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The Tampa Bay Rays are currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot in the American League. If they are able to advance to the postseason, they will have a rough road to the World Series.

The Rays’ winning formula of great starting pitching and defense has been challenged this year due to injuries to the rotation. The team hopes those worries are behind them for 2013 with a full stable of arms finally available.

The additions of Delmon Young and David DeJesus are efforts that the team is making to boost their struggling offense.

Of course, if they are unable to qualify for the postseason, the rest won’t matter. According to Baseball Prospectus the Rays currently have a 65.3 percent probability of making the 2013 playoffs.

Here is a look at how the Rays match up against their eight potential postseason opponents.

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For a team trying to contend for a division title, the Tampa Bay Rays were terrible in August.

The Rays were coming off the best month in club history, following a 21-5 record in July. Their encore performance, an 11-15 August, was the team’s worst record since also going 11-15 in July 2011.

The month was the team’s first losing August since Manager Joe Maddon’s first season in 2006.

The team’s struggles were in large part due to their inability to produce runs. The 89 runs scored (3.4 runs per game) also marked a franchise low for the month of August.

There were some exciting moments from individual players from August, including walk-off victories and spectacular plays.

Here are the grades for the players for the month of August.

Jamal Wilburg is a Correspondentor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations in this article were obtained via Official Team Game Notes

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The Tampa Bay Rays cannot afford for September to look like August.

August was a month the Tampa Bay Rays would love to forget. The Tampa Bay Rays finished the month with a losing record for the first time since 2006 when they went 9-19. That year was manager Joe Maddon’s first season with the team.

If you cannot score runs, you cannot expect to win baseball games. That was one of the downfalls of the team in August. The Rays only scored 88 runs in August, an all-time franchise low. The previous low was 106 runs in 2006. In fact, the last time the team failed to bring 100 runners across home plate in a month was July 2009.

With August in the past, the team can look forward to September with renewed optimism.

Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, who has been struggling recently with a 3-5 record and 5.88 ERA in his last 10 starts, should be rejoining the team soon. Hellickson was optioned to Class-A Charlotte to get some rest in preparation for the final charge towards the postseason.

Also slated to return from an elbow injury is starting pitcher Matt Moore. Moore made a rehab start for Triple-A Durham and should be back in the starting rotation next week during the series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

September also marks the moment when major league rosters expand from 25 to 40. For the Rays, players including outfielder Delmon Young, catcher Chris Giminez and pitcher Josh Lueke will make the trip up to the majors to help the team fight for what would be the fourth postseason appearance in the franchise’s history.

At least the Rays can always look back on September of 2011 if they need inspiration for how to close out the final month of a season.

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Roberto Hernandez earned his pitchers’ leap with his complete-game victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday night. The Tampa Bay Rays pitcher’s last complete game came in 2010.

The performance comes amidst rumblings about the Rays moving to a four-man rotation, as per Michael Periatt of MLB.com, since the way that the remaining schedule is laid out provides four days off in 12 days. The team could go all the way through the month of August needing a fifth starter as little as twice.

In that scenario, Hernandez is likely the odd man out.

With this in mind, Tuesday night looked like, and could very well still be, Hernandez’s last start for the Rays for a while. His outstanding performance, though, could make the Rays at least temporarily reconsider any adjustments to the rotation.

While an optimist can see the value that a top-performing Hernandez can contribute to the rotation, it would come down to either he or Chris Archer being bumped from the rotation. Right now, Archer has the edge.

Sending the rookie pitcher back down to AAA-Durham is not highly likely, due to his recent high performance including two complete-game shutouts in his last three starts. Archer’s other start was a seven-inning outing where he only surrendered one earned run against the New York Yankees.

The team could decide, following Tuesday night’s game, to continue with a regular schedule and allow the rotation to get extra rest heading into the final stretch of the season. With David Price coming off the disabled list recently and the youth of Archer and Matt Moore, rest could be beneficial for the team if the productivity can remain.

Even if the team ultimately does not go with a four-man rotation, the return of Alex Cobb places another challenge to Hernandez’s spot in the rotation. Cobb is currently in the process of pitching in rehab games as he works towards returning from the concussion he suffered when he took a ball to the head against the Kansas City Royals on June 15.

It is a very likely scenario that Hernandez, Cobb and Archer will be fighting for two spots in the rotation at some point in the next four-to-six weeks.

Hope he enjoyed Tuesday night.

Follow @JWilburg

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The Baltimore Orioles non-tendered infielder Mark Reynolds He will be an interesting possible target for the Tampa Bay Rays’ vacancy at first base.

The Orioles announced that Reynolds, along with infielder Omar Quintanilla and right-handed pitcher Stu Pomeranz, would become free agents via their official Twitter account.

INFs Mark Reynolds & Omar Quintanilla, and RHP Stu Pomeranz will not be tendered contracts by the Orioles and will become free agents.

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) December 1, 2012

Brittany Ghiroli from mlb.com spoke with Reynolds and posted his reaction on her Twitter account.

