Source: Rays Listening on Karns

(Photo Credit: Kim Klement)
(Photo Credit: Kim Klement)

Suffice it to say, the trade deadline season is starting to heat up, and this isn’t even taking into consideration the big moves that have already been made.

First, there was Monday’s shocker acquisition of Troy Tulowitzki by the Toronto Blue Jays. Then there was the Rangers’ trade for Cole Hamels for four of the Rangers top 20 prospects.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Atlanta Braves pulled off a huge three-way deal last night.Matt Friedman’s Dodgers picked up RHP Mat Latos and 1B Mike Morse from the Marlins, the Braves top prospect 2B Jose Peraza, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Jim Johnson, and LHP Luis Avilan. The Braves netted Cuban infielder Hector Olivera, LHP Paco Rodriguez, Minor League prospect RHP Zach Bird, and Miami’s 35th pick in next year’s draft. Miami acquired three Single-A pitchers: RHP Kevin Guzman, RHP VictorAraujo, and RHP Jeff Brigham, plus they saved somewhere in the ballpark of $14MM by not having to pay Morse and Altos.

The biggest news, according to Jon Heyman (CBS Sports) David Price is headed to Toronto:

It’s the second time in two years that Price has been featured as a marquee summer trade chip. This time, however, he’s rental with one function: getting the Blue Jays to and through the post-season this year. Toronto pitch prospect Daniel Norris, is heading to Detroit in return. It is unknown whether any other pieces are involved in the deal.

My dearest Stu Sternberg, THIS is what it looks like when a team is going all in for a postseason push. Chris Archer echoed the sentiment:

and then:

I digress.

You may be wondering, are there any trade rumors surrounding the Tampa Bay Rays? The simple answer is yes. Per Jeff Passan (Yahoo Sports), Tampa Bay is listening on Nathan Karns:

Given their starting depth, the team has indicated a willingness to listen to offers on the right-hander. Karns has ample team control and has emerged with 115 innings of 3.37 ERA pitching this year.

Passan was quick to note the Rays roster depth, asserting that there is a plethora of players that could plug the hole left in (potential) Karns’ wake:

On the contrary, Matt Moore isn’t quite the same after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Drew Smyly is still on the DL, Blake Snell was only recently promoted to Triple-A Durham, and neither Guerrieri nor Honeywell are ready for major league action.

Sure, Matt Andriese or Andrew Bellatti could replace Nathan, however, a cursory warning to the other teams looking at Karns: Tampa Bay will demand a mighty haul.

Friend of the blog Danny Russell (DRaysBay) summed up the Nathan Karns trade rumors perfectly:

Years of control, loads of talent. This doesn’t seem like something the Rays would do, but this is a new front office, after all.

Besides, as I wrote last night, Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) that he hadn’t heard anything about other possible trades before Friday’s 4 p.m. deadline. Whatever the case, buckle up kids — we could be in for a bumpy/weird/interesting ride.

Noteworthiness

— One player who seems to legitimately be on the trade bubble is reliever Kevin Jepsen. Say the Rays were to trade Jepsen, what could they receive in return? Jared Ward (DRaysBay) thinks the Rays could acquire a top 30 prospect, similar to who the Athletics received from the Mets in Meisner.

— Marc Topkin wrote more on the former Rays ace David Price headed back to the AL East after trade to Blue Jays.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall in Series Finale, 2-1

Chris Archer pitches during the first inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers on July 29, 2015. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Chris Archer pitches during the first inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers on July 29, 2015. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Chris Archer put together the longest perfect game* in Tampa Bay Rays history on Wednesday, after he retired the first 19 batters. However, a couple of seventh inning gaffes allowed Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers to salvage the final game of the series, 2-1. The Rays finished their six game home-stand with a 3-3 record, falling to 51-52 on the season.

Archer was dominant over the first six innings. The Rays ace fanned 10, while retiring 18 hitters on just 69 pitches. His plus slider was alive, and he used it to wipe out Detroit’s powerful (albeit jumpy) hitters. Archer got a little help from Asdrubal Cabrera in the fourth inning, and Kevin Kiermaier in the sixth — both of whom made tremendous defensive plays to take potential hits away from the Tigers.

Ian Kinsler hit a sharp ground ball to Cabrera, who made an excellent diving stop and was able to fire off a throw to James Loney at first. The throw, while not perfect, was close enough for Loney to scoop out of the dirt.

In the sixth inning, James McCann hit a long fly-ball to the wall in center field. Ranging all the way back, The Outlaw made an incredible jumping, stretching play on the would be hit — robbing McCann of extra bases.  

An offensive note before we continue… Asdrubal Cabrera broke up a Justin Verlander’s perfect game in the fifth inning with a solo shot to left. Cabrera ripped an 0-1 change-up into the right field seats to give the Rays a 1-0 lead (their only run of the game), ending a string of 14 consecutive retired batters.

