With six days remaining until the non-waiver trade deadline, Tampa Bay Rays skipper Kevin Cash indicated the team will “be very active” leading up to July 31.
Chris Archer and Nathan Eovaldi are top names that could be headed elsewhere, although Tampa Bay has several other players that could be on the move, like shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who is effectively without a position with the promotion of Willy Adames; and relievers Sergio Romo and Matt Andriese among others. Catcher Wilson Ramos was seen as a big trade chip, yet a hamstring strain seemingly knocked him off the market.
Cash took many by surprise when he was asked if he had a sense of how active the club will be leading up to the deadline, saying,
I would say, in all honesty, we’re going to be very active, Cash said. I think we’ll be very active. I know there’s teams calling non-stop. I’d bet Erik (Neander, GM) and Chaim (Bloom, senior vice president) have not slept.
The most intriguing decision will be on Archer, who has been generated significant interest from contending teams like the Brewers, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Phillies and Yankees, as well as less obvious teams like the Padres.
Some ball clubs are better suited to give the Rays the kind of promising position players they may be seeking to add to the core they are currently integrating into the majors.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are all but non-contenders in this sense due to the fact they are a division opponent.
The #Yankees are among the clubs that have inquired on Chris Archer. But other teams are skeptical the #Rays will move Archer — period — much less to a division opponent when he’s under contract at a reasonable price through 2021. That never helps the trade dynamic.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 23, 2018
It’s believed the team is seeking emerging, or close-to, big leaguers who can help in the immediate future. A catcher and a power-hitting outfielder would seem pretty high on their shopping list.
According to Ken Rosenthal, one rival executive tells him, the #Padres are making a “big push” for Chris Archer.
— Mickey Koke (@mickeykoke) July 24, 2018
Just a thought,
With recent word the #Padres have interest in #Rays SP Chris Archer – could they have obtained C Francisco Mejia to flip him to Rays?
— Mat Germain (@MatGermain76) July 24, 2018
As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) writes, the Padres could be the team with the most potentially available pieces on the market.
Which is what could make the Padres, who are building toward contention, an interesting match. They do have a couple of young catchers, in Austin Hedges and just-acquired Francisco Mejia, and if they were to make available Hunter Renfroe, the Rays might see him as a nice fit in their lineup.
As for Eovaldi, Mark Feinsand (MLB.com) views the Cubs as a potential suitor. The right-hander’s recent track record and injury history will likely limit the return the the Rays can achieve. Still, Eovaldi could be a weapon down the stretch, and as Jeff Todd (MLB Trade Rumors) writes, the Cubs are well-positioned to take a risk on a dynamic arm, as they have a decent array of at-least serviceable hurlers already on hand and also perhaps lack the upper-level prospect capital to chase down a more valuable commodity.
One thing is certain, with the deadline looming, expect to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of trade whispers that are expected to amplify into screams.