Tampa Bay Rays Post-Mortem: What Made This Group Different

Writer Kennen Smith analyzes the Tampa Bay Rays' 2026 campaign, which ended with a Game 5 World Series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. After entering the season projected for 77.5 wins, Tampa Bay claimed the AL East crown with 98 regular-season victories and secured the franchise's third American League pennant. The deep postseason run was spearheaded by third baseman Junior Caminero's MVP-caliber season and starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen's dominant 200 innings.

Smith argues that extraordinary depth and unselfish role players separated this Rays roster from previous iterations and rival American League contenders. Backed by new ownership led by Patrick Zalupski, a future stadium planned for 2029, and a loaded farm system, Smith concludes the organization is exceptionally well-positioned for sustained long-term contention.