Spring Training: Position-By-Position Look at The Tampa Bay Rays

INFIELD: There are no positional battles going into spring training, but that doesn't mean it's a perfect unit.

1B-Carlos Pena-Can he stop being a human windmill at the plate and improve on his batting average?

2B-Ben Zobrist-Can he build off of his career year from last season.

SS-Jason Bartlett-See above.

3B-Evan Longoria-Can he take the next step and become a .300 hitter?

C-Dioner Navarro-Can he take the next step and become a .220 hitter?

DH-Pat Burrell-Here's hoping $8 million goes a little further than it did last season. Willy Aybar will also see time here.


OUTFIELD: The outfield faces more questions, aside from its perennial all-star in LF.

LF-Carl Crawford-Enters the last year of his contract and the big question all year will be will he stay or will he go?

CF-B.J. Upton-Can he return to his '08 postseason form or will he revert to his '09 self?

RF-Who knows-Who will play RF? As long as it's not a Gabe, Tampa should be okay. It could be Matt Joyce, whom the Rays attained by giving away SP Edwin Jackson. Fernando Perez is another option. Can either win the job or will the Rays be forced to look at the free agent market when they realize neither is the answer?


ROTATION: This has the potential to be a very good staff, provided they all continue to improve since there isn't much experience at the back-end.

No. 1-Matt Garza-Should be the opening day starter as he looks for his first all-star birth.

No. 2-James Shields-Might challenge Garza for opening day.

No. 3-Jeff Niemann-Last year's ROY candidate and Jeff Daniels clone, will try to build on his impressive rookie campaign.

No. 4-David Price-Can be more consistent and step into this role as he looks to actually make it through five innings once in a while.

No. 5-Wade Davis-Will battle Andy Sonnanstine for the last spot. Davis is considered the favorite since he actually has this thing called stuff.


BULLPEN: The pen should be much improved simply due to the fact that they will actually know who their closer is.

CL-Rafael Soriano-The hard-throwing righty from the Atlanta Braves should finally provide Tampa with the anchor it has been looking for. For $7 million, he better.

SU-Grant Balfour-Should do solid in the seventh and eighth inning roles.

SU-Dan Wheeler-Back to where he belongs, as a set-up man.

SU-J.P. Howell-The situational lefty showed he can be very valuable late in games as long as it's not as a closer.