Why Erik Neander thinks what the Rays don’t know won’t hurt them

The impact of the Rays not knowing where they will be playing in four-plus months when the season starts — and potentially for several seasons — is exponentially excessive, impacting myriad aspects of their business and their employees' lives.

When family, friends, staffers, industry colleagues and others ask, the Rays can at least assuage most by saying they don't know, don't know when they will know and aren't sure exactly how the decision will be made in collaboration with Major League Baseball.

But what if you're baseball operations president Erik Neander or a member of his staff trying to convince a free agent to sign but can't give him an answer on where he'll be playing or living?

"Obviously, knowing your home and where you're going to be and all that certainly provides some peace of mind, but there are some constants in place that are also the reasons that players like being here. We take good care of them, and we have a wonderful staff are two big ones," Neander said.

"Those are there, and they're going to continue to be there, and I think those are things we're going to continue to point to. At the end of the day, I can't control, and we can't control, (that) everyone's probably going to see our circumstances looking ahead a little bit differently.

"But we're going to bring in players that want to be a part of this for the reasons and the things that we can deliver," Neander continued. "We'll be OK. We'll find a way to be just fine. It'll take some time, and I'm sure those questions will be asked. Right now, can't give them that answer. But I can give them an answer when it comes to our staff and the care we're going to take of our players."

In dealing with free agents, the Rays do have history and time on their side.

They typically aren't in on the upper-tier free agents who have a plethora of other options and would immediately dismiss the Rays due to the stadium situation. Nor do they often strike early in free agency, so — with commissioner Rob Manfred saying he wants the stadium situation resolved by Christmas (and Rays folks hoping for even sooner) — they may have an answer when it comes to signing time.

For now, Neander said, the Rays will proceed with "business as usual" and push the positives.

"We have our challenges. We have our benefits. We're going to stay focused on the benefits. That's just the way I am and the way we are. We've got what we need to compete," Neander said. "I will say that no matter what's going on, we have an incredible staff with a really, really strong history of treating players well and helping them get better.

"I think we could be on Mars and those things are going to be a constant, and they're going to be a source of attractiveness for players looking for their next opportunity. We've had players flourish here for a long time."

One potential example of finding a benefit to pitch: If the Rays end up based in one of the area spring training/minor-league stadiums — Clearwater (Phillies) or Tampa (Yankees) seems most workable — it could be a more conducive offensive environment for a hitter than pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field, which was damaged extensively by Hurricane Milton.

As big of an issue as an interim stadium is, Neander said it really won't have much impact on the Rays' offseason deals, as their needs — primarily improving their offense at catcher and elsewhere — haven't changed nor have the potential solutions (trading a starter) since before the hurricanes.

"When it comes to the roster-building ... (we're) really going to go about it in a way that is very similar to how it would have been if — in some much, much better alternate universe — these storms didn't impact anybody," Neander said.

The Lowe down Things can always change pending other moves, but Neander said the Rays plan to use Brandon Lowe — whose $10.5 million option was picked up — primarily at second base.

"Without question, he is most valuable to our team as a second baseman," Neander said. "I think that's pretty obvious."

That's a product of the team's confidence in Lowe's defense, Neander said, and "more possibilities" to generate offense from first base and designated hitter, where they have Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda and could add another bat or two. Plus, Lowe could get some time at first and DH, Neander said, as the Rays try to "manage some of the stresses on him physically that can help us keep his bat in the lineup more."

Lowe and his wife, Madison, had a good week: His option was picked up on Nov. 1, and daughter Bella Wren, their second child, was born two days later.

Rays rumblings With the Cardinals renegotiating their TV agreement with Diamond Sports (parent of the former Bally and current FanDuel networks), the Rays as of Friday were one of four teams without a cable deal or part of MLB's production group. Something should give soon, as Diamond on Thursday will ask a judge to confirm its plan to emerge from bankruptcy. ... The Rays notified season ticket members Friday that payments for 2025 will be paused until further notice as they sort out post-hurricane issues, such as where they will be playing. ... Brendan McKay's time with the Rays may be done. The fourth overall draft pick in 2017 and former top two-way prospect, now nearly 29 and five-plus years removed from the last of his 21 big-league games, is a minor-league free agent coming off another injury-abbreviated season, and a change of scenery may be best. Related, might he try a switch from just pitching to just hitting? ... Other minor-league free agents include pitchers Carlos Garcia, Michael Gomez, Antonio Jimenez, Joe Record; catcher Ricardo Genoves; infielders C.J. Hinojosa, Ronny Simon, Gionti Turner; outfielders Heriberto Hernandez, Nick Schnell. ... A new entrant on the catching market is ex-Ray Travis d'Arnaud, who became a free agent when the Braves declined his $8 million option. Baseball America pitches Kyle Higashioka, who was last with San Diego, as another Rays option, predicting he gets $15 million over two years. ... If you predicted pitcher Jacob Waguespack as the first player signed by the Rays this offseason, there should be a prize. ... MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips suggests the Blue Jays trade for Lowe. ... Finalists for the annual Baseball Writers' Association of America awards will be announced Monday, with no Rays expected to be named. ... If elected to the Hall of Fame by the Classic Era committee on Dec. 8, Steve Garvey will be the fifth Tampa Bay area product with a plaque in Cooperstown, joining Al Lopez, Tony La Russa, Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff. ... Pretty cool to see ex-Rays lefty Anthony Banda, who has bounced through 12 organizations, have his World Series-winning Dodgers jersey displayed in the Hall of Fame.

• • •

, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.