TAMPA BAY RAYS

Team Strengths: Even though the"opener" earned headlines, the Rays' outfield was their most powerful position group. Tampa Bay had the sixth-best outfield at MLB, as quantified by Baseball-Reference's runs above-average, with Tommy Pham and a healthful Kevin Kiermaier making much of this impact. While Mallex Smith is now gone, Austin Meadows should step in and radically improve right area, the one weak link in the Rays' outfield one year ago. Team Weaknesses: The Rays finished 27th in the majors in home runs, let

major home run hitter C.J. Cron go and traded second-leading returning home run hitter Jake Bauers. Developing power has long been a problem for the Rays' business. Their past homegrown player to hit over 20 home runs in a year was Evan Longoria, who had been drafted in 2006. They Were About It: The Rays will rely on full seasons from Pham, Meadows and Willy Adames to supply power, while offseason acquisition Mike Zunino is coming off back-to-back 20-home run seasons and AvisailGarcia hit 19 a year ago. Rising prospect Nate Lowe has a clear route to either the first base or DH jobs, now occupied by Yandy Diaz and Ji-Man Choi, also owns the thump to provide the Rays their very first homegrown 20-home run hitter since Longoria. Last Outlook: The Rays have the pitching depth to replicate their success with the"opener." Even so, Pham, Meadows and the rest should fulfill their offensive potential for 90 wins to occur again. Read more: http://zurichexpats.com/phil-parkinson-confirmed-as-sunderland-manager/

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