The emerging AL East superstars that will soon torment the Blue Jays

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays always seem to be at the top of this list. It doesn’t seem to matter who they trade or allow to leave in free agency. A superstar is always looming behind the curtain.

For years we had been hearing about an emerging shortstop in Wander Franco who would become the next star of the league. Truthfully, Franco more than lived up to that hype.  Franco has since landed in legal hot water and may not see a baseball field again. Who will be in the mix to replace him? Try Junior Caminero.

Blue Jays fans saw Caminero during the last two series against Tampa in the regular season and he looked impressive for a 20-year-old.  Caminero accumulated eight hits in 34 AB’s in seven career games (5 vs TOR). Curtis Mead is another one who has already made an impression at the major league level with a .267/ .365/ .356 in 52 PA at the MLB level.

Mason Montgomery is a southpaw pitcher who the Rays clearly see as an option to fill out a depleted rotation. He reached Triple-A in 2023 and should be on a trajectory to reach the top level before long.
Yes, the Rays traded Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers and suffered significant pitching injuries in 2023. However, they received another possible breakout player in Ryan Pepiot who offers tantalizing stuff if he can stay healthy.

Montgomery, Glasnow and someone else we haven't even mentioned will contribute for the Rays because that's the way it always goes for the pesky club on the west coast of Florida.