it is hard for this team to find something to hang onto. Hell, Shane Baz just got activated from the IL earlier today and got killed by the Twins, still hot from the Yanks series. We all held onto the belief that this team would be fine once the starters got back from the IL, but with Yarbrough already back in the minors and now Baz getting rocked, maybe the Rays really do need to hang onto Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Corey Kluber as tightly as they can.

As for the replacements, they're doing alright. Francisco Mejia is now the full time starting catcher, and while he's been strong as a backup, now he's hitting around the .220s and underwhelming in general. Vidal Brujan and Taylor Walls, two former Franco backups, are taking the infield, and while their defense is excellent, they're not doing crap at the plate. Brujan just hit his first ever homer last night, but I don't expect it to become a habit. And with Kittredge and Feyereisen on the mend, it's down to Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks and Ryan Thompson to do much of the relief work, and after their recent stand against, of all things, pride month, I'm not exactly itching for that to happen. I mean, you play for the Rays, that's one letter off from gays, so you should probably be okay with gays, then. Then again, I know a guy named Max who isn't too keen on getting the vax, but that was last week's post.

It sucks, because right now, Kiermaier-Arozarena-Margot is looking like an excellent outfield, and they're all pretty much hitting. Manny Margot's having the best season of his career, and he's finally figured out a place to stick around in, while Randy Arozarena is slowly heating up. Again, I wish this team was more of a power-hitting team than they were, but they can certainly hit for contact, and they can certainly stifle opposing defenses. They just need to figure out how to outlast their competition, and with the amount of great players injured right now, I don't know if they can.

Coming Tomorrow- A guy named Zack that would have a Cy Young by now if the world was just.

Kier Maker

 

The Tampa Bay Rays lost 6 games in August. They've lost 3 in September, and we're only 6 days into it. Could 2021's behemoth be slowing down?

Well...it's happening all over. Not only are the Rays beginning to look slightly more human, but the Giants' lead over the Dodgers has completely dissolved. The two front-runners of the entire season have slowed down a bit. Yes, the Rays still tower over the AL East, and have a strong lead over the Yankees...but now, once again, they're the overwhelming frontrunner. I have a feeling they'll be the only 100 win team in the AL East, possibly the AL. For 2020 they could be the top dog and still make it to the end. In a normal season, with more of a marathon mentality? It's not as certain.

The best news is that this team's true core has come alive. Kiermaier, Lowe, Meadows, Arozarena, Wendle, Franco. Franco can finally hit at MLB level, was streaking for a while, and has completely earned the praise dealt upon him to this point. Lowe is finally hitting well above the Mendoza line, as is Kiermaier, who is still a top-tier defender at this point in his career. Going into the postseason with this core, Margot, Zunino and Diaz...yeah, I'd be pretty confident. That's an insanely good lineup, and that is gonna get through some of the best teams in the AL this year.

It's the pitching where I'm still not convinced. No active member of the starting rotation has a WAR higher than 1. The highest is Shane McClanahan, who, to his credit, is having a strong full rookie season, with 9 wins and a 3.5 ERA. But the rest of the rotation still isn't where it should be. Michael Wacha's supposed to be the authority piece and he's got a 5 ERA. Yarbrough can't run this rotation without Glasnow, he's got a high ERA. Luis Patino and Drew Rasmussen are fine but unpolished. The Rays will likely be going up against the winner of the Wild Card game, which means they'll either be facing Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery and Jameson Taillon or Chris Sale, Nate Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta. The strategy is always to outhit the opponent, and maybe this lineup can beat up some of these people, but they also need to make sure their own guys don't get outhit as well. I see opposing offenses having a field day with people like Wacha and Yarbrough. 

The only way this team wins a World Series is if at least four of these starters just switch things on during the postseason and become unhittable, consistent weapons then. Because even if I prefer the postseason to be a reflection on the season itself, I do see some of these guys coming alive in October. Patiño is the one that might have the most legs here. But it's all a matter of whether or not it's enough to outlast New York, Chicago and Houston.

I am very, very worried that the Astros could get to another ALCS. And I am very worried that the Rays could be the team that gets them further. So hopefully they can figure things out by then. If not, we might be in for a truly miserable October.

Coming Tomorrow- A member of an all 25-homer infield. 

Division Series' Day 3: Four Leads

 I'm going to warn Braves fans now. Ian Anderson, the way he is throwing, is gonna wreck his arm within a year or so and will eventually need Tommy John surgery. You guys are going to lose a year of Ian Anderson baseball very soon, considering the arc of his arm in his rotation.

