I wrote yesterday that while Tampa Bay hasn’t any glaring needs, if Matt Silverman was to seek an addition to the roster, it would come in the form of an impact bat. Baez could be the player the Rays are looking for.
Heard #Rays talks with #Cubs involve Javier Baez, in exchange for pitching. No confirmation, or sense of how far along/likely to happen.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 7, 2015
Having reported #Rays interest in #Cubs Baez late Sunday, hearing this morning they’re still talking to other teams about a number of things
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 7, 2015
The Cubs have been looking for both starting pitching and bullpen help this offseason, and the Rays are a potential fit in both departments.
On the relief side of things, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger have drawn widespread interest from several teams, most notably the Astros. It’s also not out of the realm of possibility for one of the Rays’ more established starters — Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore, Drew Smyly, or possibly Erasmo Ramirez — to be dealt in order to land a power prospect like Baez.
According to Topkin, some of the deals being explored involve dealing a starter, reliever, or both:
Some of the deals they are exploring require the Rays to deal a reliever, some a starter and some both. Thus, they have to explore all options before making a decision which way to go. The Rangers and Astros are other teams with interest in Rays pitchers, Texas reportedly on Smyly, Houston on the relievers.
Baez has yet to make an impact in his brief time at the Major League level, posting a career .201 BA/.252 OBP/.346 SLG/.596 OPS slash line with 10 homers in 309 career plate appearances (extending back to 2014). Additionally, his strikeout percentage isn’t anything to write home about; Baez struck out 42% of the time in 2014, although he improved to a 22% K% in 2015. Although it could be argued that Baez had nowhere to go but up (in the strikeout department), he still whiffed at an 18.5% clip — marginally better than his 19.2% SwStr% in 2014. His propensity for swinging and missing has been apparent at both the Minor League (426 K’s in 1678 PA) and Major League levels, yet there is an upside: The 23 year-old infielder also crushed minor league pitching to the tune of an .888 OPS and 89 homers.
Originally drafted as a shortstop, Baez has experience at second and third — the Cubs tried him at multiple positions in their attempt to make room for Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, and Starlin Castro. With Evan Longoria locked into third, and Logan Forsythe likely spending most of his time at second, Baez would slot in at short, perhaps in a platoon role with the recently acquired Brad Miller. Baez could also see time at either DH or possibly even first, given the Rays’ penchant for roster flexibility.
Complicating things to an extent, the team has offered a multiyear contract to RHP Jake Odorizzi. There is confirmed mutual interest between Odorizzi and his agent, and plans to make a counter-offer are in the works.
The 25 year-old RHP is slated to make around $550,000 in 2015 and 2016, before becoming arbitration eligible in 2017. Odorizzi is under team control until 2020.
Specifics on the offer haven’t been made available, although the proposed deal is thought to be similar to previous deals with other young players, presumably involving guaranteed years and option years.
It’s a very nice initial offer, Jason Wood (Odorizzi’s agent) said. Jake really likes being there, really likes the camaraderie, really likes (pitching coach Jim) Hickey. Of course he wants to be treated fairly. There’s a lot of reasons talks should go on.
According to Topkin, it’s believed that the rumors swirling around Odorizzi and the potential trade are mutually exclusive, not connected:
Get the sense #Rays contract extension talks with Odorizzi and trade talks are mutually exclusive, not connected steps
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 7, 2015
Noteworthiness
Per a tweet from Marc Topkin, the Rays have had busy day of discussions, yet they don’t expect anything to be completed tonight.