By Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times

TAMPA — In reviewing his Tampa Bay Rays at the end of the season, baseball operations president Erik Neander suggested that two essentially disparate things can both be true: They were not far from returning to contention and have much to do to get there.

After a month of assessment — coupled with watching the Toronto Blue Jays make a run to the World Series after improving by 20 wins from 2024 — Neander and Co. are poised to begin that process with this week’s official start to the offseason.

“To be a championship-caliber club, we all have work to do.” Neander said Friday. “The roster and operation have good bones. We expect player development and improved performance from within to lead us there.

”But to compete at the top of this division, we always n

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