Checking in on the ex-Rays of 2017

Let’s be honest. The real-life Rays have been kind of depressing this season. So instead, let’s try to relive the glory that was the 80-win bonanza of 2017…

This is already getting dark.

Anyway, this will be a recurring article we run here at DRaysBay, tracking of all the Rays expats (ex-Rays, if you will) across the league. There’s been so much roster turnover that it can be tricky to keep track of those who played for the club even just a mere 12 months ago. Some of doing well (oh hello), and others not so much (also hello). Here’s your one-stop shop for checking in on all of them, though.

Logan Morrison: Of all the ex-Rays, LoMo has had the roughest start to 2017. One of the supposed launch angle evangelists, Morrison had one of the best breakouts, bopping 38 home runs en route to a career-high 3.7 rWAR in 2017.

This year, LoMo has yet to leave the yard, and he’s already getting folks a bit worried with what’s going on. On the plus side, he’s receiving the honorific four-man outfield shift, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice.

Evan Longoria: For a minute there, Longo and LoMo were racing to see who could scare their fanbase more with their ex-Ray addition. Longo started the season 4-for-35 (with only one walk), but with multi-hit games in three of his last four outings, he’s starting to quell those fears. His strikeout to walk ratio (18:1) is still a bit worrisome, however.

Corey Dickerson: The antithesis to our first two expats, Dickerson is leading all of baseball in rWAR so far! Dickerson’s exit was always going to be the most painful (and only even more painful once Daniel Hudson didn’t even stick with the roster), but this is just adding insult to injury. He’s not going to hit over .350 all season, but it’s hard not to imagine how much better the lineup would look most nights with BSD still around.

Steven Souza: Souza sprained a pectoral muscle during spring training and, as such, has yet to make his Arizona debut. He’s the only one doing “worse” than LoMo in that his season hasn’t even started yet.

Lucas Duda: The second-most painful ex-Ray (mostly because he was just so available so late in the offseason), Duda currently has practically the same OPS+ (117) as the $144 million man he is replacing in Kansas City (Eric Hosmer 2018 OPS+: 118). CJ Cron trails them both significantly (94).

Tim Beckham: While it appeared as though the Rays may have traded away Superman in the immediate aftermath of last year’s Beckham trade, Clark Kent would likely have a higher slugging percentage than Beckham in 2018 (a mere .270). Beckham has moved to third base in order for the Orioles to show off their prized trade target, Manny Machado, but it’s far too early to know if the move is playing any role in Beckham’s struggles.

Peter Bourjos: I don’t think many of us miss Bourjos… And rightfully so.

Derek Norris: Norris has yet to be signed by any team in 2018, and given the allegations he faced last season, that is likely a good thing.

Colby Rasmus: One of the strangest departures from the 2017 Rays, Rasmus has been extremely quiet in his brief start to 2018 in Baltimore.

Alex Cobb: Cobb only recently made his Orioles debut, his season having been delayed by his signing after the offseason has ended and spring training had begun. He was shelled in his debut, but we’re dealing with the most minute of samples here.

Jake Odorizzi: Odo has looked very Odo-ish in his first three starts for Minnesota. He’s been keeping the ball in the yard (5.6% HR/FB in 16.1 IP), so he’s been able to have success. If the weather heats up and those balls start to creep a little closer to the wall, Odo may start to get into trouble. Same story as ever.

Brad Boxberger: Boxberger has been excellent as the Diamondbacks closer in 2018, locking down all five of his save opportunities, and allowing not a single run in his 7.0 IP. He has 10 strikeouts and just three hits (and four walks) in that tiny sample. Sigh.

Steve Cishek: Cishek looked good in his couple months for the Rays in 2017, and he has looked good in his couple weeks in Chicago in 2018. That’s about all.

Tommy Hunter: Hunter is into the rehab appearance stage of his recovery, but his hamstring has kept him on the shelf in 2018 so far.

Danny Farquhar: Lord Farquhar has been getting a fair amount of run in the South Side bullpen this season, already factoring in a pair of decision, and sporting a pristine 8:0 strikeout to walk ratio. Good for him.

Erasmo Ramirez: The top five all-time most lovable Ray has yet to pitch in 2018 because of a lat strain.

So who do the Rays miss the most?

It’s still early, but there are certainly a few candidates. The top two would have to be Brad Boxberger, who jumps to the forefront due to the late-game struggles of Alex Colome, and Corey Dickerson who would look a lot better than the DH the Rays have rolled out there most nights.

Farquhar and Duda would also be nice to still have around, but it’s hard to imagine them swinging this season more than a game or two thus far.