Who will constitute the Rays’ starting rotation?

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Aside from the usual optimism and confidence from field manager Kevin Cash and other club officials, there could be, in the construction of the Tampa Bay Rays’ starting rotation, a dark lining

That represents several unknown factors, such as injuries, personal time, and player transactions. In 2025, the Rays’ starting rotation stayed in place from the start of the season until the trade deadline in late July. As a group, the injury plague and personal issues never entered the equation.

Not until righthander Taj Bradley was dealt to Minnesota on July 31 and righty Zack Littell was traded to Cincinnati a day earlier did the Tampa Bay rotation experience disruption. As the Rays and other major league teams now set their rosters and establish the standard five-man rotation, the Rays have only one as a firmly established starter.

Among four open spots, Cash has been “politically correct” not to identity those beyond the opening day starter.

Still, there is reason for Cash’s optimism. While the Rays’ skipper named righthander Drew Rasmussen to open the season March 26 in St. Louis, there is every reason to believe four of the five starters are already in place.

Those directly on Cash’s radar screen, in addition to Rasmussen, include Shane McClanahan and Steven Matz, a pair of lefties, and Ryan Pepiot, a right-hander.

“We announced (Rasmussen), and then we’ll work off that,” Cash said after the Rays dropped their Grapefruit League opener 5-1 to Atlanta on Feb. 21. “We need to keep news away from you guys and spread this out.”

What could solidify the rotation at this early portion of spring training is progress from McClanahan and Matz. Of priority, McClanahan remains prominent on the Rays’ radar screen.

Coming off Tommy John surgery and triceps issues, which sidelined the native of Baltimore for the past two seasons, McClanahan impressed Cash and pitching coach Darryl Kyle with his first significant outing of the spring on Feb. 21.

“I was encouraged with his velocity,” Cash said of McClanahan. “He was throwing 94, 97 (miles per hour), mixing the change up, and threw all of his pitches. The best part is that he walked off the mound smiling and you could tell he was having a good time. There was good fun going between Shane, (Yandy Diaz) and (Taylor Walls). When Mac’s doing that, that’s a good sign,”

Cash also praised Matz, who signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent last Dec. 16, and indicated the veteran lefty was throwing “well and his changeup was nasty.”

The buildup for both Matz and McClanahan is now gradual, and each is expected to have at least two spring starts before the bell rings in St. Louis.

A potential fifth starter, right-hander Joe Boyle, receives an important audition Feb. 24. That’s when the native of Philadelphia starts at home against the Minnesota Twins.

On the diamond … in dropping that 5-1 opener to Atlanta before 5,354 in Charlottle Sports Park, Cash told reporters the organization continues to be impressed with 23-year-old right-hander, T. J. Nichols, the Rays’ sixth round pick in 2023. In starting the spring opener and working only the first inning, the former standout from the University of Ariona, did allow one-out homer to Mike Yastzremski over the left center field fence. Through the frame, his fast ball constantly reached the mid-to-upper 90s and ended the frame by striking out catcher Jonah Hein on a 97-mile per hour fast ball. … Junior Caminero started the spring with a pair of singles in three bats against Atlanta and declared himself ready for the World Baseball Classic. “Just go out and have fun” he smiled, speaking to reporters in English. This spring, Caminero wants to conduct remarks the media in English and divert from his native Spanish. … Other Tampa Bay players committed to the WBC include first baseman Jonathan Aranda with Team Mexico, pitchers Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger with Team USA and reliever Edwin Uceta with Team Dominican Republic. Because of nagging shoulder issues, Uceta has been scratched from the WBC.

Franco update … a new trial for Rays’ shortstop Wander Franco, first scheduled for Feb. 20, was postponed until March 30. Franco’s defense asked for additional time to prepare his defense and the request was granted. Franco was found guilty in June of improper conduct with an underage girl and her mother and received a two-year suspended sentence. Reason for the new trial, Dominican lawyer and journalist Arthuro Reccio told The Tampa Bay Times, is “the original court has a standard regarding statements from minors. That standard says those statements are supporting evidence and cannot stand alone. They must be backed up by other evidence to establish guilt.” That means Franco has a new court date for late March.

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