That being said, Ian Anderson had another very dominant postseason start, going 5.2 innings with 8 strikeouts and no earned runs. Dude's got a future if he takes care of that arm. Anderson, Soroka and Fried all healthy next year could be dangerous. And just Fried and Anderson in good form now is chasing the Marlins, and pitting them into win-or-die scenarios for today. They will most likely turn to Sixto Sanchez, as the Braves turn to Kyle Wright, so hopefully they have some run support to spare to aid their young pitcher. 

As bad as it looked as a back-and-forth match for a few innings, the Athletics broke through late thanks to some work from Chad Pinder and Sean Murphy on the Houston bullpen, and some subsequent mastery from Liam Hendriks and Jake Diekman. Marcus Semien, Tommy La Stella, Mark Canha and Matt Olson all had solo long-balls early, and kept enough in the tank so that the eventual lead-taking from the Astros would be possible in the first place. Jesus Luzardo got beat up, but so did Framber Valdez, and from there it was a question of who had the better bullpen, which...Oakland did.

I loved this win, and I really hope there's two more just like it coming soon. 

Look, I've resigned myself to my fate already. The Rays are the better team, they're probably gonna win tonight. 

The Yankees, as much as they can slug, and as much as they can put up runs and stay in it, have always been very close with each of their postseason rivals, and if they had a more comprehensive pitching staff, it wouldn't be as close. Tonight, they're starting Jordan Montgomery. Yes, the Rays are doing a bullpen/opener game, but...the Yanks have to start Jordan Montgomery against one of the best offenses in baseball, one that worked Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier and Michael Perez against Tanaka last night. 

Again, stranger things have happened, but...considering what might also happen in LA today, the Rays might NEED to win. Cause someone's gonna need to stop the Astros if the A's can't. 

Also, hey, what do you know, last year's MVP is still elite. Cody Bellinger took longer than usual to get to peak levels, but he's been stellar this postseason, with a home run as well as the game winning catch against these surprisingly tough-to-beat Padres. Like Yanks-Rays, it's gonna come down to the team that has the better pitching, and today will probably be either Dustin May or Julio Urias, both good options, vs. Adrian Morejon. Yes, folks, the Padres are going with Adrian Morejon to start. Which says a lot about how depleted their rotation is without Lamet and Clevinger. 

Look, man...the Dodgers are the best team in baseball, and the #1 seed in the game. So the Padres coming in with a lesser rotation should have figured this would happen. But, regardless, hopefully their lineup will keep them alive tonight. 

Rays the Roof

 The 2020 Rays season was a direct response to the 2019 Rays season. They did the same thing, relied on the same youth movement, made a few more minor signings, and managed to get past the New York Yankees for the division. Arc finalized.

However, it's not exactly as simple as just getting 1st. The Rays need to outlast the Yankees in the playoffs now, and they need to do so with enough force to stay in the conversation well into October. I do believe they have the team for it this year, and it's mainly because it's not dissimilar from the team that chased Houston in the ALDS last year. 

You're still dealing with the same central poles- Kevin Kiermaier, Willy Adames, Brandon Lowe, Blake Snell. All four of those parts still work, and still make this team worth talking about. And then other parts that began to kick in last year have matured, like Mike Brosseau, who's been starting a lot at corner positions since Choi and Diaz got injured, and Nick Anderson, who's taken a fuller year in Tampa to become one of the most dangerous relievers in the game. And then you've got layers of this team that you forgot about coming back into vogue, like 2018 standout Joey Wendle getting a lot more starting time this year and selling it, and former trade piece Randy Arozarena becoming deadly off the bench.

There is so much depth in this team, even in the bullpen, that it impresses me. The bench is a little shaky but it works. The injuries to key players have resulted in starting stints for people like Michael Perez and Manny Margot, both of whom have capitalized on the opportunity. And it's even scarier when you realize that the farm system runs even deeper, and some of the best prospects in the game are waiting to come up. The trades have named Wander Franco a lot, but it's way more than just him. This team will be competitive for the remainder of the decade, and may very well win their first World Series this decade. 

Will it be this year? Well, to make a World Series, they'll need to get past the Chicago White Sox, and to a lesser extent teams like the Yankees, Athletics and Astros. I do think these guys will go deep into the playoffs, but it remains to be seen whether or not they can seal the deal.

Coming Tomorrow- J.T. Realmuto is likely going to try the open market next year, making the Philadelphia Phillies' decision to trade this guy in exchange for him more and more misguided with every day.

