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Projected Batting Order, etc...
Projected batting order
1. SS Julio Lugo:
.295 BA, 6 HR, 57 RBIs in 2005
2. LF Carl Crawford:
.301 BA, 15 HR, 81 RBIs in 2005
3. 2B Jorge Cantu:
.286 BA, 28 HR, 117 RBIs in 2005
4. RF Aubrey Huff:
.261 BA, 22 HR, 92 RBIs in 2005
5. DH Jonny Gomes:
.282 BA, 21 HR, 54 RBIs in 2005
6. CF Rocco Baldelli:
Did not play in 2005
7. 1B Travis Lee:
.272 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBIs in 2005
8. 3B Sean Burroughs:
.250 BA, 1 HR, 17 RBIs in 2005
9. C Toby Hall:
.287 BA, 5 HR, 48 RBIs in 2005
Projected rotation
1. Scott Kazmir, 10-9, 3.77 ERA in 2005
2. Casey Fossum, 8-12, 4.92 ERA in 2005
3. Mark Hendrickson, 11-8, 5.90 ERA in 2005
4. Seth McClung, 7-11, 6.59 ERA in 2005
5. Doug Waechter, 5-12, 5.62 ERA in 2005
Projected bullpen
Closer: Shinji Mori, played in Japan in 2005
RH setup man: Chad Orvella, 3.60 ERA in 2005
LH setup man: Jon Switzer, 6.75 ERA in 2005
The new guys
Burroughs: Acquired in a deal that sent right-hander Dewon Brazelton to the Padres, he should start at third base.
Edwin Jackson, RHP: Acquired along with right-hander Chuck Tiffany for closer Danys Baez and right-handed reliever Lance Carter, Jackson should contend for a spot in the starting rotation.
Mori: He was signed to a two-year deal with a club option for another two years. Mori, who pitched for Seibu in Japan, will contend for the closer role or could be one of the team's setup men.
Dan Miceli, RHP: The veteran was signed as a free agent and will compete for the closer and setup roles in the bullpen.
Ty Wigginton, 1B/3B: Signed as a free agent, and his right-handed bat should provide a nice backup to left-handed hitting Lee and Burroughs at first and third, respectively.
Prospects to watch
Delmon Young, OF: A five-tool player who is earmarked for Major League greatness, the only question with Young is not if he'll be a Major Leaguer, but when he reaches the Major Leagues. The Rays have a crowded outfield, so despite Young's immense talents, it's likely he'll begin the season at Triple-A Durham.
Jason Hammel, RHP: Hammel made great strides in 2005 and is the closet to the Majors among the organization's pitching prospects. He will compete for a spot in the starting rotation this spring.
Returning from injury
Baldelli: He missed all of 2005 following knee and elbow surgeries. The center fielder's only question mark heading into Spring Training is whether his elbow will be healed enough to start Opening Day. If it's not, he'll likely begin the season as the team's designated hitter.
On the rebound
Huff: He didn't come close to his past power numbers in 2005. Though he appeared to be earmarked for an offseason trade, one never came to fruition. If he's not traded, Huff gives the Rays experienced left-handed power in their lineup.
Long gone
Baez: The veteran right-handed reliever traded to the Dodgers after saving 41 games for the Rays in 2005, leaving some big shoes to fill in the bullpen.
Trever Miller, LHP: Miller signed with the Astros in the offseason. Though he did not have one of his best seasons in 2005, Miller gave the Rays an effective left-hander in the bullpen.
Alex Gonzalez, 3B/SS: Gonzalez played third base for the Rays, and the free agent has yet to sign with a team this offseason.
Brazelton: The young righty began the 2005 season as the Rays' No. 1 starter and finished the season as a little-used reliever. He was traded to the Padres in the deal that brought Burroughs to Tampa.
