A new beginning defined the 2006 Devil Rays. And while the record did not reflect the positives, what happened on an off the field pointed toward a new way of doing things and a brighter future.

Under new ownership and new management, the Rays managed to cut payroll in an effective manner, while setting into place a core of players they feel can take them out of the cellar and into contention in the strong American League East. Already in place were left fielder Carl Crawford, center fielder Rocco Baldelli, second baseman Jorge Cantu and left-hander Scott Kazmir. Joining the club were free agents Ty Wigginton and Greg Norton, each of whom had a big impact, while up from the Minor Leagues came top prospects B.J. Upton and Delmon Young.

Trades allowed the Rays to add depth to their Minor League pitching staffs, as well as to bring on board right-hander Jae Seo, shortstop Ben Zobrist, and catcher Dioner Navarro, all of whom look like they will be big contributors to the team's future.

A foundation is now in place to which the Rays can build upon and to which fans can build an allegiance.

Record: 61-101, fifth in AL East

Defining moment: On a Sunday afternoon in late September, the team's next-to-last home game, the Rays took an 11-4 win over the Yankees, which was the team's 41st win of the season at Tropicana Field, thereby ensuring a winning record at home. Squinting one's eyes, one could almost see the future that day, as all of the team's youth seemed to spill over into one big concentrated effort that day against the Yankees. That game illuminated just how well the team could play -- particularly at home -- and what the team's fans have to look forward to in the future.

What went right: The team successfully set into place its core of young players for the coming years. In the process, Crawford took another step toward becoming a superstar, Kazmir moved forward in his quest to become one of the top pitchers in the league, and Wigginton turned out to be the best free agent in team history.

What went wrong: Injuries magnified the team's lack of depth, particularly in the starting pitching department. Kazmir missed most of the second half, Casey Fossum missed all of September, and assorted other injuries made a young team play at less than full strength.

Biggest surprise: The acquisition of Wigginton appeared to be a relatively insignificant offseason transaction. Heading into the season, he was forecast to back up first base and third base. Instead he became one of the team's top offensive players while displaying a blue-collar work ethic that had to rub off on his teammates.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Batting Average: Carl Crawford, .305 Doubles: Ty Wigginton, 25 Triples: Carl Crawford, 16 Home runs: Ty Wigginton, 24 Runs: Carl Crawford, 89 RBIs: Ty Wigginton, 79 Stolen bases: Carl Crawford, 58

Pitching Wins: Scott Kazmir, 10 Losses: Seth McClung, 12 ERA (starter): Scott Kazmir, 3.24 ERA (reliever): Ruddy Lugo, 3.81 Saves: Tyler Walker, 10

FORECAST FOR 2007
Lineup: The infield should see Upton at third base, Zobrist at shortstop, Cantu at second, and Wigginton at first. The outfield will have Crawford in left, Baldelli in center, and Young in right. Navarro will be the catcher. The Rays could use a solid bat in the middle of the lineup, which might come from outside the organization or within. Tomas Perez will likely not be back. Norton could return to offer depth at first and right field along with quality pinch-hitting.

Rotation: The likely top four of the rotation will consist of Kazmir, Fossum, Seo, and James Shields. The fifth spot should be a dog fight between J.P. Howell, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann, Brian Stokes, Chris Seddon and Tim Corcoran.

Bullpen: Seth McClung should start the season as the team's closer. After that, there will be jobs to be won. Likely candidates competing for those jobs will include Shawn Camp, Dan Miceli, Jon Switzer, Chad Orvella, Edwin Jackson, Al Reyes, Juan Salas, and perhaps Shinji Mori. Longtime Rays reliever Travis Harper is not likely to return, nor is Brian Meadows.

Biggest need: A middle-of-the-order hitter who has some power and is a tough out. This slot could be filled by a free agent acquisition, or perhaps from within. Joel Guzman, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Julio Lugo trade, is a possibility, but he is said to be fairly raw at this point.

Prospect to watch: Jeff Niemann, who was the Rays' No. 1 selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, is healthy and was overpowering toward the end of the season while pitching for Double-A Montgomery. Niemann has a big fastball and can be imposing. If he's healthy, he has a chance to break into the rotation and make an impact at the Major League level.