The Tampa Bay Rays traded outfielder Matt Joyce to the Halos for right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen. (Mandatory photo credit is watermarked)
The Tampa Bay Rays traded outfielder Matt Joyce to the Halos for right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen. (Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports)

Heads up, we are chronically updating this piece to account for the massive developments (and trade rumors) surrounding the Rays over the last few days. Keep checking back — there will undoubtedly be some updated information below.

Thx,
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Thanks to Ian and The Rays Tank for the piece on the DH search and Matt Joyce below. The news of the day follows the piece on the Rays and the aforementioned search for a designated hitter.

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Elusive DH, by Ian Welsh

The Rays have had a horrid history of designated hitter signings. Names like Luke Scott, Pat Burrell, Manny Ramirez, Hank Blalock ring of mediocrity. Sure the Rays had signings like Damon and Floyd, who in their own way, did a solid job for the team.

However, the Rays had their worst idea yet last year — an oration of Matt Joyce, Wil Myers, and Sean Rodriguez at DH. Joyce — no longer with the Rays (you can read more on that below) — had always been streaky. While he posted solid numbers through one part of the season, Joyce became an automatic pop-up out machine in another. The same could be said for Rodriguez. And Myers, who had a down season, found himself man handled by pitchers who figured him out. It doesn’t help that he was injured for much of the season. 

When players like Longoria, Myers, or Escobar have a down — or injury plagued — year, a presence of someone who can produce runs is much-needed in the lineup.

Despite the fact they were toward the bottom of the league in homers, slugging percentage, and OPS, Tampa Bay actually did a decent job — taking into consideration the down power numbers, and injuries to both the position players and pitchers. While they were in the top of the league in runners left on base, they were in contention (technically) until the last week-and-a-half of the season.

 Suffice it to say, the Rays need a consistent power presence — someone who has some pop — and someone who can move the runners from station-to-station.

Tampa did better with contact hitters in the DH role. Guys like Johnny Damon and Cliff Floyd didn’t have particularly impressive power numbers, but they hit the gaps and culled together extra base hits, driving in runners in the process. Floyd hit .268 with an .804 OPS, 13 doubles and 39 RBI 80 games with the Rays in 2008. To be fair, that is a small sample size. On the other hand, Damon did particularly well with the Rays in 2011, hitting .261, with 152 hits, 16 homers, seven triples, and 29 doubles. Damon drove in 73 runs along the way, while posting a healthy .352 OBP. 

Unfortunately two things have plagued the Rays in what has amounted to their fruitless quest for a solid DH: the market is either always dead, or the players on the market are overpriced. The Rays can’t afford to throw lots of money at a big power hitter, and the cheap guys aren’t the answer for this team. If a masher isn’t readily available, a run producer — by way of consistent contact — might just be the best option for Tampa Bay. The question begs: what options do the Rays have — either organizationally or on the free-agent market?

Allan Dykstra

Tampa Bay signed Allan Dykstra to a minor league contract early in the off-season. While he hasn’t made his major league debut, he has put together solid minor league numbers. Dykstra has won a multitude of awards, including the Sterling Minor League Organizational player of the year, awards in college, and the Eastern League Player of the year. His career minor league line of .257 BA/.452 SLG doesn’t sound great, but he has made a steady progression since — going from a .241 BA in 2010 with 122 strikeouts and 78 walks and 26 extra base hits in 113 games, to hitting .280 while lowering his K%, and increasing his BB% and power numbers over the past three seasons. His plate discipline and presence of power is an intriguing option for the team.

But what else is out there for Tampa? Mike Morse, who fans had expected the Rays to look into, signed with the Marlins today. A favorite of mine, the Rays are now forced to look elsewhere.

Corey Hart

Corey Hart had a down year last season with the Mariners, thanks in part to injuries. Prior to 2014 however, he was a first baseman that made consistent solid contact. Hitting .271 with his time with the Brewers, Hart crushed 154 homers and posted a .480 SLG. The Rays could use the RHH Hart as a platoon player with James Loney as well. Moreover, he is a right-handed power-hitter with a .290 career batting average against LHP.

Rafael Furcal

Rafael Furcal would be another interesting pick up. Furcal had a dismal 2014 with the Marlins. He’s had a series of injuries over the past few years, which could make him a perfect candidate to throw into the DH role. His career numbers point to a similar player like Damon. Furcal is an aging player who may have some production left in the tank, but not enough to be an everyday player — especially in the Rays crowded infield. Furcal is a contact hitter, with a lower strike rate, who can get on base. A veteran with postseason experience, the Rays could land Furcal for a relatively small amount of money — somewhere in the ballpark of $1.5M – $2M for a year contract.

