Last Updated on April 4, 2010 6:00 pm by Anthony Rome
Rays Season Odds
The Tampa Bay Rays have more than enough talent to be competitive throughout the year, but can they overtake the Yankees and Red Sox in the AL East?
The small market Rays didn’t make many moves this offseason, although they did re-sign Gabe Kapler to a one-year deal and acquired Jesse Chavez from the Pirates in exchange for Akinori Iwamura.
Along with Iwamura, the club parted ways with Mitch Talbot, Jason Isringhausen, Troy Percival, Russ Springer, Gabe Gross and Gregg Zaun.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Rays 18/1 to win the 2010 World Series and 9/1 to win the American League Pennant. They’re also 5/1 to win the AL East and have an over/under total of 89.5 for number of wins in 2010.
The Rays have a great variety of speed, power and average throughout their lineup, which consists of Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist, Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton and Pat Burrell. But the key to the club’s success may hinge on whether or not Upton can rebound from a brutal 2009 in which he hit only .241 with 11 home runs and 64 RBI.
The pitching staff is solid, but it lacks an ace. James Shields, Matt Garza, Jeff Niemann, David Price and Wade Davis all bring something to the table in terms of quality production, but unless Price emerges as the true No. 1 of the staff, then the Rays have to figure out a way to win without an ace. Clubs can usually get by without having a true No. 1 stud, but lack of consistency usually becomes a problem throughout the year and the entire rotation has the potential to fall apart.
That said, the Rays have more than enough talent to get back in the World Series mix. Their lineup is solid and their pitching staff boasts potential, but guys need to step up. They play in the toughest division in baseball and with teams like the Red Sox, Mariners, White Sox, Twins, Tigers, Angels and Rangers all legitimate postseason contenders, Tampa will have to be on top of its game night in and night out.
2010 MLB World Series Odds
Tampa Bay Rays 18/1
2010 MLB AL Pennant Odds
Tampa Bay Rays 9/1
2010 MLB AL East Odds
Tampa Bay Rays 5/1
2010 MLB Regular Season Win Totals
Tampa Bay Rays Over 89.5 (-105)
Tampa Bay Rays Under 89.5 (-125)
Posted: 4/4/10 6:00PM ET