Trade discussions surrounding Tampa Bay Rays’ LHP reliever Jake McGee have intensified over the past 24-to-48 hours reports Jon Morosi (FOX Sports). Both McGee and RHP reliever Brad Boxberger have drawn significant interest, and several have suggested that half of the back end duo is likely to be moved.
Sources: #Rays trade conversations on reliever Jake McGee have intensified over last 24 to 48 hours. @FOXSports
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 11, 2015
McGee fired off 37-1/3 solid innings of work last season, collecting a 2.41 ERA/11.6 K9/1.9 BB9/38.9% GB rate along the way. Over the past two seasons, he has accumulated a 2.07 ERA and 138 strikeouts with just 22 unintentional walks (spanning 108-2/3 innings).
McGee makes a bit more sense as a trade candidate, given his projected $4.7-million salary in 2016, and the fact that he has only two years of club control remaining. Despite his reliability out of the Rays’ bullpen, McGee has just two remaining years of arbitration eligibility which will only make him more expensive. Compare that with Boxberger, who is slated to earn $500-thousand next season, won’t be arbitration eligible until 2017, and won’t be a free agent until after the 2019 season.
Of note: #Dodgers officials Friedman and Kapler know McGee from Tampa, and LA still looking for back-end reliever after failed Chapman deal.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 11, 2015
Morosi also noted that the Dodgers* make sense as a landing spot, given Andrew Friedman’s familiarity with the left handed hurler.
Both McGee and Boxberger have been linked to a handful of other teams, however, it’s thought that two clubs — namely the Astros and Phillies — are out of the running since they already have acquired relief help. Minnesota is said to be in the market for left-handed relief help, and the Twins aren’t expected to make a play for top-of-the-market free agent lefties.
Assuming a trade could be agreed upon, McGee would undoubtedly boost any ball-club’s bullpen — while also fetching the Rays a considerable return.
On a related side note, it’s thought that Tampa Bay could re-engage Chicago on a deal for Javier Baez, with the news of the Jason Hayward acquisition.
Will be interesting to see #Cubs next move after reportedly signing Heyward. Maybe re-engage with #Rays on Baez for pitcher?
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 11, 2015
The Cubs reportedly have had talks with the Padres about Tyson Ross and the Indians about both Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, yet it isn’t known if any discussions have been extended toward the Rays.
As I wrote yesterday, in four of the past five years, the Rays returned home from the Winter Meetings and closed a deal within a couple of weeks at most. With the team normally being very deliberate, one could assume that we may be in for an interesting couple of weeks.
*The Dodgers are reportedly moving on from their pursuit of Aroldis Chapman after allegations of domestic violence.