Fernando Perez out three months, Rays face Opening Day questions

March 14, 1:39 AMTampa Bay Rays ExaminerRob Quinn

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Fernando Perez injured his left wrist against the Blue Jays on Thursday and the news is not good. The Rays’ outfield prospect will miss three months with the injury, making his targeted return some time in mid-June. How will the loss of Perez affect the Opening Day roster? Let’s have a look.

Let me just start off by saying injuries are never good. Cushioning the blow of Perez’ injury, however, is the fact that the Rays, possibly more than any team out there, are blessed with the depth to overcome injuries. They have five or six quality outfielders and a couple of very valuable utility players. The depth on the roster gives manager Joe Maddon a mind-boggling number of options when filling out the lineup card every day.

Aside from the injury to Perez, there are a couple of other concerns the Rays are currently faced with. Matt Joyce is suffering from tendinitis and though he should be making his Spring Training debut soon, it is not a 100% certainty he will be ready for Opening Day. B.J. Upton had left shoulder surgery in November and should return to action better than ever. He may not be ready by Opening Day though. These are just a couple of more causes for concern which could affect the Opening Day lineup.

Here are a few possible lineups just as food for thought. I’m guessing the Rays will bring Upton back slowly, but just in case he does come back for Opening Day I will have one lineup with him in there. Also please note the opponent for the Rays’ first game will be Boston and I’m guessing the opposing pitcher will be the right-handed throwing Dice-K.

Option #1 – Defensive, Upton out:

1. Iwamura, 2B
2. Crawford, LF
3. Longoria, 3B
4. Pena, 1B
5. Burrell, DH
6. Gross, RF
7. Kapler, CF
8. Navarro, C
9. Bartlett, SS

Option #2 – Offensive, Upton out:

1. Iwamura, 2B
2. Crawford, LF
3. Longoria, 3B
4. Pena, 1B
5. Burrell, RF
6. Kapler, CF
7. Aybar, DH
8. Navarro, C
9. Bartlett, SS

Option #3 – Upton in:

1. Iwamura, 2B
2. Crawford, LF
3. Longoria, 3B
4. Pena, 1B
5. Upton, CF
6. Burrell, DH
7. Gross, RF
8. Navarro, C
9. Bartlett, SS

It will be interesting to see how Maddon draws up the lineup on Opening Day. Like I said, the possibilities are staggering. Throw in Ben Zobrist as a possible starter in center field if Upton can’t go. Perez’ injury and the question marks surrounding Joyce open things up for Adam Kennedy to make the team too. It’s mid-March and Opening Day is a few short weeks away. Still, many questions abound concerning the shape of the 25-man roster. We can speculate to our heart’s content, but the bottom line is the Rays are still in good shape to defend their AL East title.

Have your own version of the Rays’ Opening Day lineup? Let me know in a comment.

Have the best Rays story idea ever in your head and want to share it with me? Need a partner for your ballroom dancing lessons? E-mail me at raysexaminer@live.com

I am also the co-host of "Speaking of Sports" with Tampa Bay Sports Examiner Ted Fleming and Althea Pashman. The show airs from 7-9 p.m. each Sunday night on WSRQ 1220 AM Sarasota. Listen live here.