Rays 2023 Opening Day roster projection

ST. PETERSBURG — How will the Rays navigate their first real bump in the road en route to the regular season?

Tyler Glasnow’s strained oblique is the top story through the first few weeks of camp. However, the team does have multiple arms who can hold down the fort while its right-handed ace is on the mend.

We will go through those possibilities and what other spots are up for grabs here in our latest 2023 Rays roster projection.

Corner infielders (2): Yandy Díaz, Isaac Paredes
Diaz has been slowed recently by a hip flexor injury, but there doesn’t appear to be any concern over his status. Manager Kevin Cash has already said that Diaz is going to play “a lot” of first base after spending most of last year at third. Paredes is expected to shift over to the hot corner, with Taylor Walls helping out there as well once he’s over his current oblique injury. Jonathan Aranda could earn a spot as a first-base option, especially considering the team’s need for lefty bats, but he has Minor League options remaining.

Second baseman (1): Brandon Lowe
It’s so far, so good for Lowe this spring. All healed up from a back injury that limited him to only 65 games in 2022, he is excited for the year ahead.

Shortstop (1): Wander Franco
While the Rays desperately need Lowe’s left-handed power bat to stay in their lineup, no position player is more important than Franco. He needed all of one Spring Training game to show everyone that he is ready to put last year’s injury-marred season behind him.

Outfielders (4): Randy Arozarena, Jose Siri, Manuel Margot, Josh Lowe
Arozarena is digging into the data to find ways to improve this year. He joins Siri and Margot as the three locks here. Lowe, meanwhile, is trying to learn from his failures in order to stick in the Majors. At his best, Lowe has everything the Rays could want: a left-handed bat with power and speed who is capable of providing plus defense in the outfield. But he must make more contact.

Lowe is ostensibly competing with Aranda, Luke Raley and speedy infielder/outfielder Vidal Bruján for one of two open roster spots on the position-player side.

Designated hitter (1): Harold Ramirez
Ramírez can handle first or a corner outfield spot in a pinch, but considering that he has recorded minus-13 Defensive Runs Saved during his career, he’s best cast as a right-handed-hitting DH. The Rays will likely rotate plenty of hitters through this spot, as usual, to create optimal matchups and provide rest for…