Latest Tampa Bay Rays News

    Tampa Bay Rays Franchise Information

    Have a read on below at some quick stats and facts on the Tampa Bay Rays to get you started:

    Established:1998
    Stadium:Tropicana Field
    Colours:Navy blue, light blue, yellow & white
    Hall of Famers:Wade Boggs
    Hall of Fame General Managers: None
    Rivals:Miami Marlins
    Legends:Fred McGriff, Wade Boggs, Greg Vaughn, Aubrey Huff, Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist & Evan Longoria
    Retired Numbers:12, 66 & 42
    League: American League
    Division:East Division
    World Series Championships: None

    Tampa Bay Rays History

    The Tampa Bay Rays are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks as the youngest franchise in Major League Baseball. Like the Diamondbacks, the Rays entered the sport in 1998. But the team already holds a strong history, as the club has made it to the World Series twice in its short life. 

    But issues surrounding whether the Rays can draw in fans have plagued the team since the beginning. The team continues to produce a quality roster with many top prospects, but the greatest worry involves whether the Rays can afford to keep them around in the long term.

    The Rays started playing in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The city of Tampa had tried for years to bring in a Major League Baseball team, even building a domed stadium in the suburb of St. Petersburg with the intention of luring an MLB team. 

    The club almost landed the Chicago White Sox in the late 1980s, but the White Sox stayed in Chicago following an eleventh-hour agreement to build a new stadium in the city. The club also tried to get the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers to move to St. Petersburg when those clubs were looking to build new ballparks.

    The city of Tampa would eventually be granted an MLB team in 1995 as part of MLB’s expansion effort. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays would start playing in 1998. The team is named after the devil ray, a giant manta ray that can grow up to five meters in width and 3,600 pounds. Such rays can be found in the nearby Gulf of Mexico.

    The team started playing at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where the team still plays today. The domed stadium was first opened in 1990 and was the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team and the Tampa Bay Storm indoor football team for a few years before it became a baseball stadium.

    The Trop remains the only MLB ballpark with a permanent roof as of 2021. The venue also features a few catwalks that support the slanted roof structure. A ball that hits one of the two inside catwalks will remain in play, while any ball that hits the two outside catwalks between the foul poles is a home run. 

    Players have been known to hit the lights on the catwalks, thus leading to lighting delays. The 1998 Devil Rays finished in last place in the AL East with a 63-99 record. Outfielder Quinton McCracken led the team with a .292 average.

    The Devil Rays were consistently at the bottom of the AL East at the start, as they wouldn’t finish outside of fifth place until 2004. The team’s worst record came in 2002, when the Devil Rays went 55-106. Outfielder Randy Winn had a .298 average with fourteen home runs.

    The club traded Winn to the Seattle Mariners for the right to negotiate a contract with manager Lou Piniella. Piniella was successful in the past, as he managed the Cincinnati Reds to the 1990 World Series title and led the Seattle Mariners to a 116-46 record in 2001. But he failed to bring the Devil Rays anywhere in three seasons, as he went 200-285.

    The Devil Rays’ ongoing struggles continued to mount, leading to extreme fan disinterest in the Tampa area. The team’s poor performance and the relatively inaccessible location of Tropicana Field caused the team’s attendance values to drop. The team started planting tarps over the upper deck seats at the Trop. 

    These tarps can still be found throughout the ballpark to this day. The team also played a three-game series in 2007 in Orlando at the Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in a move that was seen as an effort to gauge whether the team should move to Orlando.

    Joe Maddon became the team’s new manager in 2006, but the club went 61-101 that season. The season was highlighted by an instance where the team hit into a triple play. Russell Branyan flew out, Rocco Baldelli was called out when trying to advance, and Aubrey Huff was called out because he left his base early when tagging up.

    The club changed its name to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008. The team changed their uniforms and came up with a new name to try and create a new image. The “Rays” name relates to the sun’s rays as a moniker to Florida’s state nickname, the Sunshine State.

    The 2008 Rays saw one of the most remarkable single-season improvements in baseball history. The team went from a 66-96 mark in 2007 to a 97-55 record, a total that remains the best in the team’s history. 

    The 2008 squad won the AL East title mostly with a homegrown roster featuring David Price, Matt Garza, Evan Longoria, Melvin Upton Jr., Dioner Navarro and Akinori Iwamura. The team defeated the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox in the playoffs, but they lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

    The sudden success of the Rays got fans interested in the team again. The club almost drew two million fans in 2009 and 2010. But the team slipped to 84-78 in 2009 and missed the playoffs. The club won the AL East again in 2010 with a 96-66 mark.

