$Ranking the Tampa Bay Rays\' Top 5 Prospects Heading Into 2016$

Ranking the Tampa Bay Rays' Top 5 Prospects Heading Into 2016

By Nick Vorholt

Ranking the Tampa Bay Rays' Top 5 Prospects Heading Into 2016

Tampa Bay Rays Richie Shaffer, Enny Romero & Daniel Nava — The Tampa Bay Rays are at it again. Andrew Friedman may have left for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Erik Neander is leading the Rays down the same successful road as in the past. Preemptively trading away Boog Powell to net Nick Franklin and relief help sets the Rays up for success in 2016 and beyond. Having just gotten Powell in the Ben Zobrist trade, they didn't even need to trade any of the five players below who are in the plans for 2016.

5. Blake Snell

Tampa Bay Rays Starting Pitcher Blake Snell

5. Blake Snell

Tampa Bay Rays Starting Pitcher Blake Snell — Blake Snell is the next ace in the system for the Rays. He is a lefty with a plus fastball and some minor control issues. With a starting rotation six deep heading into the offseason, Snell doesn't need to come up in 2016. If they decide he doesn't need the seasoning, we could see him as early as the beginning of June in Tampa.

4. Casey Gillaspie

Tampa Bay Rays First Baseman Casey Gillaspie

4. Casey Gillaspie

Tampa Bay Rays First Baseman Casey Gillaspie — After coming out of Wichita State in 2014, Casey Gillaspie has established himself as a switch-hitting slugger at High A in Charlotte. If the Rays were in complete rebuilding mode, we might see Gillaspie in 2016. With them focusing on the Wild Card in 2016, Gillaspie will spend 2016 in the minors focusing on his OBP.

3. Daniel Robertson

Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Daniel Robertson

3. Daniel Robertson

Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Daniel Robertson — Daniel Robertson was drafted by the Oakland A's in their pick immediately following Addison Russell, now of the Chicago Cubs. Like many of the A's draftees, Robertson is an OBP machine. He finished 2015 dominating Double-A. In 2016 he could back up Brad Miller and Logan Forsythe, but he likely will stay in the minors. The Rays traded for Nick Franklin to be the backup middle infielder, likely to get Robertson more development time.

2. Garrett Whitley

Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder Garrett Whitley

2. Garrett Whitley

Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder Garrett Whitley — Here is where the Rays have the greatest weakness in their system. Garrett Whitley was taken No. 13 overall in the 2015 draft, and he is already needed at the big league level. Desmond Jennings has never developed into the plus offensive player he was projected to be and then he missed most of 2015 injured. Unless Logan Morrison is the choice to be the backup left fielder, Whitley is needed to be the fourth outfielder in 2016.

1. Richie Shaffer

Tampa Bay Rays DH Richie Shaffer

1. Richie Shaffer

Tampa Bay Rays DH Richie Shaffer — Richie Shaffer came up in 2015 and got 74 at-bats. Despite batting only .189, he had an OBP of .307 and an OPS of .699. Those numbers are almost good enough to make him their starting DH in 2016. Adding into the equation that those numbers are not what is projected in 2016 just makes his DH role all the more certain. Should the Rays want to trade Evan Longoria, Shaffer is the key as he can play third base with efficiency.

Nick Vorholt is a writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Cincinnati Reds and all things MLB.

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