The players have changed, but the roster-building strategy hasn’t. For the Rays, it’s not realistic to spend big in free agency. Sometimes they’ll be able to find fits, but they need to draft, develop, and identify players in other organizations who can help contribute to a winner.
How does the roster construction of the franchise’s two American League champions compare?
Traded for as major leaguer
Willy Aybar
Grant Balfour
Jason Bartlett
Chad Bradford
Matt Garza
Gabe Gross
J.P. Howell
Edwin Jackson
Dioner Navarro
Dan Wheeler
Nick Anderson
Ji-Man Choi
Yandy Diaz
Tyler Glasnow
Manny Margot
Austin Meadows
Brett Phillips
Hunter Renfroe
Joey Wendle
Mike Zunino
The quantities of players is roughly the same, but there are differences in the roles these players filled on each team.