What tomorrow may bring ...

The Rays always will have to decide how much they can reasonably pay to hold on to their players, even a cornerstone like Carl Crawford. They have to prepare for the day when the superstars they developed become baubles for teams like the Yankees to collect.

So with spring training and the new season approaching soon, say hello to Desmond Jennings. You should get to know him well, even though he has never played a game in the major leagues. If Crawford leaves as a free agent after this season - as many expect him to do - Jennings could be called upon to take his position, if not his place.

"He can go get 'em in the outfield and he has a great eye at the plate," Rays farm director Mitch Lukevics said. "The power is coming, he can steal bases and do things you need him to do to fit in with our offense. He has some seasoning to go through, but for him to do what he did on the Double-A and Triple-A level in his first full season has been really awesome."

Baseball America says Jennings has "a lethal combination of speed and power" and calls him "a true game-changer."

Others rave about his defensive skills. They talk about the speed that helped him to 52 stolen bases in 59 tries last season, splitting time between Montgomery and Durham in the Rays' minor-league system. His combined .401 on-base percentage - he had 158 hits in 132 games - all but shouts "future leadoff man!"

"From Day One he has ice in his veins. He handles pressure well. These kids come from all over the world, and some can handle it, some can't," Lukevics said. "He doesn't play nervous. The game is slow for him because of his athleticism."

Jennings just smiled when told what Lukevics said.

"That's how you have to feel," he said. "If you feel like you don't belong here, you don't."

Jennings will open this season in Durham for that seasoning Lukevics referred to. He'll need it. Crawford seems certain to test the open market next winter, and his price tag could quickly escalate beyond what the Rays can afford.

"I hope he doesn't leave," Jennings said. "You can't replace Carl Crawford, definitely not with me. I'm just going out and try to play ball. Hopefully I'm playing with him."

If not, try to imagine the weight of the comparisons Jennings could face, even though the Rays are already trying to soften that.

"I always liked the idea of permitting the young player to develop his own identity. I try to refrain from comparing anyone to existing major-league players," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

"When you start saying that out loud, a kid can get a skewed thought or something that might hinder his development. Having said that, this guy is pretty solid. I like him off the field, too. He's kind of the complete deal."

He is not the only one in the system, either. Shortstop Tim Beckham, pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Jake McGee (a potential closer down the road), and many, many others await the day they'll be in a similar position as Jennings, replacing a departing star.

It might not take as long as anyone thinks. It's highly likely things will look radically different around the Trop by this time next year.

We know about Crawford.

Carlos Pena is in the final year of his contract. So is Pat Burrell and newly acquired closer Rafael Soriano. Reliever Dan Wheeler has a club option for next year. Decisions probably will have to be made on catcher Dioner Navarro and reliever Grant Balfour.

They're all together as the Rays reach that mythical "window" with this particular group, but simple economics tells you it won't last long. They have a payroll of about $70 million, with about $36.5 million of that committed to Pena, Crawford, Burrell and Soriano.

That's more than Rays management says it can afford, so this season is an "all-in" attempt to win while they can.

"Obviously, everything does point to this season. Who knows what the future will hold, whether we're going to be able to keep these people or not," Maddon said.

For now, the future is named Desmond Jennings and several of his friends. Even as a new season with high expectations gets ready to begin, to truly follow the Rays you always have to keep a long-range view.