Delmon Young

Delmon Young, a player drafted by the Rays, made a postseason runs with detroit in 2012, Tampa Bay in 2013, and the Orioles in 2014. Young is a player we watched bring some life to the club when he debuted with Tampa Bay, and subsequently brought us pieces that helped the Rays start their winning ways when he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett. Young had a respectable 2014, hitting .302 with a .337 OBP and a .422 SLG. The former Ray — twice over — spent majority of the season on the field, which wasn’t the case with Tampa Bay in 2013. Our outfield is filled. Odds are good he’d be relegated to the DH role, which would help keep him healthy. He’s been cheap that last few seasons, so a $1M contract wouldn’t be out of the question.

A.J. Pierzynski

A.J. Pierzynski has been linked to Tampa a few times. A catalyst to brawls and rivalries with Tampa Bay, Pierzynski could be a good piece for the Rays. He is still able to “catch,” however the Rays just got rid of Jose Molina who was widely seen as a liability behind the plate. Pierzynski spent time as the DH in Boston last season before being traded to St. Louis. He is coming off a season that saw him hit just .251, however that’s a season removed from his 2013 campaign when he hit .288 with 17 home runs, 70 runs batted. Pierzynski would cost more than the rest of the pack, but with his career reaching towards its end, the Rays could pick up Pierzynski in the $4M range, and get a seasoned veteran with power and postseason experience.

Tampa Bay could also go the trade route with the surplus of minor league arms, outfielders, and infielders within the organization. 

Names like Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard have been bandied about, and both the Phillies and Yankees have made it known they’d like to unload these players. With the right trade and money included, the Rays could get some bigger help at a replacement player cost. Both players have their caveats and downsides, but the raw power from both could bring big dividends for the Rays.

Of course the biggest concern is that neither fit the Rays typical risk/reward modus operandi. Tampa Bay would have to deal players like David DeJesus or Desmond Jennings — both of whom trade rumors have circulated around — or young talent which both teams desperately need.

Rodriguez is a polarizing and much derided player — a source of unnecessary drama both on and off the field. Though Rodriguez does have upside, albeit in the twilight of his career. Tampa has taken players linked to PEDs previously, namely Ramriez and Jose Canseco — two players who’ve had similar issues follow them. Unlike those two players, however, Rodriguez has tangible value. As a pure DH, Rodriguez could bring a much-needed power presence…though to be fair, it is unknown how much of that power has been aided by steroids, and how much pop he still has. We do know that he brings and intimidating presence, and if he can bring some semblance of his former power he’d look good slotted in between Myers and Longoria.

Howard’s biggest concerns surround his health, and his bloated contract Howard with the Phillies. Howard has had a few down years due to injuries and excessive strikeout rates. Yet his presence and raw power do draw respect from opposing pitchers. The addition of Howard could bring Longoria some solid protection.

There are options out there. Silverman and crew will let the hammer drop soon, though it’s a matter of time until we see the route they choose to take.

On Matt Joyce Being Traded to the Angels for RHPR Kevin Jepsen

In other news, the Rays have traded outfielder Matt Joyce to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for RHPR Kevin Jepsen. Joyce has been a fan favorite, but he never lived up to the potential he showed in 2011 — his All-Star season. Since he hit for low batting averages, increased strikeout rates, and a drastic reduction in power. The projected $4.9M contract (after arbitration) wasn’t worth the risk for Silverman and the Rays.

Jepsen has a big arm with a mid-90’s fastball. With the news that Jake McGee will start the season on the DL, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow, Jepsen could be the stop-gap for Tampa Bay while McGee mends. A back-end reliever, Jepsen brings the ability to eat up innings. He also brings a strong K/9 which will undoubtedly be aided by Tropicana Field.

The benefits of the trade are two-fold:

    1. The Rays save money.
    2. Tampa Bay gets two years of arbitration control in Jepsen (this was Joyce’s last year of arbitration eligibility).

Joyce tweeted his appreciation of the Rays and the Tampa Bay fans after the news broke,

I can’t thank the Rays organization enough for giving me the opportunity to play at home for the last six years. It has been such an amazing experience to live out my dream in front of my family, friends and our tremendously supportive fans. I will miss you guys! Looking forward, I’m excited to start a new journey with the LA Angels and play next to some of the best players in the game!

On the Wil Myers Trade Rumors

Are the Tampa Bay Rays trading Wil Myers? Ken Rosenthal and Jeff Passan seem to think so. According to Rosenthal, the Rays and Padres are discussing a massive deal which would include the much ballyhooed Rays outfielder. It should be noted, Myers drew interest from about a half-dozen other teams during the 2015 Winter Meetings. The former Rookie of the Year’s contract will remain affordable for a long time, and he’s coming off an injury plagued down year, calling into question Myers’ trade value.