    The 2011 club finished 91-71 and won a wild card spot. The team clinched the wild card on the last day of the season. The team was losing 7-0 to the New York Yankees in the eighth inning, but the team then scored six runs in that inning. 

    With the team down to their last strike in the ninth inning, Dan Johnson hit a home run to tie the game. Evan Longoria then hit a home run in the twelfth inning to give the Rays to victory. The victory happened right as the Boston Red Sox lost their last game, ensuring the Rays could reach the playoffs.

    The Rays lost in the ALDS to Texas in four games. The team would return to the playoffs in 2013, but the team saw increasing concerns over their financial viability and whether they can stay in St. Petersburg. 

    The team often failed to sell out their home playoff games. The club also closed off the upper deck at Tropicana Field for most of their games, cutting the capacity from 42,375 to 25,000.

    Joe Maddon left the Rays after the 2014 season, finishing with a 754-705 record in nine years. He would lead the Chicago Cubs to a World Series title in 2016. Former Rays catcher Kevin Cash became the new manager.

    The Rays’ performance has been overshadowed by issues surrounding the team’s ability to draw fans. The City of St. Petersburg and the Rays have an agreement to keep the team at Tropicana Field until 2027. 

    But there have been many concerns about the financial status of the Rays and whether they can draw fans and bring in enough money to be competitive. There was even a proposal to have the Rays play a significant number of their home games at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, the ballpark where the Montreal Expos played before moving to Washington.

    But the Rays continue to compete, as the club routinely has one of the sport’s top farm systems. The Rays regularly develop and promote players from the Durham Bulls, Montgomery Biscuits, and Bowling Green Hot Rods minor league teams.

    Many of those prospects helped the Rays as they returned to the playoffs in 2019. The team went 96-66 and won their Wild Card Game over Oakland before losing in the ALDS to Houston. The Rays featured many homegrown stars like Kevin Kiermaier, Ji-Man Choi, Charlie Morton, Blake Snell and Brendan McKay.

    The Rays returned to the World Series in 2020. The team finished 40-20 in an abbreviated season. The team lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. The team was notable for having many twelve pitchers start a game during the season, as manager Kevin Cash often uses an unorthodox approach to managing his pitching staff. 

    Cash often uses a bullpen by committee in many of the team’s games, plus the club uses its starting pitchers in various situations. But his efforts became controversial after pulling his starter during the sixth and final game of the 2020 World Series. His move is believed to be a part of why the Rays lost.

    The Rays had another good season in 2021, and they made the playoffs, with a 100-62 record. They were just one of three teams in the league that managed to get 100 or over wins in the regular season. The Rays finished on top of the AL East, and they played the Red Sox in the ALDS, where they lost 3-1.

    The Tampa Bay Rays finished the 2022 Major League Baseball season with a record of 86-76, which put them in third place in the American League East Division. They did qualify for the playoffs in 2022. They didn’t last long in the postseason as they were swept by the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Wild Card round.

    Expert 2023 Picks & Preview on Tampa Bay Rays

    If you are a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays, then you know that the only thing that matters right now is how they are expected to perform in the 2023 season. Do the Tampa Bay Rays have the star power to make it all the way to the World Series in 2023?

    The Tampa Bay Rays are on the cusp of winning a World Series and 2023 may finally be the year they break through. This lineup is loaded with some of the best young players in baseball and one of the best managers in Kevin Cash as well.

    Preview on the Tampa Bay Rays’ Manager: Kevin Cash

    Kevin Cash returns as the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2023 Major League Baseball season and he has been successful ever since he was hired. He is one of the longest tenured managers in all of Major League Baseball, and it was clear that the Rays made the right choice when they brought him in.

    At the conclusion of his career as a player in 2012, Cash was announced as an advance scout for the Blue Jays during the 2012 season.

    Following that 2012 season, Cash joined the Cleveland Guardians as their bullpen coach for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

    Cash was then announced as the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2015 season. After four years without a trip to the postseason, the Rays made the playoffs in 2019 after a 96-66 regular season record, and again in 2020 after a 40-20 AL East winning season.

    Tampa Bay made the 2020 World Series, however they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rays have a 14-12 postseason record under Cash.

    He has led the Tampa Bay Rays to the postseason, each of the last four seasons, and even a World Series appearance in that time span as well as five winning seasons in a row.

    Preview on the Tampa Bay Rays’ Key Player: Randy Arozarena

    Coming into the fifth season of his MLB career, we believe that Randy Arozarena showed enough in last year’s postseason to suggest that he is capable of taking a major step forward in 2021.

