Biggest Offseason Additions:

Heath Bell: The Tampa Bay Rays made it very clear that they were not going to go out and sign closer Fernando Rodney to a deal. Instead they traded minor leaguer Justin Choate to the Diamondbacks and received Bell in a three- team trade. It only makes sense that Bell will take over the eighth inning duties and for good reason.

Since 2009, he has recorded 166 saves which ranks among the top ten since that time. He had a down season in 2013 with the Diamondbacks where he blew seven saves and recorded a 4.11 ERA. Although he had a rough season the Rays are expecting him to produce in 2014. He is a big strikeout guy who struck out 72 men over 65.2 innings pitched last season.

Grant Balfour: The Rays were not playing around this offseason when it came to their bullpen. Balfour was signed to a two-year, $12 million contract. This makes for an interesting option in the pen for Joe Maddon. Balfour has been one of the best closer in baseball over the past few seasons. He has combined for 72 saves over the past two seasons and is one of the most intense pitchers in the game. If the season were to start today you would likely see this guy taking the ninth inning and Bell setting things up in the eighth.

Biggest Offseason Losses:

Jeremy Hellickson: Since this team really didn’t lose any big names I am going to point out a big loss that they took just days ago. Hellickson will be out the first six to eight weeks of the regular season with right elbow issues. Hellickson had a great 2012 which included ten wins, a 3.10 ERA and a .244 opponents batting average. His 2013 was not so impressive as he was rocked start after start and ended the season with an ERA above five. Either way Hellickson was an innings eater and has the potential to be a big name starter. He will likely be slowly brought back into his role once returning from the DL.

Name to Watch in Spring Training: Jake Odorizzi  

This is the guy that has the best chance of becoming the number five pitcher in the rotation with the loss of Hellickson. Odorizzi was the “throw in” player involved in the Wil Myers trade and has proven anything but a throw in. He is only 23 years-old and is the highest ranked prospect in the organization. He had seven appearances for the Rays in 2013 in which he ended the year with an ERA of 3.94. If this guy can show that he has control and a secondary pitch you could see him sneak into the five spot in the rotation. Spring training will be a very telling time for this young man.