How Rays' newest offensive additions will fit into 2024 roster

On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays front office made moves to acquire Jose Caballero and Richie Palacios from the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals. The additions help the Tampa Bay Rays in many ways, when it comes to the style of play Kevin Cash has. It also gives the Rays two more cracks at continuing their great history of developing talented players.

Caballero and Palacios represent a future for the Rays that allows them to dive deeper into the small ball style they thrive off of. However, it may come at a price of a big 2024 season.

Caballero and Palacios both have three years of major league baseball experience between the two of them, making them young development projects for Tampa Bay going forward.

Rays Trade for Jose Caballero, Richie Palacios: Will either player fit into 2024 starting lineup?

Caballero is a fast infielder who was one of the best base-stealing rookies last year with 26 total. This can really fit into Cash's small ball managing when it comes to offense, making Cabellero vital in that sense. He also can play anywhere on the infield when it comes to defense, as he had a solid fielding percentage of .983. 

Palacios is a vital left-handed hitting pickup that fills the void Luke Raley left in the Seattle trade. He was a promising hitter in St. Louis who began to pick up the home run ball and increased his batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS. He also became really patient at the plate with low K and chase rates. He can add to a dangerous outfield depth chart alongside Jose Siri and Randy Arozarena. 

The main goal for these two players who are coming in is their hitting development. Luckily, the Tampa Bay Rays have been doing this for a while, graduating many minor-league prospects that have come up and flourished in St. Pete. This deal may not be an instant hit, but the Rays lineup gets deeper with the additions of Palacios and Caballero.