The Devil Rays were going to win at some point. With a growing roster of talented youngsters, it was just a matter of when.
Following the 2006 season, the Devil Rays continued to fine-tune their overhauled roster.
Their most notable move was the acquisition of star Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura, whom they were able to sign as a free agent after posting the winning bid to negotiate with him. Iwamura had been a six time Gold Glove winner and a three time All-Star in Nippon Professional Baseball.
The Devil Rays also made a critical decision, finally, to outright the former top prospect in all of baseball, Josh Hamilton, off of the 40-man roster, leaving him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft.