The first look at Rays projected lineup displays 1 obvious flaw

We're going to see plenty of projections and predictions for this "nearly" completed Rays roster. The first spring training game is only 11 days away, so it will be interesting to speculate how Kevin Cash will operate the players he's been given. MLB.com unveiled their first projected lineups of the year and, at first glance, it appears to be a very competitive group. The additions of Cedric Mullins and Gavin Lux make the group feel more complete, and of course, a full season of Chandler Simpson atop the lineup will be must-watch baseball.

1 flaw for Rays first projected lineup: It's heavily left-handed

For a club that favors matchups throughout the season, this is a surprising defect for the Rays. If we take careful count, the left-handed hitters (Chandler Simpson, Jonathan Aranda, Cedric Mullins, Gavin Lux, Jake Fraley, and Hunter Feduccia) outweigh the righties (Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero) by a lot. Now, this isn't to knock left-handed hitters or even the talented ones on this lineup, but it's shocking to see this from a club that loves to play the matchup game.

There is definitely some right-handed depth to work with in newcomers like Ryan Vilade, Justyn-Henry Malloy, and Ben Williamson, but they haven't quite proven themselves at this level which leaves some question marks. Three-year "veteran" Jonny DeLuca could be a right-handed replacement for any of the three left-handed outfielders on the projected lineup, but the options aren't overwhelmingly abundant.

Therefore, it will likely be a "new-look" team in 2026. Whether this is good or bad, will be interesting to analyze throughout the season. It won't necessarily harm the club's strategies as the majority of starting pitchers are right-handed. Also, one of the Rays potential starters (Taylor Walls) is a switch-hitter which can be a great tool for matchup endeavors.

Regardless, this club is loaded with talent and some newfound experience. 8-year veteran Cedric Mullins has had his fair share of success, collecting a Silver Slugger award and All-Star appearance in an incredible 2021 campaign. Gavin Lux is another addition with loads of quality experience as he has appeared in (and won) two World Series championships, as the Rays seek their first ring in franchise history.