5 Free Agents The Tampa Bay Rays Should Be Targeting

As the book on the 2022 season comes to a close, the Tampa Bay Rays now have to be looking forward to 2023 and how they can improve on their previous season. A fourth consecutive postseason berth is always great, but that elusive World Series title is what the franchise has been truly seeking.

Unfortunately, injuries marred the Rays this year and rarely gave them a chance to play opponents at full strength. Pitchers and hitters alike, it seemed like almost everyone took a trip to the injured list. These things happen every year, of course, but even trade deadline additions such as David Peralta and Christian Bethancourt provided less than expected on the offensive side. According to Maury Ahram of mlbtraderumors.com, the Rays as a collective displayed a lackluster hitting performance all season, slashing .239/.309/.377 compared to the .250/.327/.424 line that was posted in 2021.

This offseason needs to be used to address these offensive issues and maybe even add a solid arm or two to the rotation. The Rays have already put together a very talented young core, headlined by Silver Slugger finalist Randy Arozarena, stud shortstop Wander Franco, and the power pitching duo of Shane McClanahan and Tyler Glasnow. There's a lot to be excited about here in the future, but there are definitely still some pieces missing. Check out these five free agents who I believe will have a significant impact in Tampa Bay in the future! 

1B José Abreu

José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox is set to be a free agent this offseason, and he could be a perfect addition to slide into a spot where the Rays have been looking for consistency for years. Abreu, a true power hitter at first base, has hit at least 30 home runs in 5 of his 9 seasons in the league and has driven in at least 100 runs in 6 of those seasons. A career.292 hitter, he could provide a large boost to the offense should the Rays be interested in reeling in a full-time first baseman.

Unfortunately, he's coming off of a career low in homeruns this season, but the White Sox proved to be one of the most disappointing teams as a whole this season. Managerial problems and injuries piled up, and it's possible the White Sox may be inclined to let Abreu walk this offseason in an attempt to have younger talent on the roster. This is a big opportunity for the Rays, as they're likely to let Ji-Man Choi walk this offseason as well due to dwindling offensive production and rising strikeout numbers.

Abreu could become a big contributor right out of the gate for the Rays, moving on from a team that's ended multiple seasons in disappointment during his career. At least it gives him the opportunity to play in an extremely competitive environment that's only a piece or two away from a title chase. He's also been a beloved player within the Chicago locker room throughout his career and adding his presence to this team full of energy would likely make him feel right at home.

There is no doubt that this would be a splash for the Rays in the offseason as a true right-handed power threat. Pairing him with Brandon Lowe on the right side of the infield could make this a serious HR and RBI duo in the lineup.

RHP Chris Bassitt

As solid as the Rays' pitching staff has been over the years, a veteran presence in the locker room and in the rotation couldn't hurt. That's where Chris Bassitt comes in. As an established middle-of-the-rotation type of arm, Bassitt could step right into the rotation as a reliable 3rd or 4th day guy for the Rays.

According to Danny Abriano of SNY, Bassitt was extremely productive in 2022 when it came to limiting hard contact and missing barrels. He ranked in the 95th percentile in average exit velocity allowed, the 87th percentile in hard hit rate, and above average in barrel percentage. For the Rays, this is reminiscent of Ryan Yarbrough, who struggled heavily this year but has made a career for himself by spotting up his pitches and creating weak contact. Bassitt's stuff isn't incredibly overpowering, but his knack for pounding strikes is something the Rays value in their staff.

The Mets are most likely going to be moving on from Bassitt, as he'll probably be seeking a multi-year contract that New York may not be able to offer. I think a situation where he can be brought into Tampa Bay to start behind McClanahan and Glasnow could be ideal, especially given the consistency the Rays have displayed as a team compared to the Mets over the past few years. I could totally see the Rays bringing him in as almost a Yarbrough replacement-type to be a rock in this rotation in 2023.

C Willson Contreras

Speaking of a veteran presence, Willson Contreras was a guy the Tampa Bay Rays were reportedly interested in earlier this season before the trade deadline. Even Contreras himself thought he would be dealt to a new team with numerous emotional goodbyes to teammates, but ultimately wound up finishing the season out with the Chicago Cubs. Instead, the Rays were able to acquire Christian Bethancourt in lieu of Mike Zunino's season-ending injury, but his performance offensively wasn't quite what was expected.

For Willson, on the other hand, I believe he is a great target for the Rays to go after this season for a couple of reasons. First of all, he's been in the league for 7 years, and I think the expertise and knowledge he can bring to a young Francisco Mejía is vital. He looks to be the catcher of the future for the Rays, and I think a short-term deal for Contreras would be an ideal situation; Willson goes to a contending squad, and Mejía is able to learn and develop even further under his mentorship. Second of all, Willson has been one of the better offensive catchers throughout his career, averaging a .256/.349/.459 slash line. These numbers far eclipse those of Christian Bethancourt, and Contreras is coming off of back-to-back 20+ HR seasons.

In terms of Mike Zunino, I don't quite know if the Rays are planning on bringing him back into the fold or letting him walk, so this opens the door for Willson to be a possible free agent target. Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report noted that the Cubs plan on making Contreras a qualifying offer this offseason, so it's up to the Rays to be able to match that or offer a better deal if they truly want him. His offensive production, combined with his savvy defensive skills and veteran presence in the locker room, makes him an ideal candidate in my eyes.

3B Evan Longoria

Now you KNOW this guy had to make the list. Evan Longoria, highly regarded as one of the greatest Rays to go through this organization, would be an awesome story to bring back to Tampa Bay. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Giants were likely to decline his option for 2023, making him an interesting idea for the Rays to scoop up and possibly allow him to finish out his career as a Ray.

You can find more about his offensive production in San Francisco in this article by RCG's very own Matthew Creally, but essentially, he's been a solid hitter overall, as he used to be for the Rays. The power stroke is still there, though defensively he's not quite as dependable as he was. Injuries have been a problem for him as a Giant as well, but I think this is where the Rays could come in. Longoria could serve as the designated hitter most days for the Rays, as I believe they would intend on keeping Yandy Díaz around at third base for his defensive skills and keen eye at the plate. This way, hopefully the wear and tear on his body would be limited by getting to just focus on hitting in a park he's extremely familiar with.

A reunion with Longo would hopefully be a great boost to fandom in Tampa Bay as well, with a fan favorite returning to the franchise after five years away. He's been in the league for 15 years now and most would believe he's nearing the end of his career and eyeing retirement, so I say what better team for him to finish out his great career than the one that gave him his start.