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Hot-Stove: Tampa Bay Rays Winter Meetings update, day two

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Typically there is more talk earlier in the week and more action later. (Photo and Caption Credit: Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)

In the midst of trade whispers and rumors on this, the second day of the 2017 Winter Meetings, the Tampa Bay Rays made a small trade on Monday, acquiring INF Joey Wendle from Oakland for a player to be named later, putting the roster at 38. Beyond that, Rays manager Kevin Cash was first up in the media room Monday morning, while GM Erik Neander acknowledged the team is open to “anything and everything” in the pursuit to reduce payroll.

Here’s your recap of the second day of Winter Meeting’s action.

Rays Acquire INF Joey Wendle

A second baseman by trade, Wendle also has spent a handful of games at third base and shortstop. He comes with the reputation as a standout defensive player with some versatility.

Grinder-type player, high baseball IQ, Rays GM Erik Neander said. He’s worked to really put himself in the position where his defense is today. … This is a guy when balls are hit in (his) vicinity, somehow, some way he’s finding a way to get to them more often and he’s completing plays at a really high rate.

The 27 year-old Wendle was designated for assignment by the Athletics on December 7 after they signed hurler Yusmeiro Petit. The infielder spent most of the 2017 season with Triple-A Nashville where he slashed .285  BA/.327 OBP/.429 SLG/.756 OPS with eight homers, 67 runs, and 54 RBI. In 2,791 career minor league plate appearances, he has performed to a .288 BA/.338 OBP/.453 SLG/.791 OPS slash line.

Wendle has spent parts of the last two seasons in the majors, hitting .266 in 36 games — including 14 plate appearances in Oakland last season, where the southpaw hitter batted .308 with a .973 OPS.

Unless he, again, is designated for assignment, Wendle will compete for a spot on the big league roster in Spring Training, although he does have an option remaining, so he can be sent to Triple-A Durham.

Kevin Cash’s Media Presser

The Rays skipper was the first to speak with the media Monday morning, and he shared some rather interesting comments:

— “I know there’s a lot of chatter about our players, Cash said regarding trade speculation surrounding veterans like Chris Archer and Evan Longoria. “I view them as being very special to our current roster and a big part of us having success at times last year and going forward … When you have good players, people are going to ask about them. … How that shakes out, I have no idea what will take place.”

— “Maybe a little bit on hold but nothing major, Cash said about preparing for the upcoming season … This should be an interesting meeting simply because it’s been quiet and now the chatter will really come on.” Cash also conceded that he has yet to see a major trade occur involving the Rays during the meetings during his tenure.

— “I think we’re going to have a bunch of guys from our farm system, namely in Triple-A, come in and compete (including some who started),” Cash said on the subject of restocking the bullpen. “… We’ve got to find guys that are very capable of consistency and having success in those middle innings.”

— On planning to pull starters more early in games: “There is going to have to be constant selling. … At the of the day it’s about winning games and if we feel we can get a better matchup earlier in the ballgame why wouldn’t we use it? It’s going to be constant communication.”

— It could be time to rethink starting pitching:

— “There’s going to be opportunities where if we’re really versatile with that utility role, a guy that can play infield and outfield, it might allow us to carry an extra reliever at times during the season,” Cash said on the possibilities of having an eight-man bullpen, if the team has a utility player who can effectively play the infield and the outfield.

— “Speed is a big part of the game, Cash said about relying more on speed. “Power is what everybody is paying for. We had a pretty powerful lineup this past year, that’s tough to repeat. with that comes inconsistencies – speed doesn’t really go away.”

— Speaking of speed and Mallex Smith: “I’m really looking forward to him coming into spring training. … Just kind of take the reigns off and let’s see what he can do, whether it’s bunting, whether it’s stealing, we want to see what he can do. We know how talented of a player he is.”

— “You look at what Jake Bauers and Willy Adames did in Triple-A at a very, very young age. I personally kinda like the fact that they got off to slow starts and you look at where their season ended up it was really impressive. From all reports … they really matured throughout the year. Both guys like to play a lot. They want to come up to bat in that big spot. They’re going to get to play a lot in spring training. … Solid guys.”

— “We’re all open to a new stadium, but as for where it’s located….we need to concentrate on playing baseball.”

