We last looked at catching, which seems to have the most clarity at the MLB level for Tampa Bay. The first base position is probably among those most in flux for the Rays with four weeks remaining before the start of Spring Training. However that can change quickly.

MLB talent:

Jake Bauers: As the Rays look to re-tool with talent from their farm system, Jake Bauers is considered one of the key pieces going forward. Bauers spent all of last season as a 21-year-old in Triple-A, so he was extremely young for that level. After a tough start (.229 BA/.619 OPS in April), Bauers finished strong, ending up with a .779 OPS, 13 HR and 63 RBI for the Durham Bulls. Since he had 31 doubles, the expectation is that there’s more power that will evolve as Bauers continues to mature physically. Bauers also stole 20 bases in 23 tries and proved to be an adept base runner. He also hit .378 on a championship Bulls club in the post-season. The question is whether Tampa Bay will decide Bauers needs more seasoning before beginning his MLB career.

Brad Miller: If the Rays decide Bauers needs more minor league time, there aren’t many obvious in-house options at first. Miller is coming off a disappointing 2017 and off-season core muscle surgery. Miller spent part of 2016 at first base after being moved from shortstop. He hit 30 homers and drove in 81 runs two years ago with a .786 OPS, but those numbers dropped to nine and 40 with a .664 OPS last year. How much was related to physical ailments and how much was league adjustments is hard to know. It’s also not clear how Miller would adjust defensively to first.

Free Agent Market: That said, it appears there are still plenty of options. Remember, the Rays signed Logan Morrison last year late in the free agent game, and that turned out well. Certainly Eric Hosmer and Morrison will sign multi-year deals with other clubs. However, that still leaves Mark Reynolds, Adam Lind, Mike Napoli, and Lucas Duda looking for work with four weeks before the start of Spring Training and few teams needing first baseman. Remember the Mets just signed Adrian Gonzalez. That would make it more likely that one of the above can provide experience at the position on a one-year deal if needed until Bauers is ready.

MLB Depth: Brandon Snyder is one six-year free agent the organization has signed going into 2018. Snyder can play multiple spots, but has played four times more games at first base than any other spot in his professional career. At the minor league level, Snyder has hit .273 with a .781 OPS, while he’s also appeared in 120 MLB games with the Orioles, Red Sox, Rangers and Braves.

Upper Level First Base: While Bauers appears to be the long-term solution, the Rays appear to have some talent close to the MLB level.

Joe McCarthy: Is more of an outfielder than a first baseman, but he certainly has the athleticism to play the position. McCarthy has been one of the more underrated hitters in the system. The fifth round pick in the 2015 draft out of the University of Virginia has a .396 on-base percentage so far. Last year, playing the whole season in Double-A Montgomery, McCarthy had a .409 on-base percentage and an .843 OPS with the Biscuits. Defensively, McCarthy split time between first base and left field. As a 24-year-old McCarthy should start 2018 in Durham.

Dalton Kelly: Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Taylor Motter trade, the left-hand batter had quite the impressive season last year. Kelly start the year in big-league camp, and then split time between Advanced-A Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery. Kelly impressed at both spots, hitting .304 with an .857 OPS. In fact, Kelly was more impressive in Double-A to the tune of a .926 OPS. Overall, he had 46 extra-base hits, and collected nine homers and 67 RBI. It’s likely Kelly would start 2018 in the Southern League with Montgomery.

Down the Line:

If Bauers performs, the Rays can take their time with the remaining first-base prospects. Brendan McKay was the team’s first round pick last year, and will be a two-way player to start. McKay impressed on the mound last year for Hudson Valley, but started slowly at the plate. In 36 games, McKay had four homers, drove in 22 runs and hit to a .725 OPS with Hudson Valley. That said, the 2018 season should be a larger and more telling sample size. At time he was drafted, McKay was considered one of the best pure college hitters in the draft class.

Nathaniel Lowe finished the 2017 season at Advanced-A Charlotte. The older brother of 2016 first-round pick Josh Lowe, Nathaniel Lowe made his own name for himself last year. He hit seven homers, drove in 59 runs and had a .761 OPS over 115 games. One would think Lowe would begin the year with the Stone Crabs after finishing there last year.

Devin Davis is a developing project. The soon to be 21-year-old did show some pop last year in the Appalachian League in Princeton. Davis had 10 homers and 47 RBI over 54 games for the P-Rays, finishing with a .904 OPS.