Reynolds is now a free agent: “It is what it is and move on. I’m excited to get out there and see what’s out there for me.”

— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) December 1, 2012

Reynolds fits the mold of what has become the traditional Rays free-agent acquisition. He is a good defensive player coming off of a disappointing season, but has had enough past success to make the risk worth taking.

In 2012, Reynolds finished with a .221 batting average with a .323 on-base percentage and 69 RBI. His 23 home runs were his fewest since his rookie season in 2007 when he only hit 17.

Although his stats may not jump off the page, it’s more production than the .197 batting average, .330 on-base percentage, 19 home runs, and 61 RBI that the Rays got from Carlos Pena in 2012.

If the price is right, he could be a good player for the Rays to sign.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter or visit his website. 

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What if the Tampa Bay Rays weren’t limited in financial resources and could afford a team payroll closer to $100 million?

It’s an interesting question for a team that has made the most out of limited funds, fielding a team that has won at least 90 games in four out of the last five seasons.

It’s also an interesting question when you think about the potential roster that could’ve been.

Of course injuries and declining player performance can’t be prevented simply by having a larger budget. We will leave those parts of the scenario out, because it’s just not as fun.

Some parts of the roster probably wouldn’t change. It’s safe to assume that even if the Rays had more money available, they would still spend it with the same frugality as they have always shown.

Also, the starting rotation being completely home grown would keep their payroll levels close to what they are today. The only difference would be the ability to extend either David Price or James Shields to a longer deal—a luxury the team currently cannot afford.

The bullpen would also probably not look much different. The Rays have proven that they can gather talent for low salaries, and seem to always put together an effective bullpen. The advantage of having a higher payroll would be in possibly keeping someone like Rafael Soriano or Joaquin Benoit on the roster longer.

The Rays’ infield might still lack a quality player at shortstop and catcher, but would at least be able to afford a quality first baseman and a designated hitter. One who isn’t past his prime or recovering from injury.

Again, it wouldn’t have to be a top-tier free agent, but being able to sign a player like Marco Scutaro could improve the roster.

The outfield is where the additional resources could come in handy. It’s quite possible that Carl Crawford still would’ve left for $145 million, but B.J. Upton’s departure wouldn’t have been a foregone conclusion due to costs. It’s also possible that a trade could’ve been made for Justin Upton to build an outfield of Desmond Jennings, Upton and Upton.

Although additional money could buy the Rays a lot of players that they can’t currently afford, there are also things it can’t buy. It can’t buy Game 162. And more money probably would’ve prevented some surprising player performances, like that of closer Fernando Rodney last season.

Besides, the Boston Red Sox had a large payroll. And it didn’t quite work out for them last season, did it?

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter or visit his website. 

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Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a 10-year contract extension (six years guaranteed) worth $100 million earlier this week. The deal will keep Longoria with the Rays through the 2022 season with a team option for 2023.

The Rays drafted Longoria with the third overall pick in 2006 and he was the first player selected by owner Stu Sternberg and GM Andrew Friedman. Via the New York Daily News:

 “We drafted Evan in 2006 with the belief that he and the organization would grow with each other and together accomplish great things,” said Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg. “That is why the Rays and Evan signed a long-term contract in 2008, and it is why we are extending our commitments today. Evan has clearly become a cornerstone player and a fixture in our organization. We are proud of what we have accomplished these past seven years, and I expect the best is yet to come.”

For a team that has sustained recent success with financial constraints, it’s a big deal for the team to be able to secure its superstar and face of the franchise for years to come.

Here are the four biggest winners in Longoria’s new deal.

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B.J. Upton will be the hardest player the Tampa Bay Rays have had to replace.

The Upton era in center field for the Rays is over now that he has been introduced and the ink has dried on his new contract with the Atlanta Braves (per the Washington Post).

Upton is one of the most difficult players the franchise has ever had to replace, especially since they started winning in 2008.  This includes the losses of Crawford, Matt Garza, Rafael Soriano, Carlos Pena, Scott Kazmir and other key contributors for the team.

In 2012, Upton had a .246 average with 28 home runs, 78 RBI and 31 steals in his final season with the Rays. Replacing that level of performance will be more difficult for the Rays than most other contending teams, even Rays teams of the past.

The difference with Upton’s departure from the previous roster changes is that there is no sign of a suitable replacement. No next man up that you can readily point to and see a glimpse of hope for the future.

When the Rays traded Scott Kazmir to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs, they were able to absorb those losses to their rotation easily. They had (and still have) a stable of pitchers that were developing in the minor leagues, with a new arm ready to step into the rotation.

Even today, the Rays could absorb the trade of a starter easily. They have eight pitchers on the roster that are legitimate major league starters with David Price, James Shields, Matt Moore, Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Cobb, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann and Chris Archer.  

When Carl Crawford left to sign with the Boston Red Sox, the Rays had outfielder Desmond Jennings developing in the minors. Help is not on the immediate horizon this time. Even if Jennings moves over to center field, it only shifts the vacancy to left field.