— “It’s got a chance to be a really special group,” Cash said on the strength of their up the middle defense. “And you take the second base situation, how that shakes out between Matt Duffy’s health, Brad Miller rebounding a little bit, Daniel Robertson did a tremendous job there up the middle. We know what KK is, he’s special. Hech, we saw him for two months and I don’t know if there was a better defensive shortstop that I’ve ever seen on a nightly basis. Wilson Ramos, I was really excited about the way he finished. … We saw how big of an impact he can be in our lineup. Up the middle defense is special and we feel that we’re very strong.”

You can hear Cash’s presser in its entirety below:

Erik Neander Arrives at the Meetings

Citing the convenience of being able to drive 1-1/2 hours to the greater Orlando area, Erik Neander arrived at the Winter Meetings Monday morning, unlike the majority of general managers who arrived Sunday.

Neander said they had productive discussions, although they are not close to any deals.

Still more talk and not as much action at this point, but we’ve got a lot to think about in terms of how to get our team to the level of quality that we feel like we need to be at, he said. Still considering a lot of different possibilities and directions, and that’ll probably be the case as we go forward throughout the winter here as we keep an open mind.

Alex Colome Discussions Are Heating Up

Bob Nightengale (USA Today) tweeted this morning that St. Louis (as expected) and Colorado are aggressively pursuing Rays closer Alex Colome.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) indicated the Cubs and Mets also have interest. Colome’s projected $5.5-million salary and three years until free agency make him a hot commodity.

…Other Trade Whispers

Topkin also noted that Tampa Bay is receiving predictably high interest in starting RHP Chris Archer by the Braves, Brewers, Twins, Cardinals, and Cubs. There also is some chatter that the Angels could emerge as a potential partner in an as of now hypothetical deal for 3B Evan Longoria.

It is true, any trade discussions involving either Archer or Longoria are touchy, and filled with emotion. Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) was quick to remind us all to take a calm, steady approach to the rumors surrounding the two franchise touchstones.

Hot-Stove: Day one of the 2017 Winter Meetings is in the books, Longoria uncertain about his future

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“If they decide to rebuild completely and give everyone up, then I suppose my family and I will adjust,” Evan Longoria told Marc Topkin via text message on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The first official day of the 2017 Winter Meetings is in the books, and as expected not much was said or done — at least as it relates to the Tampa Bay Rays. Still, a few newsworthy topics broke out of Lake Buena Vista Sunday afternoon.

Uncertainty Looms

Uncertainty, both on the side of the players and that of the front office, is the hot-word within the Rays contingent. And with all the talk about potentially entering a rebuilding phase, that precariousness also extends to franchise cornerstone Evan Longoria.

I don’t know what to think, really, Longoria told Marc Topkin via text message on Sunday. I think they have made it pretty clear that they want to cut salary, so I guess that leaves me somewhere in limbo. I think I’ve been pretty up front about wanting to be in Tampa (Bay) for my whole career, but I realize that my window is getting smaller to win a championship.

If they decide to rebuild completely and give everyone up, then I suppose my family and I will adjust.

Aside from the fact that Stu Sternberg is seeking to cut payroll, considering trading several veterans in doing so, an additional factor is that in April Longoria will receive his 10/5 rights — thus allowing the third baseman to gain no-trade rights — which, as Topkin wrote, the Rays refuse to agree to in contracts because it limits their flexibility.

The reason I don’t have a no-trade clause is for situations like this, Longoria said. If the team decides that they want to move in a different direction, they can do that.

And while you’d think the longest tenured Ray would merit special handling, he told Topkin that team officials have not spoken to him about their plans or the situation.

Longoria would likely be of interest to several teams, including the Angels, Cardinals, Giants and Mets.

Bullpen Logjam Breaking Up

A couple of deals that could impact the relief market for the Rays, as it relates to the shopping of All-Star closer Alex Colome, took place on Sunday. Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports, the Athletic) broke the news that Luke Gregerson is expected to sign a two-year, $11-million deal with St. Louis, while Brandon Morrow has come to terms with the Cubs on a two-year, $20-million agreement.

Gregerson is coming off a mediocre year, while Morrow was used extensively by the Dodgers and has a history of injuries. Because of these things, it is thought that both teams could still have interest in Colome, who has racked up 84 saves over the past two seasons, and is projected to make just $5.5-million in the first of three arbitration seasons.

The Rays are on both sides of the relief market though, and are expected to add some veteran relief arms.

Sergio Romo, who performed to a 1.47 ERA/2.96 FIP/.176 OBA/.233 OBP/.262 SLG/0.85 WHIP line over 30-2/3 innings with the Rays last season, would be a good, affordable candidate to return to the team next season.

