In an interview with MLB.com during the winter meetings, Rays manager Kevin Cash stated, “at the end of the day it's about winning games. And if we feel that we can get a better matchup earlier in the ball game, why wouldn't we use it?”
The topic was bullpen use, and in that conversation he alluded to the idea that, at times, the Rays might use a eight man bullpen to get through the additional innings if the versatility of the bench affords them the opportunity in 2018. It’s a wise idea.
Going further than that, though, the Rays could even start the year with a four man rotation.