The Tampa Bays Rays may have been eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday, but they’re doing something right. It’s not easy for a low-budget team to make the postseason three out of the last four seasons while competing in the AL East against high-rolling juggernauts like the Yankees and Red Sox.
The Rays’ organization has profited from high draft picks earned from years of futility — center fielder B.J. Upton, third baseman Evan Longoria and ace David Price were all top-three picks.
But it was a couple of young late-round selections showcased in the ALDS that may haunt those big-market teams to the north for years to come.
Manager Joe Maddon had no reservations sending 22-year-old Matt Moore to the mound for Game 1 despite the fact that the lefty had only one major league start on his resume. Moore, an eighth-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2007, shut down one of the most prolific offenses in the majors. In seven innings, Moore allowed just two hits and no runs and earned the Rays’ only win of the series.
On Monday, it was former 10th-round pick Desmond Jennings’ turn to shine. The 24-year-old rookie outfielder hit two solo homers in a 4-3 loss to the Rangers.
The Rays don’t have the financial flexibility to re-sign high-profile players, which puts more emphasis on the team’s farm system and ability to find value in the free agent market.
After Matt Garza, Rafael Soriano, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena all left for bigger paychecks in the offseason, a playoff berth seemed unlikely.
But the Rays showed their ability to fill in holes with developed youngsters like Moore, Jennings and AL rookie of the year candidate Jeremy Hellickson, while also getting the most out of veteran journeymen like Johnny Damon and Kyle Farnsworth.
A franchise that lost more than 90 games in its first 10 years of existence has become the model for how to run a small-market organization.
– Jeffrey Tomik
