HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 02: David Peralta #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts in the dugout before the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 02, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Rays were swept in the AL Wild Card series by Cleveland and in 2023, some familiar faces may be gone.
The Tampa Bay Rays were quickly vanquished by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2022 American League Wild Card series.
The Rays were just 3.5 games behind the New York Yankees on September 9, 20 games above .500, and they had a firm hold on the first Wild Card spot. That all was quickly wiped away as after that, the Rays had the worst record in the American League at 8-18, limping into the final AL Wild Card spot.
That limping continued and ended in the AL Wild Card series with Cleveland sweeping the Rays. In the two games, Tampa Bay scored a total of one run and had nine hits in 24 innings. Not exactly a recipe for success.
As such, there will definitely be some changes for the Rays this offseason before the start of the 2023 season.
Here are three Tampa Bay Rays who won’t be back and where they will go.
3 Tampa Bay Rays who won’t be back
1) Tampa Bay Rays outfielder David Peralta – Atlanta Braves
The Tampa Bay Rays traded for outfielder David Peralta at the trade deadline this year and, in a few ways, he wasn’t exactly what the Rays wanted … or needed.
With the Diamondbacks, Peralta hit .248/.316/.460 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, and an OPS+ of 118 in 87 games before the Rays got him. With the Rays, Peralta hit .255/.317/.335 with no home runs, 18 RBI, and an OPS+ of 92.
The Rays needed a bit more power in their lineup and Peralta did not deliver it.
Peralta, 35, is a free agent this offseason and will probably get somewhere around $8 million per year or more (he made $7.5 million this year) so that will likely be too much for the Rays.
One team that could be a fit for Peralta is the Atlanta Braves. For him, it’s a winning team and for the Braves, they have the money and the need for a left fielder. Their left field offense was the third-worst in the majors this season.