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Predicting Bullpen Roles for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015

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Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2015 Bullpen Roles for the Tampa Bay Rays

2015 Bullpen Roles for the Tampa Bay Rays
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays have one of the most fluid bullpens in all of Major League Baseball. They've brought in a few more experienced arms and have to deal with injury at the beginning of the season. The players that make the bullpen will be used in various roles until they find a fit. There are as many as 11 players vying for a role in the later innings, but new manager Kevin Cash will not want to see a revolving door when he picks up the phone.

Long Relief - Alex Colome

tampa bay rays prospects spring training
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Long Relief - Alex Colome

tampa bay rays prospects spring training
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Colome is in the competition for a starting role with Matt Moore starting the year on injured reserve. It seems more likely that he will start in the bullpen as he is out of minor league options. Nathan Karns and Burch Smith are other options should Colome prove his worth as a starter in Spring Training.

Lefty Specialist - Jeff Beliveau

Jeff Beliveau
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Lefty Specialist - Jeff Beliveau

Jeff Beliveau2
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Beliveau averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings last season. He is a virtual lock for the bullpen based on his performance against left-handed batters. Lefties had just an .146 batting average against Beliveau last year. He should see an increased workload in 2015.

Middle Relief - Brad Boxberger

Brad Boxberger2
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Middle Relief - Brad Boxberger

Brad Boxberger
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Boxberger made a strong contribution last season. He will be considered a foundation of the bullpen and was used in several different roles. He is under Rays' control for the next five years and could ultimately become the eighth inning guy. However, the other players in the ranks are less flexible than Boxberger.

Middle Relief - Jose Dominguez

Jose Dominguez
Gary A. Vazquez-USA TODAY Sports

Middle Relief - Jose Dominguez

Jose Dominguez
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Dominguez comes over from the Dodgers as the youngest member of the bullpen. Tampa Bay has to figure out exactly what they have with Dominguez other than a flame-throwing right hander. The organization traded Joel Peralta for him, so Dominguez should crack the opening day line up. He will have to earn an increased workload.

Set-Up Man - Kevin Jepsen

Kevin Jepsen
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Set-Up Man - Kevin Jepsen

Kevin Jepsen
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Another newcomer, Jepsen will be a late-inning pitcher. He posted a career-low number in fielding independent pitching and a career-high in K/9 last season for the Angels. His velocity remains high with his fastball average sitting at 95.8 mph in 2014. Again, Jepsen could be used in other roles, including closer, but he can easily lock down the eighth inning role.

Temporary Closer - Grant Balfour

grant balfour
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Temporary Closer - Grant Balfour

grant balfour
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Balfour should be given the first crack at closing when the season opens. He understands the role and performed better at the end of 2014. His place in the closer role is tenuous, although he is familiar with the surroundings. Balfour insists that his struggles last year are behind him.

Closer - Jake McGee

JakeMcgee (1)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Closer - Jake McGee

JakeMcgee (1)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

When McGee is healthy, he should come back to the team in the closer role. He had elbow surgery in December, but his recovery is going well by all accounts. McGee finished 2014 with 19 saves and a lower fielding independent pitching number than ERA.

Other Bullpen Candidates

Ernesto Frieri
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Other Bullpen Candidates

Ernesto Frieri
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The fluid nature of the Rays' bullpen means that many players could see time in the early going of 2015. Ernesto Frieri, Kirby Yates, Steve Geltz, Brandon Gomes and C.J. Riefenhauser are all candidates to see time for the Rays this season.

Douglas Smith is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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