2025 Tampa Bay Rays Season Preview: Can They Survive the AL East?

For much of the past decade, the Tampa Bay Rays have been baseball’s great anomaly—a team that wins despite payroll limitations, roster turnover, and playing in a division stacked with financial heavyweights. But in 2024, the formula finally cracked. Injuries, underperformance, and an offense that lacked consistency left the Rays outside the postseason picture for the first time since 2018, finishing with an 80-82 record.

Now, 2025 presents a different challenge. The Rays not only need to rebound on the field, but they must do so while playing their home games in a temporary outdoor stadium—George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa—after Hurricane Milton rendered Tropicana Field unusable for the season.

With a retooled roster, a high-risk pitching staff, and more uncertainty than ever before, the question looms: Can the Rays return to their winning ways, or is this the start of a decline?

A Key Addition: Ha-Seong Kim Brings Stability

One of the biggest offseason moves for Tampa Bay was the signing of Ha-Seong Kim to a two-year, $29 million deal.

Kim, 29, is an elite defender at shortstop and second base, and his bat has steadily improved since arriving from the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). While the Rays struggled with plate discipline in 2024—ranking near the bottom of the league in strikeout rate—Kim brings an elite eye at the plate. He posted a 12.3% walk rate last season, a career high, and should immediately improve Tampa Bay’s infield defense and offensive approach.

Looks like Ha-Seong Kim has started to take full speed swings now, via his IG Story. A return sometime in May seems realistic at this point. pic.twitter.com/HKiFaYT2D7

— Jake (@TBRaysCentral) February 22, 2025

The expectation is that Kim will serve as a bridge to top prospect Carson Williams (MLB’s No. 9 overall prospect), who is expected to debut sometime this season. Flexibility has always been a hallmark of the Rays, and Kim’s ability to move around the infield ensures that Williams’s arrival won’t create an immediate logjam.

A Stadium Shift & Off-Field Distractions

For the first time in franchise history, the Rays will play their home games outdoors. The move to Steinbrenner Field creates a new wrinkle for a team that has long thrived in the controlled environment of a domed stadium.

And while the ballpark situation is temporary, the larger issue of the Rays’ long-term home remains unresolved. The deadline for their proposed St. Petersburg stadium deal is fast approaching, and any outcome other than a firm commitment will spark a media firestorm.

Rays Kevin Cash on playing at Steinbrenner Field this year.
“Nobody is feeling sorry for us.”
Rays players & coaches only thinking about ⚾️ right now.
Not the Trop.
Not Steinbrenner Field. pic.twitter.com/q1aX0nTMCC

— rock riley (@realrockriley) February 14, 2025

This type of off-field uncertainty could become a major distraction, but manager Kevin Cash (entering his 11th season) has built a clubhouse known for tuning out the noise.

Offense: Can the Bats Find Their Groove?

Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles were a defining factor in their 2024 collapse. The Rays ranked 29th in wOBA (.294) and finished near the bottom in home runs, a sharp contrast from their explosive 2023 offense.

Tampa Bay’s biggest offensive issue? Situational hitting. The Rays were 14th in plate appearances with runners in scoring position last season but struggled to convert those chances into runs. If they can improve in that department, their offense could bounce back in a big way.

Rays 2025 Projected Lineup:

1. Yandy Diaz, 1B
2. Brandone Lowe, 2B
3. Junior Caminero, 3B
4. Josh Lowe, RF
5. Richie Palacios, LF
6. Danny Jansen, C
7. Jonathan Aranda, DH
8. Jonny DeLuca, CF
9. Taylor Walls, SS

Pitching: A High-Risk, High-Reward Rotation

For years, the Rays’ pitching philosophy has revolved around limiting hard contact, utilizing openers, and maximizing bullpen depth. But 2025 presents new challenges, especially with Tropicana Field no longer suppressing home runs.

The rotation will be key, and it comes with serious question marks:

Rays 2025 Rotation Outlook:

1. Shane McClanahan – The ace returns after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. If he’s healthy, he’s one of the best left-handers in baseball.
2. Ryan Pepiot – Showed flashes of brilliance but is a fly-ball pitcher moving to a hitter-friendly environment.
3. Taj Bradley – Electric stuff, but home runs were a major issue last season. He must improve command.
4. Joe Boyle – A high-strikeout arm with untapped potential, but control remains a concern.
5. Shane Baz – The wild card. Once one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, he’s finally healthy.

#Rays Shane McClanahan throwing his first live BP, clocking up to 97-98 mph. pic.twitter.com/YBbO1XqKBs

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 18, 2025

The Rays are expected to use a six-man rotation, with Zack Littell serving as the sixth starter to help manage workloads.

The Bullpen Remains a Strength

Tampa Bay’s bullpen has long been its calling card, and 2025 should be no different.

• Pete Fairbanks (closer) and Edwin Uceta lead a group that ranks among MLB’s best at developing high-leverage arms.
• The departure of José Siri weakens outfield defense, but the Rays always find ways to maximize their relievers’ effectiveness.

Outlook: Are the Rays a Playoff Team?

The 2025 Rays are a team full of unknowns. If McClanahan stays healthy, Bradley takes a leap, and the offense finds its rhythm, this is a team capable of sneaking into the Wild Card race.

But there are concerns. The rotation is fragile, the ballpark situation is a distraction, and several key hitters must prove they can produce consistently.

In the AL East, where the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Orioles are all legitimate contenders, Tampa Bay will need everything to break right.

Will they return to October? That remains to be seen. But counting out the Rays has never been a safe bet.