2005 hitting leaders (min. 200 at-bats)
Avg.: Crawford, .301
OBP: Gomes, .372
SLG: Gomes, .534
Runs: Crawford, 101
RBIs: Cantu, 117
Hits: Crawford, 194
2B: Cantu, 40
3B: Crawford, 15
HR: Cantu, 28
SB: Crawford, 46
2005 pitching leaders (min. 30 IP)
IP: Kazmir, 186
W: Hendrickson, 11
L: Fossum, Waechter, 12
Win %: Hendrickson, 11-8, .579
S: Baez, 41
ERA: Baez, 2.86
K: Kazmir, 174
K/9: Kazmir, 8.4
WHIP: Baez, 1.33
1. SS Julio Lugo:
.295 BA, 6 HR, 57 RBIs in 2005
2. LF Carl Crawford:
.301 BA, 15 HR, 81 RBIs in 2005
3. 2B Jorge Cantu:
.286 BA, 28 HR, 117 RBIs in 2005
4. RF Aubrey Huff:
.261 BA, 22 HR, 92 RBIs in 2005
5. DH Jonny Gomes:
.282 BA, 21 HR, 54 RBIs in 2005
6. CF Rocco Baldelli:
Did not play in 2005
7. 1B Travis Lee:
.272 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBIs in 2005
8. 3B Sean Burroughs:
.250 BA, 1 HR, 17 RBIs in 2005
9. C Toby Hall:
.287 BA, 5 HR, 48 RBIs in 2005
Projected rotation
1. Scott Kazmir, 10-9, 3.77 ERA in 2005
2. Casey Fossum, 8-12, 4.92 ERA in 2005
3. Mark Hendrickson, 11-8, 5.90 ERA in 2005
4. Seth McClung, 7-11, 6.59 ERA in 2005
5. Doug Waechter, 5-12, 5.62 ERA in 2005
Projected bullpen
Closer: Shinji Mori, played in Japan in 2005
RH setup man: Chad Orvella, 3.60 ERA in 2005
LH setup man: Jon Switzer, 6.75 ERA in 2005
The new guys
Burroughs: Acquired in a deal that sent right-hander Dewon Brazelton to the Padres, he should start at third base.
Edwin Jackson, RHP: Acquired along with right-hander Chuck Tiffany for closer Danys Baez and right-handed reliever Lance Carter, Jackson should contend for a spot in the starting rotation.
Mori: He was signed to a two-year deal with a club option for another two years. Mori, who pitched for Seibu in Japan, will contend for the closer role or could be one of the team's setup men.
Dan Miceli, RHP: The veteran was signed as a free agent and will compete for the closer and setup roles in the bullpen.
Ty Wigginton, 1B/3B: Signed as a free agent, and his right-handed bat should provide a nice backup to left-handed hitting Lee and Burroughs at first and third, respectively.
Prospects to watch
Delmon Young, OF: A five-tool player who is earmarked for Major League greatness, the only question with Young is not if he'll be a Major Leaguer, but when he reaches the Major Leagues. The Rays have a crowded outfield, so despite Young's immense talents, it's likely he'll begin the season at Triple-A Durham.
Jason Hammel, RHP: Hammel made great strides in 2005 and is the closet to the Majors among the organization's pitching prospects. He will compete for a spot in the starting rotation this spring.
Returning from injury
Baldelli: He missed all of 2005 following knee and elbow surgeries. The center fielder's only question mark heading into Spring Training is whether his elbow will be healed enough to start Opening Day. If it's not, he'll likely begin the season as the team's designated hitter.
On the rebound
Huff: He didn't come close to his past power numbers in 2005. Though he appeared to be earmarked for an offseason trade, one never came to fruition. If he's not traded, Huff gives the Rays experienced left-handed power in their lineup.
Long gone
Baez: The veteran right-handed reliever traded to the Dodgers after saving 41 games for the Rays in 2005, leaving some big shoes to fill in the bullpen.
Trever Miller, LHP: Miller signed with the Astros in the offseason. Though he did not have one of his best seasons in 2005, Miller gave the Rays an effective left-hander in the bullpen.
Alex Gonzalez, 3B/SS: Gonzalez played third base for the Rays, and the free agent has yet to sign with a team this offseason.
Brazelton: The young righty began the 2005 season as the Rays' No. 1 starter and finished the season as a little-used reliever. He was traded to the Padres in the deal that brought Burroughs to Tampa.
2005 hitting leaders (min. 200 at-bats)
Avg.: Crawford, .301
OBP: Gomes, .372
SLG: Gomes, .534
Runs: Crawford, 101
RBIs: Cantu, 117
Hits: Crawford, 194
2B: Cantu, 40
3B: Crawford, 15
HR: Cantu, 28
SB: Crawford, 46
2005 pitching leaders (min. 30 IP)
IP: Kazmir, 186
W: Hendrickson, 11
L: Fossum, Waechter, 12
Win %: Hendrickson, 11-8, .579
S: Baez, 41
ERA: Baez, 2.86
K: Kazmir, 174
K/9: Kazmir, 8.4
WHIP: Baez, 1.33
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