PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays Manager Kevin Cash and President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander are focused on returning to the postseason after a five-year stretch of October baseball ended last season.

The Rays, who finished fourth in the AL East, are coming off the worst offensive season in franchise history. But Cash says they are using that as motivation.

“This group left offensively as a whole frustrated,” Cash said. “Motivation to go out there and be more challenging to what we showed at times.”

The Rays particularly struggled with runners in scoring position last year. Cash said that will be a point of emphasis in spring training. 

“Do everything we can to add pressure to that environment,” he said of men on second and third.

The Rays are coming off a disappointing 80-win season that was followed by an offseason of uncertainty in more ways than one. 

They’ve tweaked the roster a bit by bringing in catcher Danny Jansen and infielder Ha-Seong Kim. 

Kim is expected to take over at shortstop when he is recovered from shoulder surgery. 

“Pretty exciting baseball player offensively, defensively, on the bases,” Cash said of Kim.  

The health of the Rays pitching staff is another storyline heading into spring. Ace Shane McClanahan is back after Tommy John surgery to replace a torn UCL.

Of course, the Rays will need to adjust to an outdoor home ballpark — they’ll play the regular season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa due to Hurricane Milton damage at Tropicana Field. 

Overall, there is a sense of optimism surrounding this team. 

Rays pitchers and catchers will take the field on Tuesday.