ST. PETERSBURG -- Every team dreams about the perfect season. If the Rays were to define the things that need to take place in order to have a perfect season, here's what they'd likely say.
To start, they would wish for health.
The 2017 season proved to be a walking-wounded ward.
Three players sustained season-ending injuries in September: Matt Duffy had left-heel surgery, Steven Souza Jr. had hip surgery and Logan Morrison had left-wrist surgery. Prior to those injuries, on Aug. 29, when right-hander Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) was activated, the Rays found themselves without a single player on the disabled list for the first time since July 6, 2011.