Archer’s perfecto came crashing to an end in the seventh. With one out, Jose Iglesias reached on a base hit that was grounded slowly toward the left side of the infield. Cabrera fielded the play deep from his position, but Iglesias placed the hit in the perfect spot and Cabby couldn’t get his corresponding throw to Loney in time. Yoenis Cespedes followed a seven-pitch battle by grounding a tailor made double play ball toward short. Yet Cabrera bobbled the ball, and couldn’t make a throw to second to get the lead runner, much less Cespedes at first. His third error of the season came at the most inopportune time.

Archer was able to coax a fly-ball out of Victor Martinez, but JD Martinez hit a grounder into left, subsequently scoring Iglesias, who never should have been at second in the first place. Nick Castellanos then lined to short, yet the ball bounced off the glove of a leaping Cabrera for another RBI base hit, giving Detroit the one run advantage they held onto until the end.

Asdrubal Cabrera addressed the error and the impact it had on things after the game:

The botched double play not only gave the Tigers the lead, it knocked Archer out of the game. While he could have put together a complete game shutout, Archer was pulled after throwing 101 pitches, requiring the bullpen to cover the two inning span.

The Rays had their own Castellanos moment, in the bottom of the seventh, yet they weren’t nearly as lucky as Detroit. Souza led off the frame with a hard hit liner to right to Cespedes in left. However, the ball bounced off his glove and fell into play. Under the assumption the play would go for an out, Souza exited the batter’s box slowly — costing Souza extra bases, as he was held to a single instead of a reaching on double. A few minutes later, he was caught trying to swipe second with Evan Longoria at the plate. Longo followed with a soft ground ball out to short for the second out of the inning.

Still, Tampa Bay had and out to play with.

Loney and Logan Forsythe lined back-to-back singles, and Kevin Cash pinched the speedy Tim Beckham for the less than fleet of foot Loney. Cabrera stepped into the box with runners on first and second, and the opportunity to redeem himself for the error at the top of the inning. Yet Verlander struck out Cabrera on a middle-middle curveball to end the threat.

Verlander, who allowed just a run on four scattered hits over eight innings, came took the mound in the eighth and fanned the side.

As for the tandem of Archer and Verlander, they accomplished something that doesn’t happen often:

Steve Geltz replaced Archer in the eighth, Brad Boxberger pitched the ninth, and the Rays had the top of the order up for the final frame. Brad Ausmus pulled Verlander in favor of closer Joakim Soria in the ninth. Soria put down the first two batters (Brandon Guyer pop out, Souza Jr. strikeout) bringing Longoria to the plate. Longo was hit by a pitch on the forearm, giving the Rays one last shot. Beckham stepped to the plate and took an outside pitch for ball one. On the next pitch, a fastball up in the zone, he swung for the fences for strike one. Tim laid off strike two, which coincidentally happened to be in the exact same spot as ball one. The mighty Beckham went down swinging at a curveball in the same location, ending the game. Roger Mooney (Tampa Tribune) put it best, tweeting:

*The longest no hitter since Matt Garza’s no-no on July 26, 2010

After an off-day on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays will start a three-game set against the Red Sox at Fenway. To their credit, they were able to take the series from the Tigers — something they will need to continue to do with consistency if they hope to remain in contention. Now if they could throttle the woeful Red Sox, that would definitely take the sour taste left in the mouth by Wednesday’s series finale.

Noteworthiness

— Bobby Wilson was added to the 40-man roster and called up to provide depth so Curt Casali could be used as the DH on Wednesday, although the stay is expected to be brief.

The Rays will likely call up the left handed bat of OF/DH Grady Sizemore to fill the roster spot left in the wake of David DeJesus.

Although with the potential of facing two left-handed starters this weekend in Boston, Cash could stick with this alignment for a few days — or call up Richie Shaffer, the right-handed power hitting prospect with 23 homers in the minors.

— Cash told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) that he hadn’t heard anything about other possible trades before Friday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

— OF Desmond Jennings (knee) will start a 25-30 at-bat rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Durham, aiming for a mid August return. LHP Drew Smyly (shoulder) is scheduled to make another rehab start (four innings/60 pitches) on Friday, likely with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, in Lakeland.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Throttle Tigers, 10-2

Curt Casali became the first catcher with back-to-back multi-homer games since Mike Napoli in 2011 on Tuesday night. He is also the first Ray to do as much since Greg Vaughn in May of 2002. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Thanks to WordPress, I couldn’t upload anything until now. In fact, everything I’d written previously was deleted by WordPress ― and boy was it a doozy! This comes directly from our Tumblr page.

For the second consecutive game, the Tampa Bay Rays scored five or more runs which allowed the team to shellack the Detroit Tigers by score of 10-2. In short, led by Curt Casali and Asdrubal Cabrera, the Rays’ bats came to life. Previous to Monday night, the team hadn’t scored more than four runs in a game since July 8. The two consecutive wins allowed Tampa Bay to get back to .500 (51-51), retake sole possession of third place, and clinch a series win against Detroit.

