Joel's MLB Franchise Top 10: Tampa Bay Rays

This is the second in my new series in which I will name what I feel are the top 10 players in each MLB franchise's history.

Despite a slow start as a franchise, the Rays finally seem to be heading in the right direction, as years of drafting at the top of the draft have led to a bevy of talented young players.

I have included the players stats during their time with the team, as well as where those stats rank all-time for within the franchise.

I look forward to hearing where you the reader would differ in your top 10, and I welcome your comments. Up next in the series is the Colorado Rockies, so be on the lookout for that one tomorrow.

Honorable Mention

SP Victor Zambrano: 35-27, 4.47 ERA, 372 Ks

RP: Esteban Yan: 266 Appearances, 42 Saves

2B: Jorge Cantu: .272 BA, 44 HR, 200 RBI

OF: Rocco Baldelli: .281 BA, 52 HR, 234 RBI, 58 SB

OF: Randy Winn: .279 BA, 24 HR, 182 RBI, 80 SB, 2002 All-Star

OF: B.J. Upton: .266 BA, 49 HR, 226 RBI, 123 SB

No. 10: Julio Lugo (2003-2006)

BA: .287 (fourth)
OBP: .350 (fifth)
SLG: .421 (sixth)
H: 550 (fourth)
HR: 40
RBI: 212 (eighth)
R: 283 (fourth)
SB: 88 (third)

Lugo was one of the most coveted players on the market when the Rays decided to deal him, as he had a great combination of speed, average, and good defense.

His 2005 season was his best, as he hit .295 BA, 6 HR, 57 RBI and stole 39 bases which was sixth in the American League.

No. 9: Danys Baez (2004-2005)

Appearances: 129
Saves: 71 (second)
ERA: 3.21
ERA+: 139
WHIP: 1.318
Ks: 103
K/9: 6.6
1x All-Star

Baez, despite not posting high strikeout rates like a typical closer, was a very effective arm at the end of the Rays pen during his time with the team.

He logged 30 and 41 saves in his two seasons with the team, good for sixth and fifth in the American League, respectively. The Rays also managed to use him to acquire Edwin Jackson from the Dodgers in a 2006 trade.

No. 8: James Shields (2006-2009)

Wins: 43 (second)
Losses: 36 (fourth)
Win Percentage: .544 (third)
ERA: 4.01 (second)
ERA+: 112 (second)
WHIP: 1.235 (second)
Ks: 615 (second)
K/9: 7.1 (second)

Shields is second in many of the above categories thanks to the fact that he and Scott Kazmir are the only two who have pitched the 500 innings required to qualify for the career leader board.

He has won double digit games the past three seasons, with his best year coming in 2008 when he set career highs with 14 wins and a 3.56 ERA. With Kazmir gone, he is now the teams ace until David Price is ready to assume that role.

No. 7: Roberto Hernandez (1998-2000)

Appearances: 207 (third)
Saves: 101 (first)
ERA: 3.43
ERA+: 142
WHIP: 1.358
Ks: 185
K/9: 7.6
1x All-Star

Hernandez was only with the Rays for two seasons, but he made his presence felt, as he was the teams first real All-Star in 1999. I say real because Rolando Arrojo in 1998 was a joke of a pick for the teams inagural season.

His 1999 season was a great one, and by far the best season by a reliever in team history. He posted 43 saves and led the league with 66 games finished. That success garnered him a 10th place finish in Cy Young voting, and a place in Rays history.

No. 6: Fred McGriff (1998-2001, 2004)

BA: .291 (second)
OBP: .380 (second)
SLG: .484 (second)
H: 603 (third)
HR: 99 (third)
RBI: 359 (third)
R: 277 (fifth)
SB: 11
1x All-Star

McGriff was in his prime with the Braves, but he was the first real star player the Rays had, and he filled that role respectably.

After a so-so 19 HR, 81 RBI debut season with the team, McGriff was back to his usual self with a pair of 25+ HR, 100+ RBI seasons.

His best year was 1999, when he had a line of .310 BA, 32 HR, 104 RBI. Believe it or not the .310 batting average was his career high, aside from the strike shortened 1994 season when he hit .318.

No. 5: Aubrey Huff (2000-2006)

BA: .287 (third)
OBP: .343 (sixth)
SLG: .477 (third)
H: 870 (second)
HR: 128 (first)
RBI: 449 (second)
R: 400 (second)
SB: 20

Huff is the Rays career home run leader, thanks in part to the fact that he played six years with the team and is second to Carl Crawford in games played for the Rays with 799.

He topped 20 HR in four straight seasons with the Rays, with his best line coming in 2003 when his .311 BA, 34 HR, 107 RBI season garnered him some MVP votes.

No. 4: Carlos Pena (2007-2009)

BA: .252
OBP: .382 (first)
SLG: .553 (first)
H: 366
HR: 116 (second)
RBI: 323 (fourth)
R: 266 (sixth)
SB: 5
1x All-Star
1x Silver Slugger
1x Gold Glove

Pena, once a top prospect in the Rangers organization, bounced around a little bit before finally ending up in Tampa where he has started to fulfill the hype that surrounded him after he reached AA at the age of 21.

He has launched at least 30 HR and 100 RBI in each of his three seasons with the Rays, and he finished second in the league in 2007 with 46 HR and first last season with 39.

No. 3: Evan Longoria (2008-2009)

BA: .277
OBP: .355
SLG: .528
H: 286
HR: 60 (sixth)
RBI: 198 (tenth)
R: 167
SB: 16
2x All-Star
1x Gold Glove
1x Silver Slugger
Rookie of the Year

Longoria has only played two seasons, so he does not qualify for the Rays leader board in his BA/OBP/SLG stats since he is short of the 1500 PA requirement, but once he does he will be among the teams leaders in nearly every category.

In a matter of two seasons he has gone from top prospect, to Rookie of the Year, to superstar. The sky is the limit for Longoria, and as long as he stays in Tampa he will be the face of the franchise for years to come.

No. 2: Scott Kazmir (2004-2009)

Wins: 55 (first)
Losses: 44 (first)
Win Percentage: .556 (second)
ERA: 3.92 (first)
ERA+: 114 (first)
WHIP: 1.235 (first)
Ks: 874 (first)
K/9: 9.4 (first)
2x All-Star

Kazmir is by far the most accomplished starting pitcher in Rays history, as he was the teams ace from the time he came over in the absurd Victor Zambrano trade until he himself was dealt to the Dodgers.

He posted double digit wins and no more than nine losses in each of his seasons in Tampa, which is saying something considering how bad the team was prior to 2008.

His best season was 2007, when he set career highs with 13 wins and 239 strikeouts, winning the AL strikeout title in the process.

No. 1: Carl Crawford (2002-2009)

BA: .295 (first)
OBP: .335 (eighth)
SLG: .437 (fifth)
H: 1296 (first)
HR: 85 (fourth)
RBI: 502 (first)
R: 655 (first)
SB: 362 (first)
3x All-Star

There is little question who is the best Rays player ever. Crawford has spent all eight seasons of his impressive career with the team, and at only 28, he should only add to those already impressive career numbers.

He has led the American League in steals four times and triples three times, as he is undoubtedly one of the top speedsters in the game. He also took home the All-Star game MVP this past season thanks to some superb defensive plays.