Power Ranking: Top 5 Tampa Bay Rays of All-Time

4. James Shields

One of the key contributors to the Rays’ success during the late 2000s, James Shields remains arguably the best big-game pitcher the franchise has ever had. He is still the only pitcher in Rays’ history to record a win in a World Series game, pitching 5.2 shutout innings against a formidable Phillies’ lineup that included the likes of Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and a prime Ryan Howard.

His best season as a member of the Rays was in 2011 where he went 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA. For his efforts that season, he was awarded his first and only All-Star selection.

Shields time in St. Pete ultimately came to an end in December 2012 when he was traded to the Kansas City Royals where the Rays acquired Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi. While pitching for the Royals he helped lead them to the World Series in 2014 with some clutch performances. Shields would start Game 1 and 5 of the series but lost both games while the Royals ended up losing the series 4 games to 3 to the San Francisco Giants.

Shields would go on to also pitch for the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres but never quite found the same success that he did while with the Rays, a common theme amongst the other players on this list.

Shields holds many of the franchise’s pitching records including wins, strikeouts, and complete game shutouts. Shields’ many accomplishments and statistical feats for this franchise more than warrants a place among the club’s top five players.

2006-2012, All-Star 2011, 87-73  3.89 ERA  1250 SO  1.223 WHIP  19.7 WAR

3. David Price

David Price is without a doubt the best pitcher in Rays’ history. While he doesn’t hold as many all-time Rays pitching records as Shields, he was far more dominant in his time in Tampa. A four-time All-Star, Price was at his best during the 2012 season when he went 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA. It was a given that he wound up winning the coveted AL Cy Young Award that year.

During the 2014 season, Price was dealt to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Drew Smyly, Nick Franklin, and number one prospect at the time Willy Adames. Price would go on to finish the year leading the league in strikeouts while Adames is emerging as a bright spot for the current Rays squad.

Price would go on to be traded in the 2015 season to the Toronto Blue Jays where he wound up finishing the year 2nd in Cy Young voting. After signing a massive 7-year, $217 million contract in the 2016 offseason with the Boston Red Sox, he would go on to win his first World Series championship of his career.

Price became the first Rays’ pitcher to record a 20-win season and set the franchise mark (later broken by Blake Snell, who may well end up overtaking Price someday on this list). Though he might not necessarily be a lock for Cooperstown, Price is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers of his era.

2008-2014, 4 Time All-Star, AL Cy Young 2012, Wins Leader 2012, ERA leader 2012, Strikeout Leader 2014, 82-47  3.18 ERA  1065 SO  1.142 WHIP  21.3 WAR

2. Carl Crawford

The face of the franchise during the early and mid-2000s, the appropriately nicknamed “Perfect Storm” was the man in Tampa. A three-time All-Star, Crawford was a menace for opposing teams.

Carl Crawford holds many key records for the Rays including being the all-time leader in batting average, hits, triples, and stolen bases which he led the entire league in on four separate occasions during his tenure with the Rays.

His final year with the Rays might have been his best as he slashed an outstanding .307/.356/.495 with career highs in home runs (19) and RBI (90).
Crawford was never quite the same dynamic player he was after he left the Rays. During the 2010 offseason, he signed a lucrative 7-year, $142-million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

The numbers immediately regressed and he only lasted 2 seasons with the Sox before being shipped off to the LA Dodgers. While he played much better during his time in LA compared to his disappointing years in Boston, he was oft-injured which ultimately led to his retirement at 34 when his contract with the Dodgers expired.

Crawford was a part of all of the bottom-dwelling Rays teams from 2002-2007 but was also an essential piece of the puzzle that led to the Rays advancing to the World Series 2008. It definitely wouldn’t be blasphemous to argue for Crawford to be in the number one spot on this list, but there was one player who edged him out.

2002-2010, 4 Time All-Star, Gold Glove 2010, Silver Slugger 2010, Four-Time AL Stolen Base Leader, .296 BA  104 HR  592 RBI  .781 OPS  409 SB  35.6 WAR

1. Evan Longoria

If there is one name synonymous with this organization, it’s Evan Longoria. Longo’s first three seasons in a Rays’ uniform resulted in three straight All-Star appearances. While he may not have exceeded some of the lofty expectations set for him after such a stellar start to his career, he was undeniably a sensational player during his decade in Tampa Bay.

He holds many of the franchise hitting records including belting 261 home runs (almost 100 more than the next highest player on that list) and knocking in 892 RBI over the course of his Rays career. His offense wasn’t the only highlight of his game as he was truly a complete player, known for his acrobatics over on the hot corner winning three Gold Gloves.

While many thought that Longoria would be a Rays’ lifer, he was ultimately traded to the San Francisco Giants in late 2017 in exchange for Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, Matt Krook, and Stephen Woods. Longoria ended up having the worst year of his career in 2018, hitting .244 with 16 HR and 54 RBI which were all career lows. A far cry from where he was in his prime with the Rays.

At 34, Longo still has some years left. If he can put together a few solid seasons he might be the Rays’ best hope for gaining their first representative in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

2008-2017, 3x All-Star, AL Rookie of the Year 2008, 3x Gold Glove, Silver Slugger 2009
.270 BA  261 HR  892 RBI .823 OPS  49.8 WAR

Does your top-five list differ? Let us know how and why in the comments!