As Mat Germain (DRaysBay) pointed out, some of Romo’s 2017 success with Tampa Bay can be attributed to the decreased reliance on his slider, the rekindled use of his changeup, and that he opted to throw more hard stuff overall (see: the charts from Brooks Baseball and this). His stuff played well in the Trop, and presumably would again.

It also doesn’t hurt that Romo was very appreciative by the Rays’ belief in him after a trying first-half campaign with the Dodgers.

Germain also noted that Fernando Salas should be viewed as another affordable target for Tampa Bay.

The New What Next

Next on the docket: Kevin Cash will address the media on Monday morning, kicking off what could be an exciting day of Hot-Stove action.

Noteworthiness

— Don’t forget to read our 2017 Rays/Winter Meetings primer if you haven’t already.

The Tampa Bay Rays/2017 Winter Meetings primer

— Kudos to Ian Malinowski (DRaysBay) for coming up with a user friendly surplus value calculator with which to use during the 2017 offseason.

Who’s on second? The aftermath of the Logan Forsythe trade: part two

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Your new second baseman, Willy Adames? (Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)

As J.J. pointed out on Friday, following the unexpected trade of infielder Logan Forsythe, the Tampa Bay Rays have a lot to figure out over the next couple of weeks as they head into Spring Training. Piggybacking on the aforementioned piece, what follows are some other options for Erik Neander and the Rays to fill the hole at second.

According to Rays Radio Blog, Neander will use the next couple of weeks to sort out the situation:

Neander says the organization will use the next couple of weeks for clarity in determining the team’s second base situation, looking at internal and external options. Among the internal options are Tim Beckham, Nick Franklin and Daniel Robertson, or Brad Miller, if the team is to acquire one of the available free agent bats still available that plays first base.

How might the Rays solve this quandary?

Brad Miller

It appears, at the moment, the plan is to move Brad Miller over to second base from first, where last season he was shifted from shortstop. Miller is athletic enough to play shortstop, and a transition to second base likely would not be a problem.

If they plan to go in this direction, Tampa Bay could sign one of the remaining right-handed free agent first baseman such as Mike Napoli, Mark Reynolds, or Chris Carter. Or, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) suggested, they could actually go get two first-base types, one that hits from each side, creating platoon advantages:

…they could actually go get two first-base types, one that hits from each side, creating platoon advantages, a more potent bench and — depending on who — potentially a better glove. Among lefties, think Brandon Moss, the return of Logan Morrison (recovering from wrist surgery) or maybe Pedro Alvarez.

Tim Beckham

Prior to the Forsythe trade, Beckham was expected to get most of his at-bats against left-handed pitching, after slashing .259 BA/.302 OBP/.457 SLG/.759 OPS/105 wRC+ in 216 plate appearances against southpaws. However, there is a thought that he could play a much larger role, given the team’s need up the middle.

Be that as it may, his career .218 BA/.275 OBP/.408 SLG/.683 OPS/85 wRC+ line against right-handed pitching, paired with the fact that he makes far too many mental (and base running) gaffes, is likely enough to keep Beckham in a bench depth role.

Nick Franklin

Acquired in the 2014 trade of David Price, Franklin was expected to get the bulk of the playing time in a platoon with Forsythe heading into the 2015 season. Yet as fate would have it, Franklin strained his oblique at the end of Spring Training, and started the season on the disabled list. The switch hitting Franklin played well when he was able to get on the field last season, slashing .270 BA/.328 OBP/.443 SLG/.771 OPS with six home runs in 60 games.

He again could have a bead on the second base job in 2017, especially against right-handed pitchers, as he slashed .285 BA/.347 OBP/.482 SLG/.829 OPS in 152 plate appearances against righties last season. To his credit, his promising rookie campaign in 2013 suggests Franklin’s success is not a fluke.

Daniel Robertson

Robertson owned a 110 wRC+ over 511 plate appearances last season with Triple-A Durham, posting an impressive 11.4% walk rate, and a 19.6% strikeout rate. Things were not always peachy with Robertson though.

Through the first 82 games of the season, the infielder was staked with a lackluster .648 OPS, a .075 ISO, and just 16 extra base hits in 348 plate appearances — the unfortunate result of a hamate bone fracture the previous season. Robertson was able to bounce back after working with hitting coach Chad Mottola, and finished the year with an .860 OPS, a .147 ISO, and 13 extra base hits over 36 games (163 PA).

