In order to maintain any hope of being competitive, the Rays choose to utilize players under club control, develop talent, and trade them away for more talent. After being named MLB’s top farm system, look for them to continue forth in their ways.
The Rays have provided the league with talents like David Price, Chris Archer, Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist, James Shields, Will Myers, Wade Davis, etc…
They have shown time and time again they can cultivate talent and send them packing before it’s time to hand over the big bucks, taking full advantage of MLB’s delayed salary structure.