Unless things dramatically change, the Tampa Bay Rays are never going to be amongst the top spenders in free agency. While they may dabble in the market, looking for bargains or scouring for diamonds in the rough, they are not going to land any of the top players in any given year. At least, that is the conventional wisdom, and would be the case most years.
This has not been like most years. Even the top free agents had their flaws or injury concerns. The Rays were able to ink Wilson Ramos on a reasonable two year contract because of those injuries, giving them a legitimate hitter behind the plate for the first time since….