However, Loney never was able to reach the level expected of him. He flashed a bit of power periodically, hitting three home runs in the final week of 2006 during his brief callup, and hitting 15 homers in 96 games in 2007. However, that mark of 15 home runs still stands as his career high. After that point, he became a slightly above average hitter, hitting around .280 with just over 30 doubles a year from 2008 through 2011, but he really never proved capable of being more than a mediocre player.

The bottom completely fell out for Loney in 2012 as he struggled through his worst season in the majors. Traded from the disappointing Dodgers to the thoroughly dysfunctional Boston Red Sox, he combined to hit .249/.293/.336 with six home runs and 20 doubles. His OPS+ was a miserable 73. A free agent after the season, he appeared very close to being relegated to a backup role, if he could even get a major league offer.

Then along came the Rays, signing Loney to a one year deal for $2Million. At the time, very lilttle was thought of the move, aside from it being a typical Tampa Bay Rays signing – low cost and very low risk. And then, naturally, the Tampa Bay Rays magic came through, as Loney, for at least the first month and a half of the season, has started to look like the player he was expected to be.Presently, Loney is second in the American League in batting average (.376) and third in on base percentage (.432). He ranks seventh in doubles and OPS. While he only has one home run, he has been hitting the ball with authority and looking more like the player he was expected to be. What caused this transformation?

According to Loney, it may have just been a change of scenery. Speaking with Bill Chastain, he talked about finding his comfort zone with the Rays, and watching video of his swing. Perhaps he just needed to get out of the major markets, like Los Angeles and Boston, to finally reach his potential.

“I think that it’s happened for a reason, you know,” Loney said. “I think it’s great for me to be in this situation. This team. This organization. I feel like the change was good for me. I definitely feel blessed to be in this situation.”

Regardless of the reason, James Loney has become another in the growing list of Rays reclamation projects that have panned out beyond expectations. Like Jeff Keppinger and Fernando Rodney last year, the Rays appear to have worked their magic once again with a player that very few held in any regard. Will his resurgence continue throughout the season, or is he in the midst of a very hot month with the bat? Given the Rays track record, it may well be the former.

Santana continued to pitched well in 2009 and 2010, managing a 3.05 ERA (131 ERA+), but he averaged just 183 innings per season as injuries began to take their toll, culminating with surgery to remove bone chips in his left throwing elbow in August of 2009 and then surgery on his shoulder to repair an anterior capsule tear in September of 2010, sidelining him for all of 2011. Santana did find success when he returned to the Mets for 2012, throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history and taking a 2.76 ERA into the end of June, but he was bothered by ankle and back injuries as he imploded spectacularly in his next five starts over the next month and a half, managing just a 15.63 ERA, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. Further pain in his shoulder prompted Santana to see doctors once again, and he was forced to undergo a second surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his shoulder, ending his season and putting his career in jeopardy. Despite all of that, though, Santana is not done. Chris Leible, one of Santana’s agents, told the New Jersey Star-Ledger that Santana certainly didn’t get the surgery “to work on his water polo career” and then tweeted this.

. @johansantana ‘s plan is to be back on the mound pitching again as soon as possible.

— Chris Leible (@ChrisLeible) March 29, 2013

Santana is determined to come back, but the Star-Ledger also noted that Santana was the first ever pitcher to come back from anterior capsule surgery when he came back from it the last time and the odds of a repeat performance in that regard may be slim. But who would possibly give him a chance? He may be a former ace but he’s a shadow of his former self and even if he returns successfully, the next injury could be just moments away. Would Santana be willing to throw his honor aside and take a minor league deal if that’s what was necessary to prolong his career? Would any team be crazy enough to guarantee him any money? If there’s anyone, that team may be the Tampa Bay Rays.

Following this season, Roberto Hernandez will be a free agent no matter how he does. Jeff Niemann‘s days with the Rays look numbered now that he has been demoted to the bullpen. And most importantly, the rumors have been swirling that David Price could be traded following the season, and if that happens, the Rays’ rotation could look extremely different next season. Their rotation will include Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, and Alex Cobb and Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi could fill the last two spots, but are the Rays really going to consider going into 2014 with that rotation?

After the Rays signed Hernandez last offseason, they may consider bringing in another free agent starter following this season. And considering their love for low-risk, high upside moves and pitching depth should an injury occur, Johan Santana could be a potential fit. Santana will have to prove that he’s healthy and still capable of getting major league hitters out, but if he does, the Rays might shock baseball by signing Santana and even giving him a major league contract worth around $1.5MM, of course with a team option added on as well. Santana has a long way to go in his recovery and whether he can continue his career is very much in question. If his rehabilitation from his surgery works out, though, the Rays may be the team that comes calling.

Sandoval was one of six players who were optioned by the Rays today to AAA Durham, where he will continue his quest to appear in a major league game. The fact that the 32 year old minor league veteran is even pitching is an amazing story of itself, as he lost the vision in his right eye due to a shotgun blast in 2006. Primarily a starter until that point, Sandoval became a reliever and bounced around the minor leagues before spending the last two seasons in the Mexican League.

Invited to the major league camp as a non-roster invitee, Sandoval pitched well before getting hit hard in his last couple of outings. Overall, he gave up six runs on seven hits and six walks in seven innings, while recording six strikeouts and earning two saves. His velocity, which had been solid at the start of camp, decreased as the spring continued.

Yet, this assignment to Durham may be a positive for Sandoval. His AAA experience has totaled 21 games, and was split between 2007 and 2009, so it may be worth seeing how Sandoval fares against that level of competition. Considering that the Rays went through 12 different relievers last season, should Sandoval prove himself to be able to be productive in AAA, he may get a chance in Tampa later on in the season.

If Juan Sandoval is able to make an appearance with the Rays, it would be the culmination of his hard work and dedication in coming back from an injury that threatened to not only end his career, but could have left him blind. This is just the latest chapter in his saga.