Tampa Bay Rays: Way Too Early Roster Prediction

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 22: Chaz Roe #52 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on June 22, 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

Setup Relief (2):

Chaz Roe, RHP, 32

Chaz Roe and his slider will remain in Tampa Bay for the 2019 season. Roe will be the oldest member of the Rays bullpen and could begin the year as the oldest pitcher on the Rays staff.

He was good for the Rays in 2018 and provided Kevin Cash with a wipeout option to go to in high leverage scenarios. With one of the dirtiest sliders in all of baseball, Roe had a pretty good year. Throwing 50.1 innings and striking out 53 hitters, Roe finished the year with an ERA of 3.58 and an ERA+ of 117.

Look for Kevin Cash to lean on the veteran during high leverage situations again in 2019. He may even find himself closing some games out.

Diego Castillo, RHP, 25

The rookie was very good for the Rays in 2018, appearing in 43 games. Diego Castillo had his ups and downs but in the end he finished with a 3.18 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 56.2 innings pitched, which is good for an ERA+ of 131.

He did open 11 games for the Rays and my be asked to do so again in 2019, but I expect a majority of his appearances to come in the 7th or 8th as opposed to the 1st.