Roger Mooney (Tampa Tribune) added perspective to the once far fetched and now potential move, tweeting,

“Silverman said earlier this month (the) team is close to having (a) functional roster for 2015 but would “explore substantial changes.”

Another element in the talks on Wil Myers — there is a possibility of a third team, and thus even more names could be included. The Mariners are said to be looking for the acquisition of a bat (as are the Rays) and they might be in on what could pan out to be a major West Coast swap. According to Marc Topkin, the talks with the Padres have included their top catching prospect, Austin Hedges, though San Diego is apparently exploring several other options — and nothing with the Rays and Myers is close enough for a deal. Whatever the case, it’s hard to speculate anything without knowing all of the players targeted, all of the teams involved — or whether the trade rumor will even come to fruition or not. The safest assumption at this point, if something does come of the rumors, the cost to the Padres and/or potentially other team(s) connected could be astronomical. We’ll keep you posted if or when any news breaks.

Noteworthiness

  • We haven’t had a spare moment to write anything about the newest Ray, RHPR Kevin Jepsen — acquired from the Angels in Tuesday’s Matt Joyce trade. Thankfully our friends at DRaysBay have. Check out Ian’s piece here, and we’ll post one of our own shortly…or when the dust settles.
  •  A couple of nuggets on the Myers trade front: Per Ken Rosenthal, If the SD-TB trade goes through, RHP prospects Matt Wisler and Joe Ross would logically be part of the Rays return. If Washington is involved, as Jeff Passan suggests, OF Steven Souza is a name to watch. Per Marc Topkin, “…Some combination of concern over his ability to reach his potential and a sense of maximizing his remaining value to restock their system with premium prospects led them to at least strongly consider doing just that, potentially continuing what has been an extensive remake of the roster under new baseball operations president Matt Silverman. …Teams always know their own players best, so if the Rays are willing to move Myers – as it certainly seems – there must be some questions, whether talent, health, work ethic, consistency, potential.”
  • “The Rays are down to two scenarios, depending on whether the Nationals are in or out. Either way, Tampa Bay is said to give up Wil Myers, Ryan Hanigan, and two low minor-leaguers, and get back in return C René Rivera, P Burch Smith, and 1B Jake Bauers from the Padres. Then, if Washington is involved, Tampa Bay would get OF Steven Souza and a Class-A LHP. If the Nationals are out, the Rays are said to get RHP Joe Ross and Trea Turner from San Diego.

    Trea Turner was a Padres first-round pick, so if he was in the Rays or Nationals deal, he would have to be a player to be named later.” (Source Marc Topkin)

  • Marc Topkin’s 3:25 update: The Rays are expected to trade Myers today or Thursday, with details regarding the number of players and teams in the deal still being discussed.

    However it works out, it seems likely the Rays will end up with several Padres players – though not Hedges – and with Souza, who was the Triple-A International League MVP for Washington’s Syracuse team. Jeff Passan of Yahoo reported that the Rays may include C Ryan Hanigan in the deal and would get back C Rene Rivera.

    While the Rays are considering larger versions of the deal, they are not discussing including either of their top veterans, INF/OF Ben Zobrist or 3B Evan Longoria.

    Myers, meanwhile, didn’t seem too concerned about the rumors, posting on his Twitter account at 2:32: “Another workout in the books. #offseason.”

  • According to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, in the proposed Wil Myers deal, Rays talked about sending Ryan Hanigan to Padres, and getting back Rene Rivera.
  •  Because it’s easier to post tweets at the moment:

    • I’ve heard the phrase “fire sale” bandied about when discussing the trade of Myers. Here are a couple of things to chew on. First, besides the lesser amount of pop in his bat, Mikie Mahtook looks like a more well rounded player – both in the box and in the field.Secondly, Some number of the players received (by the Rays) are expected to be flipped to the Nationals for OF Steven Souza.After boasting a .421 wOBA and 161 wRC+ in 2013 with the Nationals’ Double-A squad, Souza was promoted to Triple-A and bested those numbers, with a .448 wOBA and 180 wRC+ over 96 games, including career bests in home runs (18) and stolen bases (26).
    • Per reports, while the Rays are discussing several scenarios of bigger deals, neither Ben Zobrist nor Evan Longoria are involved — so there’s that.
    • Jeff Vinik has long said that he wants nothing to do with the Stadium — his newly released downtown (TPA) redevelopment plans reinforce that idea. I still don’t understand why people insist that he is going to cough up a piece of his land to build the Tampa Bay Rays a new stadium. In short, the Rays are a small market team, and small market teams typically break even. Why then would Vinik throw his hat into the ring, and become what essentially amounts to the Rays landlord, if he isn’t going to pull a profit? People, stop connecting dots that aren’t there! Read more about Vinik’s waterfront plans at Noah Pransky’s Shadow of the Stadium blog.

     

     

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