Willy Adames

Adames probably will not crack the Opening Day roster, but that has more to do the team’s desire for an extra year of control — while trying to avoid Super-2 status — than it has with his perceived readiness.

Many within the organization are very high on Adames, including Rays farm director Mitch Lukevics:

His attitude, his aptitude, his work ethic — all the intangibles make Willy Adames stand out along with his skill. His ability to field a ground ball, to throw a baseball, to hit a baseball makes him a very unique player.

Adames, 21, tore up the Southern League for the Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits, slashing .274 BA/.372 OBP/.430 SLG/.802 OPS/134 wRC+ with 11 homers and 57 RBI.

Still, his brief October-November stint in the Dominican League, where he hit .167 in 10 games, reinforces the idea that a few months with Triple-A Durham may be needed.

Conclusion

The trade of Forsythe could be a make or break moment in the 2017 season before the first pitch is even thrown. Whatever the case, Neander and company will need to make the right decision, and fast, if the Rays are to be a threat in the AL East once again. In the words of Topkin, one thing for sure, the Rays will consider all options.

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have not yet announced the signing of outfielder Colby Rasmus, although that’s not due to any issues with his physical, tweeted Topkin.

It is likely that the team is waiting to sort out a roster move before making the Rasmus deal official. Per Topkin, the most likely options to open a 40-man roster spot are trading RHP Erasmo Ramirez, ditching either reliever RHP Eddie Gamboa or Ryan Garton, or dropping OF Jason Coats.

— Four Rays prospects made the MLB Pipeline Top 100 list:

21: INF Willy Adames
31: RHP Brent Honeywell
33: RHP Jose De Leon
76: INF/OF Jake Bauers

Jason Hanselman (The Process Report) took an exhaustive look at the fantastic four, and it is worth your while to read up!

— While in New York on other city business, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman went directly to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred with his push to keep the Rays in the Sunshine City with a new stadium at the Tropicana Field site.

Rays nearing deal with Shawn Tolleson; trade Mikie Mahtook

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The Tampa Bay Rays are said to be nearing deal with RHP Shawn Tolleson. (Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays are said to be nearing deal with RHP Shawn Tolleson. (Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays are close to a major league agreement with former Texas Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson, reports Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). Additionally, the Rays announced that they have traded outfielder Mikie Mahtook to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Tolleson was non-tendered by the Rangers last month after a poor 2016 campaign (7.68 ERA/3.89 FIP over 36.1 innings), however, he was excellent as recently as the 2014/15 seasons. In his two-year run of success, the right-hander logged a 2.88 ERA/3.57 FIP and fanned 24.4% of batters while walking just 7.6% (9.1/2.8 K/BB) across 144 innings of relief. Because of it he earned the ninth-inning role and he fared well, racking up 35 saves in 2015, while earning $3.3-Million in his first year of arbitration.

2016 was not kind to Tolleson, who saw his strikeout plummet to 17.3%, even though he walked only 6.0% of batters. The culprit? An obscene 24.2% HR/FB rate. Tolleson was able to accrue 11 saves and one hold, yet his four blown saves consequently led to his expulsion from the closer’s role in favor of teammate Sam Dyson.

According to Topkin, while Tolleson missed time with a back injury in 2016, he’s now said to be healthy, which gives him a decent shot at cracking the Rays’ bullpen. Should he return to form in Tampa Bay, the Rays will be able to control the righty through the 2018 season.

Since he is expected to sign a major league deal, the Rays will need to make another cut from the 40-man roster in order to add either Tolleson or Colby Rasmus.

On that very subject, the Rays were able to clear one roster spot Wednesday afternoon with the trade of Mahtook, who was selected as the 31st overall pick in the 2011 draft.

Mahtook debuted in 2015 and posted an impressive .295 BA/.351 OBP/.619 SLG/.970 OPS line with nine home runs in just 115 plate appearances — including an impressive .353 BA/.397 OBP/.706 SLG/1.103 OPS over the final 24 games of the season. His bat regressed in 2016, however, with the outfielder slashing just .195 BA/.231 OBP/.292 SLG/.523 OPS with three homers over 65 games (196 big league plate appearances). Mahtook was sidelined by a broken left hand for a good portion of the 2016 season, though his injury likely didn’t have much to do with his lack of production.

Noteworthiness

— To better know a Ray… The guys on Hot Stove talked to Rays outfielder Mallex Smith about learning he was traded twice in one day, his 2016 season and more.

