As Rays build a young nucleus, they also value some key veteran advice

TAMPA, Fla. — In trading four big leaguers for six prospects plus a draft pick last week, the Rays continued their purge of players who finished last season on their roster or 60-day injured list, with 24 of 49 now gone.

That extreme makeover is part of a plan to rebuild with a core of young players who can, in theory, form a nucleus capable of again making repeated trips to the postseason. An added benefit would be doing so in a new stadium that, while still just a concept, is targeted to open in 2029 and provide a massive infusion of revenue.

“It is critical to our success to try to grow a group of players ... formulate a group of talent that can be together and grow together for four to six years and turn into something special,” baseball operations president Erik Neander said. “That’s kind of what started in 2018-2019 (when they made the playoffs five straight years). That’s what happened back in 2007-08-09 (four postseason appearances over six years). We’ve got to find a way to construct that nucleus again.”

They feel they have a start, with Neander mentioning Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson, among others, on the position-player side. They’re hoping outfielder Jacob Melton, acquired from Houston in the three-way trade headlined by Brandon Lowe going to Pittsburgh, will soon be another.

“If you’re making decisions that you believe are in the best interest of your team and winning baseball games — you’re not going to get them all right, certainly — but if you’re doing that, then that’ll take care of itself,” Neander said. “And our fans are going to be proud of the team and the product and the players, and that we’re close here to having a group that we can ideally keep together for a long time.

“And then there’s a transformative ballpark, there’s a forever home, and that (rebuilding cycle) is all going to change.”

But as much as the Rays have their eyes on the future, they don’t want to just let the kids run wild this year and learn as they go.

Which is why they also have spent more than $25 million in signing three veterans — pitcher Steven Matz ($15 million over two years), and outfielders Cedric Mullins ($7.5 million over one) and Jake Fraley ($3 million over one) — to add some experience and leadership on the field and in the clubhouse.

“For us to have success, to appear in the playoffs, to make deeper runs in the playoffs, that’s going to come from assembling and developing a young, ascending, talented core of players, right? That’s there. That’s always going to be there,” Neander said.

But that also means that group is — to use Neander’s word — “impressionable,” and thus would benefit from some mentorship and been-there, done-that type of influence.

“Coaches can only do so much when it comes to kind of showing them the way,” Neander said. “To have examples around them, peers around them, players that have more underneath them — you don’t have to necessarily be a vocal example leader, it’s the behavioral example.

“It’s just how you go about your business, how you carry yourself. Just having people around them that have accomplished a lot in the major leagues. Have seen a lot. Know what success looks like. Know what the postseason looks like. Know what’s required to not just have success at present, but to have longevity in this game.”

Matz, Mullins and Fraley can, in their own ways, bring that, and more.

The most talked-about example is the selflessness Matz showed last season in St. Louis. He prepared during the winter for a desired chance to be part of the rotation but got only two April starts as Cardinals officials felt it was best for the team to pitch him in relief.

“I understand baseball, and I understand some of the decisions are made from up top. And ultimately, as a player, what is more beneficial to the team is the most important. And it worked out that way,” said Matz, 34.

“Those are things you learn along the way. So, yeah, there was a desire to start, but understand, ‘Hey, we need to win games. We need to have a good morale in the clubhouse and not have people complaining. That’s contagious.’ So, I think all that stuff is important.’’

Matz has the same expectation to start this season, but if the Rays change plans he said he will just roll with it again.

Mullins, 31, said he also is comfortable with the added responsibility.

“I’ve always been one of the guys in the clubhouse to lead by example — through my game play, my attitude, just how I go about my business every day,” he said. “That was something that Tampa was intrigued with and was interested in. So they just wanted me to come in and be myself.

“I was really good with Baltimore communicating with the younger guys through the ups and downs, just to kind of keeping their heads clear on what the goal should be, continuing to push for a win, continuing to take that next step to stack as many ways as possible, shooting for a playoff (spot), shooting for the World Series. And that’s my mentality coming in.’’

Depending on what other moves they can make over the next three months, Neander remains confident they will field a team this season with at least legit aspirations of making the playoffs if all goes right. The sting from back-to-back losing records and early starting offseasons is real.

“You’re solving for talent, and you’re trying to put competitive teams on the field as many years as possible,” Neander said. “But having people like Steven, like Cedric, that’s something. Jake Fraley, the way he plays the game, that matters. There’s nothing more powerful than that peer-to-peer influence, and it is important. ... To leave a lasting impact long after (the) players are gone, and it sticks with these other guys, and it helps them throughout the rest of their career. ...

“There’s a lot of benefit to having the right veterans around at any given time.”