The Rays already have experienced an unexpectedly busy offseason, yet they haven’t made any marquee additions. The team acquired SS/INF Brad Miller, 1B/OF Logan Morrison and RHP Danny Farquhar in a November 5 trade that sent RHP Nathan Karns, LHP C.J. Riefenhauser, and Minor League prospect OF Boog Powell to Seattle. President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman also dealt RHP Kirby Yates to the Indians for cash considerations, after he had been designated for assignment. Finally, on Wednesday night, the team acquired catcher Hank Conger from the Houston Astros.
The moves left the Rays in a flexible position, where they can entertain offers, however, they certainly don’t have to deal if nothing interests them.
We don’t see a glaring need for the ballclub right now, Silverman said. We could go into camp and feel good about the team that we could field and the depth that we would have in the minor leagues.
That gives us the freedom to explore a number of deals. At this time of year, big deals are explored, many things are talked about, a lot of rumors fly and there is usually very little substance to them. But we certainly have the freedom to explore some of those wild ideas and see if it takes us in a certain direction.
Still if the Rays had a wish list to be filled, acquiring a consistently productive bat would be at the top. It’s almost a given that at some point in the offseason, the team will likely acquire a veteran position player, relief pitcher, or a starter…or a few. In previous years, Tampa Bay has signed veteran free-agents to Minor League deals which have included invitations to Major League camp. More often than not, these players represented roster depth in the event somebody got hurt.
Then again, the Rays could look to the market for such an acquisition.
Who could they can trade in order to acquire an impact bat?
It’s been said that the Rays are in the market for young hitters like Jorge Soler or Javier Baez. And Tampa Bay finds itself in a good place, thanks to a commodity that every team desperately wants ― cost efficient pitching.
The Astros (among other teams) have inquired about relievers LHP Jake McGee and RHP Brad Boxberger, and for good reason: Both are relatively cheap (especially Boxberger, who is a pre-arbitration steal at around $550,000), have a few years of team control remaining, and compare favorably to relievers like Aroldis Chapman and the recently acquired Craig Kimbrel. Yet the team would be perfectly happy to keep both relievers, and they would need to be overwhelmed by an offer in order to part ways with Jake and the Box.
They will also field offers for Drew Smyly, Matt Moore, Erasmo Ramirez, Jake Odorizzi, and possibly even Alex Cobb — who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. In short, expect them to listen to offers on any starter not named Chris Archer or Blake Snell.
Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) put it best:
Forget ace LHP David Price getting his $217 million. With market prices resulting in a mediocre starter such as LHP J.A. Happ being handed $36 million over three years by Toronto, the Rays can offer some attractive alternatives — Smyly for $4 million in 2016 with two more years of control, Moore for $5 million this season, plus three team-option years for a total of $26 million.
However, and stop me if you’ve heard this once before, the Rays would need to be overwhelmed by an offer in order to part ways with any of the aforementioned starters, especially Ramirez or Odorizzi.
There is one deal they would like to make, either this week or before Spring Training ― a deal for 1B James Loney. Tampa Bay is reportedly willing to eat a chunk of his $8-million salary in order to clear up space for Morrison and Richie Shaffer at first, or potentially a more proven bat to the lineup.
In conclusion
Silverman will field offers this week for anyone with the exceptions of Archer, Evan Longoria, and Kevin Kiermaier. And if the team is found to make a move, it will be for present-day pieces, not another haul of prospects:
We look at the club as one that can compete, Silverman said. And so because we have that confidence in the group and we feel like we have the talent to compete for a playoff spot, we keep a stronger focus on this year.
But we’re always balancing the present and the future, always trying to make sure we have the runway of players and prospects to stay competitive given our financial resources. That factors into the way that we look at trades and the way that we evaluate potential moves. It’s never just about the present, it’s never just about the future, but it’s finding the right balance. If we have too much depth in one particular area we’re probably doing ourselves a disservice because that means we’re not utilizing it to supplement another area. Given the way we construct our team, given our finances, we don’t have the luxury of depth if we want to have the talent across 25 guys to compete.
Noteworthiness
The Tampa Bay Rays announced a handful of promotions in the baseball operations department.
Peter Bendix is now the director of baseball development, Shawn Hoffman is the director of scouting analytics, Kevin Ibach has been named director of pro scouting, Josh Kalk is now the director of pitching research and development, and Brian Plexico is the new director of baseball systems.
Rays President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman spoke about the promotions, saying:
Our baseball operations staff is filled with talented people, and these promotions are further evidence of that.