- The Rays are one of three MLB franchises to never produce an MVP.
- Evan Longoria is the franchise leader in bWAR with 51.2.
- Since rebranding in 2008, only the Yankees and Dodgers have more regular-season wins than the Rays.
Despite being one of the youngest MLB franchises, there are numerous players to consider when narrowing down the best Tampa Bay Rays players of all time.
Tampa Bay has made the playoffs nine times in the last 16 seasons, including World Series appearances in 2008 and 2020. While they might not compete for big-money free agents, the Rays have still had some great players down the years (which is also why their baseball betting lines were often attractive).
Here are the top Rays in franchise history.
Best Tampa Bay Rays Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Rays Years |
| 1 | Evan Longoria | Third Baseman | 2008-2017 |
| 2 | David Price | Starting Pitcher | 2008-2014 |
| 3 | Ben Zobrist | Utility | 2006-2015 |
| 4 | Carl Crawford | Left Fielder | 2002-2010 |
| 5 | Blake Snell | Starting Pitcher | 2016-2020 |
1. Evan Longoria
With by far the most bWAR in franchise history, Evan Longoria was a guarantee for the No. 1 spot. From winning Rookie of the Year in 2008 to being traded to the Giants after the 2017 season, Longoria was synonymous with the Rays.
Evan Longoria celebrates after hitting a walk off home run that sent the Rays to the playoffs, 2011 pic.twitter.com/90DQIJbhCo
— Baseball In Pics (@baseballinpix) March 12, 2018
He’s the franchise leader in games played, hits, runs scored, total bases, doubles, homers, walks, and win probability added. His 125 OPS+ as a Ray is only bettered by four players, three of whom are still with the team.
2. David Price
David Price might only be fifth in bWAR, but as the franchise’s first Cy Young winner and a true ace during his time with the Rays, Price edges out Ben Zobrist and Carl Crawford for the second spot.
The southpaw is the franchise leader in ERA, and only James Shields has thrown more innings. A deserving Cy Young winner in 2012 after leading the American League in ERA, Price was also a runner-up for the award in 2010.
3. Ben Zobrist
Two of Ben Zobrist’s three All-Star selections came as a Ray, and he received MVP votes in three separate seasons. His OPS+ might only be seventh in franchise history, but he was integral to several competitive Rays teams.
Zobrist is best remembered for his utility roles on the World Series-winning Cubs and Royals, yet his versatility was invaluable to the Rays, too. Only two players played more games for the Rays than Zobrist – he had to make this list.
4. Carl Crawford
Carl Crawford earned five All-Star selections as a Ray before disappointing in Boston and Los Angeles. While Crawford is just ahead of Ben Zobrist in bWAR, his 107 OPS+ is considerably behind Zobrist’s mark.
On May 3, 2009: Carl Crawford set a team record and tied a modern-day league record with six stolen bases. #RaysUp | @budweiserusa #LegendaryMoments pic.twitter.com/VSoCgqMZMa
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 3, 2019
At his peak, Crawford’s combination of elite speed with decent pop made him a real asset to the Rays. His final season in Tampa Bay was the best of the lot, with a league-leading 13 triples, 47 stolen bases, and a 135 OPS+.
H 5. Blake Snell
Four pitchers and numerous hitters have more bWAR for the Rays than Blake Snell. Snell’s 108 starts are tied for seventh in franchise history, but he’s second in ERA, first in ERA+, and won the franchise’s second-ever Cy Young award with a spectacular 2018 campaign.
It’s a case of quality over quantity with Snell. James Shields and Scott Kazmir might have both put up greater counting stats, but neither got close to Snell’s peak performance. He is the clear franchise leader in both strikeouts and walks per nine innings.