Rays of Thunder

Atop the AL East during this extremely early period of the 2019 MLB season...are the Tampa Bay Rays, the weirdest team from 2018. And, as luck would have it...they may have gotten weirder.

Just from who's been allowed into the lineup alone, things are still pretty unusual. Ji-Man Choi is the starting first baseman, and he's already doing a pretty nice job. Yandy Diaz, backup infielder from the Indians teams of yore, is doing well in a permanent infield role. Brandon Lowe has snagged the starting second base spot instead of Daniel Robertson, which is pretty surprising. And the starting DH seems to be NOT Avisail Garcia, but Austin Meadows, who's off to a nice start.

The rotation seems to surprisingly firm as well, with a Snell-Morton-Glasnow-Chirinos formation, and all four are doing well. However...the opener strategy seems to still be in full effect, with Ryne Stanek opening a game yesterday, only for Ryan Yarbrough to pitch four innings afterwards anyway. Look, if Yarbrough can GO for distance, and from last year's numbers he certainly can, why hide him behind an opener? You don't need to blur the line between starter and reliever, you can just start Yarbrough and save someone sneaky like Stanek for the eighth.

But again...this is a strategy that more and more teams seem to be adopting (Nate Karns opened for Baltimore the other day), so...maybe I'm wrong. But it's still odd.

Odder still: this is Kevin Kiermaier's team, and he's doing a bang up job, but it doesn't feel like it's powered by one singular star figure. This is definitely a group effort, with Meadows, Tommy Pham, Choi and Kiermaier all splitting equal fame here. This is the kind of team that doesn't need a captain, or a central figure, but can still win games just by having different heroes show up in different places.

Look, I know it's early...but the Rays are gonna be dangerous this year. The Sox are ailing, the Yanks are still rusty, and the Rays are already making their presence known. Which is...kind of scary.

Coming Tomorrow- For years, we thought he'd be a bust. Now that he's been moved to late in the lineup, however...his bat has FINALLY come alive. And a hell of a season for it to do so.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Rays

Pop quiz: out of all 20 teams that missed the playoffs this year, which one had the best record?

...Okay, having this being a Rays post is kind of a giveaway, but...say you didn't have the title as a clue? You could have guessed Colorado, or Seattle, or the Cardinals or Nationals...but the Rays, with their mega-September, and their...incredibly strange tactics, finished with 90 wins, which would be impressive in a division that didn't have the Yankees or Red Sox.

Again, this is thanks to Kevin Cash's impressive managing, the homegrown oddball quality of the roster, the team's ace winning a Cy Young, and the pitching staff embracing the 'opener' concept after losing two of their strongest starting pitchers.

And the guy that was thought to be the star of the show this year, Kevin Kiermaier, was...not really a factor. In missing a few months to injury, he effectively handed the reins to the team to...okay, first to Denard Span, but then to Matt Duffy, who's trying to Travis Shaw his way to a leadership thing in Tampa. Kiermaier is still a sharp player, but his .217 average doesn't bode well.

Carlos Gomez, seen here clutching a gigantic glove yet still sporting a .967 fielding percentage, was hired as a veteran bat. But...his bat didn't really show up, did it? The guy batted .208 with 9 home runs. Far from his Milwaukee days, I think. Honestly, his success may have a geographical component- some cities, like Milwaukee and Arlington, suit him well. And some, like Houston...and Tampa...do not.

Daniel Robertson was a utility infielder/outfielder that had been stewing in the minors, waiting for a chance to start, and thanks to the rise of the rookies he got his chance, and did fairly well. He notched 34 RBIs in 87 games before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

 Thankfully Willy Adames was on hand to keep the rookie train going, putting up some fierce rookie numbers while vying for the starting 2nd base position with Joey Wendle. He was so good that he was essentially handed the shortstop gig, and managed to hit 10 home runs, which is not bad for a primarily defensive standout.

 But, again, we can't talk about the 2018 Rays without mentioning the bullpen. Ryne Stanek was one of the more impressive bullpen pieces the Rays had, because he could do middle relief, and he was the most likely to open games for Tampa, notching 29 opener appearances. This is definitely a similar reliever to Josh Vader, the long-haired, hard throwing tall dude. And hopefully his role in this bullpen will expand further in 2019.

 Jose Alvarado was the more traditional reliever, used for holds and saves in place of the main closer, and he did a nice job, getting 8 saves, and leaving with a 2.39 ERA.

