Would you have pulled Blake Snell in Game 6?
The Tampa Bay Rays did. Although the Rays won the American League East for the first time since 2010 and made it to the World Series for the first time since 2008, they came up short of the franchise's first title, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
David Schoenfield takes a look at where the Rays stand and answers four key questions for the club moving forward to 2021 and beyond.
Tampa Bay Rays
Notable free agents: Mike Zunino (club option)
Trade candidates: Hunter Renfroe, Ji-Man Choi
Extension candidates: Tyler Glasnow, Willy Adames
1. How will Kevin Cash and Blake Snell mend what happened in Game 6?
When the Rays manager had the surprising hook of Snell in the sixth inning, Snell was not happy, to say the least. It was the second time in the postseason that he had dropped loud F-bombs when taken off the mound. He didn't hide his displeasure after the game, saying, "I am definitely disappointed and upset. I just want the ball. I felt good. I did everything I could to prove my case to stay out there, and then for us to lose, it sucks."
Snell also called Cash a great manager, so maybe this won't be a relationship that needs much repair. It's also a two-way street. Snell will have to prove in 2021 that he isn't just a five-inning pitcher after struggling to go deeper into games the past two years like he did in his 2018 Cy Young season. Still, this is something that needs to be addressed in the offseason. You don't want an unhappy Snell heading to spring training or having the issue of quick hooks -- not just for Snell but for all the Tampa Bay starters -- lingering into the 2021 regular season.
2. How will the rotation line up?
There are a lot of moving objects, starting with Charlie Morton's option. It was initially a vesting option based on time spent on the injured list in 2019 and '20 (he was healthy all of 2019), but it was reworked to vest if he spent no more than 23 days on the IL. Morton spent exactly 23 days on the IL in 2020, perhaps a sign that the Rays want him back. That's assuming that he wants to keep pitching; he has been noncommittal about that.
The Rays still have Glasnow and Snell to front the rotation. Ryan Yarbrough wasn't quite what he was in 2019, but he should remain a solid option. After that? Yonny Chirinos had Tommy John surgery and will miss most or all of the season. Brendan McKay had shoulder surgery but is hoping to be ready for spring training. Rookie Josh Fleming was forced into action but held his own. As always, the Rays appear to have depth to draw from, but retaining Morton seems like a big key.
3. Is there a role for Wander Franco?
The game's top prospect remained at the alternate site in 2020 -- in part because there was no need to force him into the lineup. Adames improved his production at the plate, despite a worrying increase in strikeouts (swapping more isolated power for more swing-and-miss). Adames is also a solid defensive shortstop, good enough that Franco would really have to shine with the glove to displace him. Brandon Lowe has second base locked down, though he also played some right field, so Franco could slot in there.
Third base seems like the best option, even though the Rays got decent production from a revolving group of players there (Yandy Diaz and Joey Wendle started the most). Keep in mind that Franco hasn't played above Class A, so some time in the upper minors is probably warranted.
4. Can they find a catcher?
Although the Rays' roster is mostly inexpensive, pre-arbitration or first- or second-year arbitration, that doesn't mean Erik Neander won't do his usual offseason wheeling and dealing. The biggest hole is at catcher, as Rays backstops hit .176/.265/.330. Zunino has a $4.5 million club option, which isn't onerous, and maybe his clutch hitting in the postseason keeps him as the starter for 2021, but he has hit .161 in two seasons with the Rays.
The Rays could deal from their pitching depth and minor league depth, but who has catching to trade? Nobody. The top free-agent catchers -- forget about J.T. Realmuto, of course -- include James McCann, Tyler Flowers, Jason Castro and Kurt Suzuki.