Small-market teams can’t rely on free agents to become contenders, and the Rays are no exception. They have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and they have an opportunity to supplement this year’s postseason team with homegrown talent for years to come.
Much of that talent hasn’t arrived yet, though, and only a handful of players on this roster were originally acquired and developed by the Rays. It’s one of the most uniquely constructed rosters I’ve seen, with a majority of players being acquired in shrewd trades — some player-for-player deals, and some just sending cash for players no longer valued by their old clubs.