Rays come out with the sole objective of an SM

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The young and hungry Rays have done enough to set expectations high.

They strung together division titles, captured the American League title two years ago and had the best record on tour for the last three seasons.

They are proud of an impressive resume that also includes a franchise-record 100 wins in a season and a third straight playoff appearance.

But they are still looking for something that has eluded them, the World Series title.

“We’re built to win,” manager Kevin Cash recalled to players at the start of preseason.

“We got a taste of the World Series in 2020 … Last year, we had a tremendously successful regular season but a disappointing postseason,” president of athletic operations Erik Neander said. “We’re trying to find a way to take that last step that this organization hasn’t been able to take yet.”

After leading the Dodgers to a Fall Classic Game 6 two years ago, Tampa Bay fell to the Red Sox in the NL divisional round in 2021.

The hope is that this 2022 will be different.

“This is a young group, incredibly talented, and with these experiences, they’ve had the opportunity to grow a little faster,” Neander said. “I think this is going to serve us pretty well.”

Tampa Bay, a team that doesn’t usually spend big, made headlines in the preseason offseason for spending bigger than usual. He signed young Dominican shortstop Wander Franco for $182 million.

He also added pitcher Corey Kluber (one year, $8 million) as part of a mostly young rotation that would benefit from the two-time Cy Young award-winning pitcher’s experience and leadership.

Franco, 21, made his long-awaited major league debut in 2021, when he hit .288 with seven homers and 39 RBIs in 70 games. He helped a lineup that already included Cuban Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe and Austin Meadows.

The Rays, who have one of the most productive branch systems in baseball, believe they are in a good position to remain competitive for years to come.

“We think our biggest chance to win a World Series is to have more chances to make it happen,” Neander said.

Kluber, 35, joins a rotation that at times will even include four starters who began last season as rookies and have a combined experience of just one start. They are lefty Shane McClanahan, as well as three rights: Shane Baz, Colombian Luis PatiƱo and Drew Rasmussen.

In all, the Rays employed 18 rookies in 2021, including 12 pitchers who came together for a total of 36 wins.

Following the departure of right-hander Colin McHugh, Brooks Raley, acquired on the free agent market, is the biggest change in a bullpen that was already pretty good before the veteran southpaw’s addition.

The Rays are trying to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year, setting a franchise record. They have won seven pennants since 2008. In that span, only the Dodgers (11), Yankees (10) and Cardinals (9) have more.

Although the Rays continue to shine on pitching and defense, they have evolved into a much better team on offense. His ranking in runs scored among major league clubs has climbed in each of the past five seasons, rising from 25th in 2017 to second with 857 last year.

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Rays come out with the sole objective of an SM