    After being traded by the Cardinals to the Rays at the end of the 2019 season, Arozarena batted at .281 with seven home runs and 11 RBIs in the COVID-19 shortened season. In a series that saw him hit at .321 with four home runs and six RBIs, Arozarena was named the MVP of the ALCS, becoming the first rookie position player to win the award.

    At just 25 years of age, Arozarena hit home runs in the third, fourth, and sixth games, breaking the all-time record for most home runs in a single postseason. He was subsequently awarded the 2020 Babe Ruth award. 

    We have barely scratched the surface of what Randy Arozarena has to offer for Tampa Bay, and we expect him to take another big step forward in 2023 and become one of the best players in Major League Baseball. Last season he posted 20 homeruns, hit .269 at the plate and drove in 89 runs batted in. 

    Preview on the Tampa Bay Rays’ Next Best: Wander Franco

    Wander Franco is another vital piece to the Tampa Bay Rays success during the 2023 Major League Baseball season. He is yet another young superstar in the making that Tampa Bay has on their roster, and much like the rest of them, his long-term future with the franchise has been secured with a massive contract extension.

    His rookie year went incredible back in 2021 and then he was given an 11 year contract extension but last season didn’t go so well as he spent a decent amount of time injured after hurting his hand.

    He and the rays will be hoping he can bounce back heading into the 2023 season as he is a guy that has shown a ton of power throughout his brief but successful career. Last season he six homeruns and hit .277 while appearing in less than 90 games for Tampa Bay.

    Tampa Bay Rays Betting & Odds Preview 2023

    The Tampa Bay Rays were given +350 odds to win the 2023 American League East division this season. Their odds to win the American League Pennant were +1000 prior to the season starting. 

    While their odds to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy and win the World Series were set at +2000. Their total over/under for victories this season is set at 88.5, With odds of (-110) for the over and (-110) for the under. Last season they managed to finish the season with a record of 86-76.

    Their odds to win their division are the third highest odds out of the five teams. While their odds to win the American League pennant are the fifth highest out of 15 teams. They rank 11th in total odds among the entire league to win the World Series this season out of thirty teams.

    Tampa Bay Rays FAQ

    Still got some burning questions about the Tampa Bay Rays? Well, we have answered some of the most common questions people have, hopefully, you will find the answer you are looking for below! 

    Where do the Tampa Bay Rays play?

    The Tampa Bay Rays play at Tropicana Field, a ballpark in the Tampa suburb of St. Petersburg.

    Who owns the Tampa Bay Rays?

    Stuart Sternberg owns the Tampa Bay Rays.

    Have the Tampa Bay Rays won an MLB World Series?

    The Rays have not won a World Series, but they did win the AL pennant in 2008 and 2020.

    Who is the Tampa Bay Rays general manager?

    Erik Neander is the team’s general manager. He attained this position in 2016.

    Do the Tampa Bay Rays play tonight?

    Check the top of the page to see if the Rays are playing tonight. SportsTips will provide details on what the Rays are doing and what their odds are for winning their games.

    What is the Tampa Bay Rays record?

    The Rays went 86-76 in 2022.

    Did the Tampa Bay Rays win last night?

    Are you looking to see if your bets on the Tampa Bay Rays were correct? SportsTips will help you see what’s happening with the Rays and if they won their last game.

    How much are the Tampa Bay Rays worth?

    According to Forbes, the Rays are worth $1.1 billion in 2022.

    Who do the Tampa Bay Rays play tonight?

    The Rays will play games against some of the toughest teams around in the AL East, plus they play the Miami Marlins in two editions of the Citrus Series every season. SportsTips will report on when the Rays play next and who they will face.

    How to watch the Tampa Bay Rays?

    Fox Sports Sun airs Rays games on television throughout the state of Florida. You can watch their games on MLB.tv if you live outside the team’s coverage area.

    Will the Tampa Bay Rays make the playoffs this year?

    The Rays reached the playoffs in the last 4 seasons. In 2022, they finished third in the AL East, with a record of 86-76.

    When do the Tampa Bay Rays play?

    Rays fans are always looking for more information about when their team plays the next game. For all the information you have been craving and more, be sure to check the top of this page. Here at SportsTips, we list all the information you need like the time of the first pitch, location of the game, and the all-important MLB odds.

    Where did the Tampa Bay Rays finish the season?

    The Rays were third in the AL East title in 2022, with a record of 86-76.

    How many games did the Rays win?

    The team won 86 games in 2022.