Former Minor Leaguer Gains Huge Position with Tampa Bay Rays

Former minor league player Blake Butera has been named the head of Player Development for the Tampa Bay Rays, gaining a huge position within one of baseball's best development organizations.

The Tampa Bay Rays have named former minor leaguer Blake Butera as their senior director for player development.

The information came from Marc Topkin of the Tampa Times:

Blake Butera was named senior director of player development and will oversee the Rays’ entire player development process, the team announced in a series of promotions Friday.

Butera, 31, played two seasons in the minors for the Rays after being a 35th-round draft pick from Boston College, then served as a coach, four seasons as a manager and in 2023 as assistant field coordinator.

While player development hires don't tend to move the needle, this is a big deal. With one of the smallest payrolls in baseball, the Rays have been one of the best teams in the sport at developing talent, either through drafting and development, international signings or through trades.

The Rays won 99 games this year but were bounced in the wild card round of the playoffs by the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are headed to the ALCS, where they will meet the Houston Astros.

Tampa Bay is facing a payroll crunch in 2024, with Tyler Glasnow set to make $25 million next year. This has prompted some to wonder if the Rays will trade Glasnow or others to save money, thus making the work of Butera and his player development staff even more important.

The Rays play in the best division in baseball and the Yankees and Red Sox aren't likely to stay down for long, so Butera's team will have to keep uncovering and developing talent.

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