After having been named an All-Star four times in his career, Fred McGriff was left available in the 1998 Expansion Draft, and the Tampa Bay Rays were able to have the hometown star as an inaugural Ray.

Julio Lugo played for Tampa after the Houston Astros released him early in the 2003 Season.  It turned out to benefit both Lugo and the Rays, as he would be their starting Shortstop for the next three seasons.

Desmond Jennings played all seven of his seasons in the Majors with the Tampa Bay Rays, first debuting in 2010.

The Major League career of Aubrey Huff began when in Tampa Bay, where he would play his first six seasons.