At this point last year, Rays execs were privately plotting a major roster reconstruction.
They let 10 players walk as free agents and traded a half-dozen big-name veterans, including franchise cornerstone Evan Longoria, before opening day 2018, and shipped out another eight during the season.
Mocked and doubted at the time, their plan to transition to a young core worked pretty well, as we all learned, with 90 wins and the consolation prize of the best record of teams that didn't make the playoffs.
This winter will be different.
#Rays Neander, on most satisfying element of 2018 season: pic.