1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Tampa Bay Devil Rays
season = 1998
misc =

---

current league = American League
y1 = 1998
division = Eastern Division
y2 = 1998
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Tropicana Field
y4 = 1998
city = St. Petersburg, Florida
y5 = 1998
owners = Vince Naimoli
managers = Larry Rothschild
television = Sportschannel Florida
WWWB
WTSP
(Joe Magrane, Dewayne Staats)
radio = WFLA
(Paul Olden, Charlie Slowes)|The 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season was their first season in franchise history. This season, they finished last in the AL East division and finished the season with a record of 63-99. Their manager was Larry Rothschild.

Offseason

*March 11, 1997: Luis Polonia was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/polonlu01.shtml Luis Polonia Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
*June 3, 1997: Jason Standridge was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1st round (31st pick) of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1997. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/standja01.shtml Jason Standridge Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
*June 3, 1997: Kenny Kelly was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2nd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1997. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kellyke01.shtml Kenny Kelly Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
*November 11, 1997: Mike Kelly was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for a player to be named later. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays sent Dmitri Young (November 18, 1997) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kellymi02.shtml]
*December 9, 1997: Wade Boggs signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/boggswa01.shtml Wade Boggs Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
*December 16, 1997: Scott McClain was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. [ http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcclasc01.shtml]
*January 27, 1998: Dave Silvestri was signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/silveda01.shtml]

Expansion Draft

Round 1

Regular Season

*June 22, 1998 - The first interleague game between the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays took place at Tropicana Field. The rivalry would be known as the Citrus Series. The Marlins won the game in twelve innings by a score of 3-2. [ http://baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199806220TBA]

Opening Day Starters

* Wilson Alvarez
* Wade Boggs
* Miguel Cairo
* John Flaherty
* Mike Kelly
* Dave Martinez
* Quinton McCracken
* Fred McGriff
* Paul Sorrento
* Kevin Stocker

eason Standings

Notable transactions

*June 2, 1998: Aubrey Huff was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 5th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 1998. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/huffau01.shtml Aubrey Huff Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]

Roster