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PrintBaseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2011.
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects
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| TOP TEN PROSPECTS |
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| BEST TOOLS |
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| PROJECTED 2014 LINEUP |
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| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE |
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| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE |
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| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY |
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The Rays were left with a feeling of missed opportunity when the Rangers eliminated them in the American League Division Series. After winning the AL East on the final day of the regular season, Tampa Bay looked like a good bet to make the World Series, only to falter to Texas by losing all three games played at Tropicana Field. While manager Joe Maddon assured the masses that he expected his team to contend yet again in 2011, that will require productivity from several new and most likely inexperienced contributors.
The reality is that the Rays aren't likely to retain several free agents, including four-time all-star Carl Crawford, the franchise's career home run leader in Carlos Pena and the AL leader in saves in Rafael Soriano. Including Soriano, their top four relievers are eligible for free agency. They also may deal veterans such as Jason Bartlett and James Shields to further lower payroll.
Tampa Bay's 2010 Opening Day payroll of $72.8 million ranked just 21st in the majors but also represented a franchise record. The Rays, who have won 277 games and made the playoffs twice in the last three years coming out of baseball's toughest division, would like to reduce their salary expenditures to $60 million while remaining competitive in 2011. A farm system that has produced as much talent as any in recent years and remains deep may make that goal possible.
Solid drafts and a focused commitment to developing talent in Latin America have stocked the organization with players ready to contribute. Righthander Jeremy Hellickson, Baseball America's 2010 Minor League Player of the Year, and outfielder Desmond Jennings have had to wait patiently, receiving only brief cups of coffee in the big leagues in 2010 when they would have been regulars for most other teams.
Hellickson and Jennings are two prime examples of how no team is more methodical in developing prospects than the Rays. While other clubs promote players at the first hint of success at lower levels of the minors, full-season stints at every step are the rule rather than the exception in the Tampa Bay system. Lefthander Matt Moore, who led the minors in strikeouts for the second straight year, spent all of 2010 in high Class A even though it was his fourth pro season and even while he torched the Florida State League in the second half.
The Rays also take their time developing talent because they focus on signing young players. The first nine players on this list entered pro ball as teenagers, and they spent four of its six picks in the first three rounds of the 2010 draft on high schoolers. Tampa Bay also signed 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Yoel Araujo for $800,000, a franchise record for an international amateur.
The Rays have become efficient at producing players who fit Maddon's desire to create a roster full of versatile athletes. The creative skipper maximizes matchups to keep certain players from being exposed over lengthy stints, resulting in 132 different lineups and eight Rays who played at least three defensive positions in 2010. Many of those multi-tasking abilities can be honed in the minor leagues, which should continue to be the lifeblood of baseball's most overachieving franchise.
| Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects
(How to subscribe) |
| Pre-Order the 2011 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team |
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