PORT CHARLOTTE (620 WDAE) -- The start of Spring Training brings optimism to the season, and for the Tampa Bay Rays, it's no different, as general manager Erik Neander, senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom and manager Kevin Cash met the media Tuesday as pitchers and catchers reported to the team's facility at Charlotte Sports Park.
While some in the media and fans may already be chalking up 2018 as a lost season for Tampa Bay, the Rays front office is taking a much more positive approach to the start of the spring.
"I'm not so sure what would be most appropriate," Neander said. "But we've said it over and over I think throughout the winter, [with] the young group we have, the young talent we have and the some of the established guys we have, the talent is there. Whether it can mature fast enough for this to be a really successful year remains to be seen, but we're really excited about the talent."
With not only pitchers and catchers but a large contingent of position players in camp early, Bloom feels it's a big positive seeing the guys ready to get to work from the get-go.
"What stands out is the enthusiasm," Bloom said. "A couple of you have asked about it, that this has been an offseason of some transition for us. And to see these guys come in here really excited and ready to go and by and large looking great, having taken in a lot of case the improvements they made last season, and now trying to take those forward and built on them. They look ready to do that."
For Cash, the best part about coming down to Port Charlotte has been seeing third baseman Matt Duffy getting his work in without any worry about the Achilles problem that caused him to miss the entire 2017 campaign.
"When I walked in [Monday], he was smiling ear to ear," Cash said. "He took about 50 ground balls at third base. He took a round of batting practice. He feels great."
Duffy is expected to fill the third base role held by Evan Longoria for nearly a decade before his trade this offseason to the San Francisco Giants.
ODORIZZI, SUCRE YET TO REPORT: The Rays say 59 of the 68 players invited to major league Spring Training have reported. Only two pitchers and catcher have not made it to Port Charlotte. RHP Jake Odorizzi had his arbitration hearing with the team Monday in Arizona, and should be back at Charlotte Sports Park Wednesday. The other missing player is C Jesus Sucre, who is dealing with visa issues.
ROMO SIGNING OFFICIAL: The Rays also announced the signing of reliever Sergio Romo to a one-year deal Tuesday.
"I think we all know what Serigio is and what he brings to the table," Neander said. "We got to see him last year but he's absolutely in that mix and somebody that we're hopeful can match up, he can leverage late in games and can really be that guy right on right, especially that can give fits to some of the bigger, more dangerous righties in our division."
Tampa Bay outrighted infielder Micah Johnson off the 40-man roster and assigned him to Triple-A Durham to make room on the roster for Romo. Johnson will still be invited to major league Spring Training as a non-roster player.
WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE: Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout of the spring Wednesday morning on the back fields at Charlotte Sports Park. The workout is scheduled to get started at 10:30, and should run about 90 minutes.
Click below to listen to the entire press conference below!