The Tampa Bay Rays took a hit in the latest power rankings after a week that never really got rolling.
They opened with a win in the finale against the Baltimore Orioles, but that didn’t carry over once the schedule turned into a grind. Tampa Bay dropped its series against the Toronto Blue Jays 1-2, then followed that by losing another series 1-2 to the Orioles over the weekend. A 3-4 week was enough to send the Rays sliding from No. 4 to No. 6 in Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter rankings.
“Despite some bumps along the way, the Rays have been atop the AL East standings alone since June 28, through a pair of series losses last week has the Yankees nipping at their heels just three games back. With five more home runs, Junior Caminero will become the first player in franchise history with multiple 40-homer campaigns.”
Even with the rough stretch, Tampa Bay still sits in first place in the American League East with a three-game cushion over the Yankees. That lead looked like it could have been even more comfortable, but the week instead left them trying to steady things after consecutive series losses.
The good news is that the Rays are back to a more familiar six-game week. They’ll face the Detroit Tigers and then the San Diego Padres, who have been playing good baseball as of late. A strong showing could push Tampa Bay back into the top five.
In Other News...
Yankees Roster Decision Could Say Everything About Stantons Season
Giancarlo Stantons latest setback has put the Yankees in a tricky roster spot, and it comes at a time when they already know how much their lineup has missed his presence. Stanton has been sidelined since April with a calf strain, and the more recent injury to his other calf has only complicated the picture, leaving New York to weigh whether a move to the 60-day injured list makes the most sense. That kind of transaction would do more than create room on the injured list. It would also free up a 40-man roster spot at a time when the Yankees are juggling both immediate needs and longer-term uncertainty around one of their biggest bats.
The corresponding move appears to be a call-up for reliever Justin Topa, a seven-year major league veteran the Yankees recently signed after his release from the Twins. Topa has spent time on minor league contracts with other clubs and is expected to enter the mix for a bullpen role, giving New York another arm as it sorts through the Stanton situation. For the Yankees, the roster shuffle is practical on the surface, but it also underlines how far things have drifted from any quick return timetable for Stanton. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Suddenly Have A Shot At A Prospect They Need
The Yankees spent much of the year watching a number of key international free agents go elsewhere, but they still have a meaningful amount of bonus pool money left to work with. That now matters because Cuban outfielder Raider Sanchez has been declared a free agent by the MLB Commissioners Office, setting up a showcase on August 31 and giving New York a real opening to add one of the more intriguing prospects still on the market.
For a club that has been looking to replenish talent in the international space, the timing is notable. Sanchez is expected to draw interest as a top prospect, and the Yankees are positioned to pursue him before the next international signing period potentially gets complicated by labor negotiations. It is the kind of late-window opportunity teams do not always get, and one New York could badly use. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Bullpen Move Puts Immediate Pressure On Veteran Reliever
Justin Topa is getting another crack at the majors, and the Yankees are making room for him in a move that says plenty about where the bullpen stands right now. The club plans to select the veteran relievers contract and create a 40-man opening, likely by shifting Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day injured list, after Topa turned in solid work in Triple-A with the Yankees affiliate.
For Topa, the promotion is more than a short-term call-up. Because of his service time and roster rules, he will have to earn his way into a lasting bullpen role if he wants to stay on the major league roster, which gives this stint a very immediate edge. The Yankees are betting his recent form can translate, but the next few days will determine whether this turns into a real opportunity or just another stop on a winding season. [Read more 🡒]