Soon, winter will give way to spring.
Soon, the Tampa Bay Rays will begin again as something new.
Their offseason has been full of change. There have been the departures of Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon. There has been Matt Silverman's move from team president to president of baseball operations. There has been Kevin Cash's hire as manager. There have been transactions that sent away familiar faces and introduced intriguing names.
With 2015 here, that means spring training is drawing near. In the coming weeks, we'll take looks at some of the new Rays players who will become part of the franchise's different era, with their potential to become production when the team reports to Port Charlotte, Fla., to begin a fresh campaign.
This week, we analyze right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen, 30, who was part of a trade that sent outfielder Matt Joyce to the Los Angeles Angels.
Here's a closer look at how Jepsen might fit within the Rays' vision for the coming season.
KEVIN JEPSEN, RELIEVER
Career stops: Los Angeles Angels (2008-2014, selected by the Anaheim Angels in the second round of the 2002 draft)
Pitching stats: 13-18 record, 3.94 ERA, five saves, 97 holds, 271 strikeouts, 110 walks, 280 2/3 innings.
How he was gained: Acquired from the Angels as part of a trade for Joyce on Dec. 16.
What he offers: Veteran experience to work in high-leverage situations. The development that Jake McGee underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow in December to remove a loose body was a setback, because the effective reliever will begin the season on the disabled list and isn't expected back until about mid April. But Jepsen's presence could soften the blow of McGee's absence and provide valuable depth when No. 57 returns. Jepsen is coming off a season when he had a career-best 2.63 ERA in 65 innings in 2014. In addition, he set career marks in appearances (74) and strikeouts (75). Sixty-five of his appearances were scoreless outings, and he held hitters to a .192 batting average, with right-handed hitters just .167 against him. Clearly, the Rays could use a similar kind of year from Jepsen, who fits well within Tampa Bay's vision of trying to win with pitching and defense.
Why he's needed: McGee's absence makes Jepsen all that much more necessary. McGee became the Rays' most effective late-inning bullpen option last season, along with reliever Brad Boxberger. With McGee out early, Tampa Bay will need Boxberger to continue his momentum, and Jepsen must pick up the slack as much as possible with McGee gone. The timing of Jepsen's addition is no accident. McGee's surgery was performed Dec. 12, so the fact that the Rays announced the trade for Jepsen less than a week later reveals insight into their thinking that Jepsen can be, essentially, an effective substitute for McGee as McGee finishes healing. The most interesting part about Jepsen's addition will be what happens when McGee returns. Assuming McGee and Boxberger replicate their success from last season, the Rays will have three solid bullpen arms for high-leverage situations. Tampa Bay has to like its chances when holding a lead late.
Biggest question: Will Jepsen meet expectations? The Rays are banking on him to continue to ascend after a career year in 2014, and that's not as risky of a proposition when considering a 30-year-old with parts of seven seasons of major-league experience. Still, losing McGee for the start of the year is no small development, and Jepsen must be solid as the Rays attempt to tread water in the bullpen for a few weeks without trusted No. 57. It's possible that Jepsen could see more than the 65 innings he pitched in 2014. It's hard to imagine him being used much less, and especially early, he will be relied upon to deliver the Rays from possible jams with McGee unable to take the mound. On paper, the trade for Jepsen looks savvy, especially when it was common knowledge that Joyce, who made $3.7 million in 2014, was unlikely to return to the Rays with the team's surplus of outfield talent. Jepsen could become an effective and interesting piece in Tampa Bay's bullpen plan.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
