The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t have to rebuild the whole bullpen over the winter like they had to do in 2011. They still added righties Fernando Rodney (free agent), Burke Badenhop (trade) and Josh Lueke (trade) to the pen and it will make them stronger in 2012. Here is a look at the Rays’ bullpen as of right now:

Closer: Kyle Farnsworth: 35-year old righty Kyle Farnsworth earned the closer’s job last spring and he had his best year of his major league career. He pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 5-1 with 25 saves, a 2.18 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He has now pitched in 776 games (26 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 39-56 with 52 saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Farnsworth appears to be a late bloomer and his stuff is still very impressive. I look for him to top 25 saves rather easily in 2012, if he can just stay healthy.

Set-Up Man: Joel Peralta: 35-year old righty Joel Peralta was a lockdown set-up man for the Rays last year. He pitched in 71 games (0 starts) last year for the Rays and he was 3-4 with 6 saves, a 2.93 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Peralta has now pitched in 331 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 8-15 with 8 saves, a 3.99 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Like Farnsworth, Peralta appears to be a late bloomer and I see no reason to think he won’t be successful once again in 2012.

Righties: Fernando Rodney: 34-year old righty Fernando Rodney has a lot of late game experience, so he will likely be the Rays’ 7th inning man if all things go as planned. Rodney pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 3-5 with 3 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has now pitched in 419 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 22-38 with 87 saves, a 4.29 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Rodney has outstanding stuff and he’s the kind of pitcher that pitching coach Jim Hickey gets the best out of, so don’t be surprised if he has the best year of his career in 2012.

Brandon Gomes: 27-year old Brandon Gomes got his first taste of the majors last year and he looked pretty good. Gomes pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 2-1 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Gomes was an important part of the Rays’ bullpen last season and I look for that to continue in 2012.

Burke Badenhop: 29-year old Burke Badenhop came to the Rays over the winter in a deal with the Marlins. Badenhop pitched in 50 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 2-3 with 1 save, a 4.10 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 151 games (10 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 13-15 with 2 saves, a 4.34 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Badenhop will work early in games for the Rays as a long man.

Josh Lueke: 27-year old Josh Lueke came to the Mariners in the John Jaso deal over the winter. He pitched in 25 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors for the Mariners last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Lueke also pitched in 30 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 2-4 with 11 saves, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Lueke has a big time right arm and it will be up to Coach Hickey to bring out the most in him.

Dane De La Rosa: 29-year old Dane De La Rosa finally got to the majors last year. He pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 0-0 with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. De La Rosa also pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 6-5 with 6 saves, a 3.20 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He will have to step up if he wants to win a job in the pen.

Lefties: Jake McGee: 25-year old Jake McGee has a rocket launcher attached to his left shoulder. He pitched in 37 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he is 5-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. McGee has now pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Rays and he is 5-2 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. I look for McGee to have a breakout year in 2012.

J.P. Howell: 28-year old J.P. Howell somehow got the Rays to tender him a contract for 2012. He pitched in 46 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 2-3 with 1 save, a 6.16 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Howell has now pitched in 197 games (18 starts) in his first six years with the Rays and he is 17-18 with 21 saves, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched in 212 games (33 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 20-23 with 21 saves, a 4.62 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Howell will not make it through the 2012 season with the Rays if he doesn’t improve big time over last year’s performance.

Cesar Ramos: 27-year old Cesar Ramos pitched in 59 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 78 games (2 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 0-3 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Ramos will have to step up if he’s going to beat J.P. Howell out for a bullpen spot in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: B