Rays trade Drew Smyly to Seattle for three minor leaguers; acquire OF from ChiSox

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(Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

(Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

On Wednesday, Erik Neander finally made the pitching deal long expected of the Tampa Bay Rays, trading lefty Drew Smyly to Seattle for center fielder Mallex Smith — who was just acquired by the Mariners in a trade with Atlanta — along with minor  league lefty Ryan Yarbrough, and minor league infielder Carlos Vargas.

Smyly has been a solid, back-end southpaw since his acquisition by Tampa Bay at the 2014 trade deadline, although was sidelined for much of the 2015 season by a torn labrum. He followed with a career-worst 4.88 ERA over 30 starts in 2016. He, however, posted career highs in starts (30) and innings (175-1/3), and managed an 8.6/2.5 K/BB rate. And while he lowered his groundball rate to a career low 31.3%, he allowed a career high 1.64 home runs per nine innings — for a grand total of 32 homers. To his credit, Smyly has consistently thrown strikes and limited walks throughout his career.

The former Ray joins fellow recent acquisition Yovani Gallardo, Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxton in the rotation. Seattle has control of Smyly for two years, and he is projected to earn $6.9MM via arbitration for the coming season.

Tampa Bay received three minor leaguers in return, one of which — Mallux Smith — has 72-games of big league experience under his belt.

When the Mariners traded for Smith earlier today, in a trade that cost the team a pair of prospects, they did so with the intent to flip him to Tampa Bay. According to Jeff Todd (MLB Trade Rumors), Smith was targeted by the Rays, despite the continued presence of Kevin Kiermaier in center and the recent signing of Colby Rasmus.

The 23 year-old Smith was Atlanta’s number eight prospect entering the 2016 season, and is valued for his defense and base running. As Scott Grauer (DRaysBay) wrote, Smith’s minor league career stolen-base percentage is 79.3 percent (230-for-290). In 1,795 career plate appearances in the minors, he owns a 10.8 percent walk rate and 17.0 percent strikeout rate. He is a career .296 hitter across parts of five minor league seasons, including a .287 mark across 72 games at the Triple-A level with Gwinnett last season.

Smith appeared in 72-games with the Braves last year when Ender Inciarte hit the disabled list. He wasn’t productive early on, slashing a lackluster .238 BA/.316 OBP/.365 SLG/.681 OPS in 215 plate appearances overall, although he rebounded to hit .272 BA/.338 OBP/.440 SLG/.778 OPS in 43 games from late April to mid-June when he suffered a fractured thumb. Smith boasts an 80-grade speed, while his defensive prowess finds him projected as a potential future Gold Glove winner.

Yarbrough, a fourth round pick by Seattle in 2014, was rated as the Mariners’ number 11 prospect by MLB.com. His fastball sits in the 91-93 mph range — topping out in the mid 90’s — and he also features a devastating changeup. The lefty profiles as a ground-ball inducing (51% more groundouts than pop-outs over his career) long man, or a spot starter pending the development of his slider. Even if it doesn’t come along, he has a future as a lefty reliever who can coax ground balls in double-play situations. He will likely start the 2017 season at Triple-A Durham.

According to Todd, Vargas ranked as one of the top international prospects on the market two years ago:

Vargas is still just 17 years of age — he’ll turn 18 in March — and ranked as one of the top available international prospects on the market a couple of years ago. Cooper tweetsthat he was set to rank 26th on Seattle’s forthcoming top 30 prospect list, and there’s reason to believe he could carry even more upside than that most ranking would suggest. Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, for instance, tweets that there’s “sneaky” value in Vargas, whom he tabs as eventual third baseman with “big pull power projection” and a good approach.

In writing about Vargas last spring, BA’s Ben Badler noted that he has too many moving parts in his swing but has displayed a strong baseball IQ and an impressive ability to make adjustments at the behest of the Mariners’ staff. Badler also credited Vargas with above-average raw power, an ability to hit the ball the opposite way, and an above-average arm with a quick release. In 62 games/256 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League last year, Vargas batted .242/.344/.391 with seven homers, 11 doubles and nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (35).

Tampa Bay also claimed outfielder Jason Coats from the Chicago White Sox, designating Dylan Floro for assignment to clear roster space.

The 26-year-old Coats hit 27 home runs over 200 Triple-A games between 2015 and 2016, however, he batted just .200 with a .298 OBP and .340 SLG in his first 58 major league plate appearances. Baseball America notes that he can cover all three outfield spots.

Floro made his big league debut with Tampa Bay in 2016, posting a 4.20 ERA over 15 relief innings.