Sam Fuld is an option, but he isn’t an everyday ball player and is a great defensive replacement and pinch-hitter for the team. Ben Zobrist could also start in the outfield, but his talents are much more needed at shortstop.

If only Rays shortstop prospect Tim Beckham would’ve panned out as planned when the team drafted him first overall in 2008. He could’ve filled the next-man-up role.

The team would certainly be in a better position. He could’ve filled the shortstop vacancy, thus allowing for an outfield of Matt Joyce, Jennings and Zobrist. Since he hasn’t, perhaps the answer is to tread water with Zobrist at shortstop until Rays top prospect Hak Ju-Lee is ready to for the majors.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett are the latest subtractions from the Boston Red Sox lineup under the Bobby Valentine regime.

The Valentine-led Red Sox have completed a fire sale via a blockbuster trade that will send left fielder Crawford, first baseman Gonzalez, right-handed starting pitcher Beckett, infielder Nick Punto and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to USA Today. In exchange, the Red Sox will receive pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. and outfielder Jerry Sands from the Dodgers.

The mighty Red Sox Nation is in desperate need of a change of attitude that can only come with a change of personnel. After the historical collapse the team endured last season, flaws in the management and leadership of the team grew too large to ignore.

The Red Sox have been absent from their reservations at the postseason dinner table since 2009. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2008, when they were eliminated by the surprise Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS.

Since the 2009 season, the Rays have replaced the Red Sox as the team contending with the New York Yankees for AL East supremacy each season. This season, the Red Sox are currently fourth in the division.

The Red Sox seemed like they were going to be unstoppable when they brought in Crawford and Gonzalez before the 2011 season. However, the ridiculous financial investment didn’t pan out to success on the field. It appears the players didn’t fit into the type of team Valentine wants to manage.

It is safe to assume that Valentine has carte blanche authority in Boston when you look at the moves that have been made so far this season. Sure Ben Cherington is the GM, but these moves have Valentine’s prints all over them.

Kevin Youkilis was sent to the Chicago White Sox after tensions mounted from Valentine’s questioning whether he was as physically and emotionally into the game as he used to be.

The Red Sox also traded catcher Kelly Shoppach to the New York Mets. Shoppach was rumored to be the player who sent the text message to Boston ownership complaining about Valentine, according to the New York Daily News.

That brings us to the trio sent packing today.

Crawford made every boo-boo seem like a career-ending injury and just never adjusted to the pressures of playing in front of the Boston media and Red Sox Nation. Coming from the friendly atmosphere of Tampa Bay, he wasn’t prepared for the level of expectations and accountability.

Gonzalez also was involved in the text messaging scandal, and there also was a sentiment that he wasn’t able to adjust to playing in Boston after coming from the West Coast.

No beer, new manager, same Beckett.

Beckett was the ultimate disappointment. After all of the attention he garnered from the chicken and beer incident last year, he thought (or didn’t think) that playing golf after not pitching due to a back injury was acceptable.

If no other changes happened, Beckett needed to be sent packing. Punto, unfortunately, is a casualty of war.

These moves have solidified the facts that the Red Sox are a team in transition and Valentine is at the helm of the ship. After all of these moves and changes, the 2013 Boston Red Sox will look much different from the team we have become accustomed to seeing over the past decade.

That may be exactly what this team needs if they hope to return to dominance.

Jamal Wilburg is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.

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Elliot Johnson should think twice before letting Matt Joyce borrow his stuff.

During the first inning of what turned out to be a 12-6 slaughter of the Minnesota Twins, Joyce stepped to the plate and hit a nice two-run home run. The hit scored the first two runs of the game and served as the warning shot of the ambush to come.

The homer was also hit with Elliot Johnson’s bat.

If you look closely at the picture above, you will see that Joyce was using a bat with the No. 9 on the knob of the bat, not his jersey No. 20.

Having nothing else planned on a Friday night I began to research into the origin and proper owner of the bat. Unfortunately, the number on the knob doesn’t come with an underline like my favorite card game to differentiate the nines from sixes. However, with the jersey number six belonging to Rays third base coach Tom Foley, it was safe to assume the bat didn’t belong to him.

That left the only option as No. 9 himself, Mr. Elliot Johnson. After posing the question on my Twitter, because I clearly wasn’t sleeping without confirmation, Johnson responded and confirmed via Twitter that the bat was indeed his.

Yup! Nice eye! RT @jwilburg: was @sweetswingin20 home run hit with @elliotjohnson9 bat? #rays

— Elliot Johnson (@ElliotJohnson9) August 11, 2012

Johnson also added that Joyce broke the bat, but it’s cool since a homer was hit with it.

We’ve all been there in principal. You let someone borrow a tool, appliance or other object and they don’t return it in the condition they received it. The difference is my neighbor isn’t hitting a two-run homer with my hammer or lawn mower.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @JWilburg or visit his website www.jamalwilburg.com.

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