Chandler Simpson decision part of Rays’ focus on winning more now

TAMPA Rays officials just like fans and media were impressed with how well Chandler Simpson played and how his speed impacted games during his first six weeks in the majors, especially given his limited Triple-A experience.But they want him to be better specifically in getting on base more (.315 on-base percentage) and playing better defense in the outfield.So in deciding fellow rookie outfielder Jake Mangum deserved to reclaim a starting role when coming off the injured list Friday (and that rookie Kameron Misner was their best centerfield option with Jonny DeLuca still hurt), the Rays felt it was better for Simpson and for them to be playing regularly at Durham than sparingly as a spot starter and pinch-runner in the majors.

Simpson was said to have taken the news of his demotion very well.So appreciative of Chandler Simpson, the person and the player, manager Kevin Cash told Andy Freed on the radio pre-game show.

He really did a lot of good things.

I think him going down to Triple A, its only going to benefit him and us in the long run.

He knows that the version of himself that he showed up here was really good.

I think we all know that theres potential to be even better.In other words, they considered Mangum to be a better player offensively and defensively to help them win more now.That was just days after deciding they couldnt wait any longer for backup catcher Ben Rortvedt to shake his season-long funk and moved on, acquiring Matt Thaiss from the White Sox.And though struggling outfielder Christopher Morel (.200 average, .614 OPS, 35.7% strikeout rate entering Saturday) got to keep his (mostly reserve) job with Simpson sent down, Rays baseball operations president Erik Neander indicated that Morel who is out of options and cant be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers needs to step up soon.Neander praised Morel, the primary return in the 2024 deadline trade of Isaac Paredes, for his work ethic, attitude, mentorship of young star Junior Caminero and being a good teammate overall.But, Neander said Friday in his weekly segment on WDAE radio with Tom Krasniqi, we expected more out of him than what weve gotten, and weve got to start seeing more or you start walking down those paths of, all right, like, whats next? But were not there yet.

Hes putting the work in.

...But the more you win, the more youve got to make sure youre putting the best players you can in the right spots.

So well continue to evaluate it.

Think hes capable of more.

But we do need to see it here.These moves come at a key juncture for the Rays, as they focus after a slow start on competing for a playoff spot.Neander preached patience through the first third of the season, noting with the impact of the move to Steinbrenner Field, the roster shuffles caused by injuries and the infusion of young players, there was going to be a lot of assessing.But he also felt it was a group with the potential to pick up speed as we go.

As they did, winning eight of nine and playing better overall, that focus has changed to more results oriented for players and the team.Now well just see kind of where it goes from here, Neander said Wednesday.

Certainly got us back into a much more competitive position within the American League but doesnt mean a whole lot unless you continue to play that way and build on it.This second trimester is really going to be, All right, lets see what weve got, right? Because (at) the end of the second trimester, you have the trade deadline and you have those decisions.Gov.

BaseballGov.

Ron DeSantis was talking baseball last week, saying he was confident the Rays are not headed out of Florida, that the state will help with infrastructure but not construction costs for a new stadium and he, too, has heard rumors that Stuart Sternberg might be selling.DeSantis, who met in December with commissioner Rob Manfred, said MLB officials told me we are not allowing this team to leave Florida.

Because I think they understand that this is the fastest-growing state.

Its the third-largest state in the country.

To have a major-league team leave, like, thats not something we want obviously, but actually (it) is bad for the league.

Makes baseball look poorly that they couldnt hack it in really big markets.DeSantis, speaking in Apopka, said he wasnt wading into where a new Rays stadium should be, but was certain with the right plan it could work.

He said Sternberg has not got a path forward in Pinellas County and that hes been told for years that the Rays were likely to be sold soon ...

maybe were getting closer to that now.

But Im confident that the teams not going to leave Florida.Related: The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that Sternberg hasnt talked with any of three groups expressing interest in buying the team.Going LongoRays great Evan Longoria will be a popular topic of conversation this week.

Wednesday at Higgins Hall, hell be inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame in a class that includes Lightning coach Jon Cooper, ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale and sports commission head Rob Higgins.

Saturday at Steinbrenner Field, Longoria will sign a ceremonial one-day contract and officially retire as a Ray.Thats a prelude to next year, when hell be inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame and potentially have his No.

3 retired as the team returns to Tropicana Field.

Longoria made a classy move to place a full-page ad in Sundays Tampa Bay Times to thank fans for their support.Scheduling stuffWith summer heat/rain in sight, most Rays night games shift to 7:35 p.m.

starts and many day games move up to 12:10.

Also, cue Enter Sandman as Fridays game vs.

Miami is indeed at 1:10 p.m.

to avoid conflict with the evening Metallica concert at RayJay.

...

The Rays had to adjust games on Aug.

23 (now Aug.

21) and Sept.

21 (now a 7:35 p.m.

start) to avoid conflicts with the Bucs, but got a break on Sept.

20 with USF-South Carolina State kicking off at noon; Rays-Red Sox is set for 7:05.Rays rumblingsSome Rays talk, though no major action, is expected when MLB owners meet this week in New York.

...

Ace lefty Shane McClanahan is quietly making progress toward a return from injury, slated to throw off a mound Tuesday and his first full bullpen session Friday.

...

Previously pursued veteran starter Kyle Gibson was signed to a minor-league deal to add depth at Triple A for the next month, with an agreement he can leave after that to pursue other opportunities.

...

The recent hot streak got the Rays some national media love, with Steve Phillips saying on MLB Network Radio, Im starting to really like their lineup.

Trevor Plouffe noted on the Baseball Today podcast: if they find themselves offensively a little bit I think this team could challenge the Yankees for the division.

And MLB Networks Greg Amsinger touted Jonathan Aranda as the AL All-Star first baseman.

...

Shortstop Carson Williams, off to a rough start at Triple-A Durham, dropped from eighth to 29th in Keith Laws updated prospect ranking for The Athletic.

...

Taylor Walls took the Steinbrenner Field locker vacated by Rortvedt, slotting in between Josh Lowe and Danny Jansen.

...

MLB.coms latest mock draft has the Rays taking San Antonio, Texas, high school infielder Kayson Cunningham with the No.

14 pick, and Tampa Jesuit/FSU-produced lefty Jamie Arnold going fourth to the Rockies.

If so, Arnold would surpass Dwight Gooden, who went No.

5 in 1982, as the highest drafted player from Tampa Bay.

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