Plus...Sergio Romo got to hold down a closing gig for the first time since the Giants were a contending team. He put up 25 saves (alright, granted, on 33 opportunities), but was one of the voices of experience in a very young bullpen.

Tommy Pham was a surprise deadline acquisition for Tampa, as the Cardinals thought they were in a dealing mode in July, when in reality they were just freeing up a starting space for Harrison Bader. But...Pham hit 7 home runs in 34 games, with a .343 average. The guy clearly has mastered hitting for average, and he's turned his career around from being a bench mainstay. Hopefully he keeps it up.

Coming Tomorrow- They're big, bad, and they won the whole thing.

Still Spreading Mischief

The Rays were knocked out of contention a little while ago. They didn't have the team, or the pitching, or the drive for the postseason. And yet they still have a chance to affect the outcome of the postseason. And they're affecting it by kicking the shit out of the Yankees for a night.

The whole thing is the race between Boston and the Yanks for 1st place in the division. Boston has it, Yanks want it, and if the Red Sox win one more game, or if the Yankees lose one more game, the Sox have it. The Rays just made the Sox' win even more possible by beating them tonight. So even if Kevin Kiermaier has no shot at the playoffs, he can still be one of the best defensive players in the game and screw over the other teams.

Yes, I feel bad that it's at the expense of my team, but the Rays were meant for something, and with the roster power that's been slowly building, as well as people like Alex Colome and Corey Dickerson, who the Rays may need to fight to keep, toying with contending teams may be all they can do right now. And yes, the Rays may have a chance next year if they get lucky and if they keep the core of the lineup, but...they're able to use the fact that they're not terrible to get the better of the Yankees, which is interesting.

Proves the picture's always changing, even when you think it's done.

Coming Tomorrow- A guy I'd counted out, struggling to stay healthy after a huge 2013 season...and now he's closing for one of the hottest teams in the NL.

Custom Card of the Night: Kiermaier Edition

I just want to appreciate the last Spring Training custom of 2016. Because it's a beaut. Man, I bet Topps wishes they could still make cards like that nowadays...

Going into 2016, it's looking rather tough for the lower tier of the AL East, which, this season includes the Rays. It's looking like the Red Sox and Blue Jays will dominate the division this year, and it's really a race for third at this place. The Yankees could make it, but will they be able to hold up the whole way through without one of their treasured starters getting attacked by a seagull or something? The Orioles have the least chance of the five, but even they have a lot to brag about, like Chris Davis, Yovani Gallardo and Manny Machado.

So where does that leave the Rays? Your guess is as good as mine at this point.

I mean, initially, you'd think they'd fall pretty low in the standings, since they haven't made any huge moves, and have lost most of their heavy-hitters, save for Evan Longoria and Chris Archer. But they've made a lot of little moves, and kept a lot of fairly strong young players. They're working on building a solid foundation for a team that could be good eventually, but I'm not exactly sure if 2016 is going to be that year. I'm not sure that even the youth movement can get around Toronto, because they have a ton more established players in prime positions.

What the Rays WILL BE, in 2016, I assume, is some pretty tricky competition. I guarantee that some teams aren't gonna get as far as they should due to losing crucial games to the Rays. They could kill some playoff runs in the future, even if they aren't one themselves. I'm not sure if the Rays will be contenders, but Kevin Kiermaier is due for an amazing season, and he's not gonna do that on a last place team.

And if he is, it'll be a pretty smooth last-place-team.

Coming Tomorrow- This is not a dream. The first Cardinal of the year comes before the first Yankee or Phillie of the year. And it's one of my least favorites, too.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2015: Rays

This wasn't the greatest season for the Rays, but they seem to be on the right track, which is kind of nice. At least they have Kevin Kiermaier, who is one of the best defensive players in baseball PERIOD. SERIOUSLY. MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.

Logan Forsythe, the 2nd baseman, had a nice season, forming a very nice DP combo with Asdrubal Cabrera, and proving he's got it in him to keep the position after Ben Zobrist's departure.

Nate Karns had a great season on the mound, middle of the rotation. He'll be playing for the Mariners next season, which should be a nice opportunity for him.

Mikie Mahtook had a pretty notable rookie season, and probably has enough in him to stick around the Rays' outfield.

Brad Boxberger stepped up BIG TIME as the closer in Tampa, and did not disappoint, getting an All Star nod and becoming one of the most ferocious closers in the game almost overnight.

Coming Tomorrow- Fine, I guess I can post some Red Sox...