Moments that mattered

― Jake Odorizzi worked around a second inning leadoff triple from JD Martinez*, coaxing three consecutive weakly hit fly-ball outs to get out of the inning unscathed.

― In the bottom of the inning, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a one out double off the wall in left. The feat was pretty impressive, seeing as Cabrera hadn’t taken a hack at a pitch (in a game setting) in almost two weeks. Casali moved Cabrera to third on a base hit through the left side, and Beckham plated the run with an RBI single to left. Rays up, 1-0.

― In the fourth inning, Yoenis Cespedes hit a leadoff solo shot to right to tie the game. JD Martinez and Nick Castellanos followed with back-to-back one out singles. After they found themselves in scoring position, Odorizzi put a damper on the threat by striking out both James McCann and Alex Avila (both swinging).

― In the bottom of the inning, Steven Souza Jr. hit a leadoff double to left, then was driven home by Cabrera, who hit his second double of the game. Four pitches later, Curt Casali hit his first of two homers on a fastball left over the plate by David Price.

― Once again Casali answered the call with a sixth inning opposite field solo shot off Price. Casali earned a curtain-call from Rays’ fans and Price, graciously stepped off the rubber to allow Casali to pop out of the dugout to acknowledge the crowd.

Take a bow, @Curtcasali—the first catcher with back-to-back multi-homer games since Mike Napoli in 2011. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/odk0pvn69r

Back-to-back multi-homer nights? Reason enough for a CURTain call, @CurtCasali. WATCH: http://t.co/MYhxM59EGS pic.twitter.com/VgnUDV7yGz

― Tampa Bay piled it on with five more runs in the eighth inning, starting with an Evan Longoria opposite field, leadoff solo-shot. The team eventually loaded the bases for Curt Casali with nobody out. Casali went down swinging, but Tim Beckham came up huge with a three-run triple, capping the scoring at 10.

― For the second time since July 8 the Rays scored more than four runs. It was also the first time Tampa Bay hit three home runs in a game since June 27th.

― Odorizzi battled, scattering six hits while striking out eight and walking only one.

*Martinez’s triple landed in front of a retreating Kevin Kiermaier. The play was ruled a triple on the field, but crew chief Paul Nauert wanted to review the play to see if Martinez’s ball hit the D-Ring catwalk, which would then grant Martinez a home run. However, there was no conclusive view of the ball hitting the catwalk so the call on the field stood.

 

The New What Next

Chris Archer (9-7, 2.67 ERA) will take the hill opposite of Justin Verlander (0-3, 5.57 ERA). Archer looks to snap a stretch in which he has not earned a win over his last five starts, despite allowing two runs or fewer in three of those outings. He is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers. Verlander’s seven starts thus far have all ended in Tigers losses with a combination of costly big innings and low run support. He tossed eight innings of one-run ball at Boston last Friday but left with a no-decision in a 2-1 Tigers extra-inning loss. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/29/15 Starting Lineup

1. Jaso LF
2. Souza RF
3. Longoria 3B
4. Loney 1B
5. Forsythe 2B
6. Cabrera SS
7. Casali DH
8. Kiermaier CF
9. Rivera C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

― The Rays called up Bobby Wilson as the corresponding roster move following last night’s trade of David DeJesus. Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wilson is here for protection with Casali designated hitting. It still seems like an odd short-term move, since Wilson doesn’t have an option, and they’ll likely call up Sizemore on Friday.

Rays Roster Move: David DeJesus Traded to the Angels RHP Eduar Lopez

DeJesus said it stinks leaving the Rays, but called the trade a “blessing in disguise” with family a first-place team in LA. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays played Tursday night’s game with 24 players, as they traded OF/DH David DeJesus to the Los Angeles Angels for the hard throwing 20 year-old RHP Eduar Lopez.

Per the Rays, Lopez has been ranked by Baseball America as a Top 30 prospect in the Angels system each of the last three seasons (2012-14).

Matt Silverman told the media the point of deal was to clear more at bats for John Jaso (and eventually Jennings), and also “to save money” ― about $3MM.

The team announced the trade via a press release:

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Eduar Lopez from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for outfielder David DeJesus. The Rays will play tonight’s game vs. the Detroit Tigers with 24 players, and will make a corresponding later to replace DeJesus on the active roster.

Lopez, 20, went 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA (33.1-IP, 16-ER) in eight starts for Rookie-level Orem this season, ranking ninth in the Pioneer League in ERA, tied for first in starts and third in strikeouts per nine innings (8.9). Over parts of four minor league seasons, he is 10-9 with a 3.39 ERA (191.1-IP, 72-ER) and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He made his professional debut as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League in 2012, finishing third in the league in strikeouts (83). The following year, he ranked among DSL leaders with 83 strikeouts (tied for first), .132 opponents’ batting average (first) and 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings (first).

Lopez was signed by the Angels as a free agent in 2012, and has been ranked by Baseball America as a Top-30 prospect in the Angels system following each of the last three seasons (2012-14).

DeJesus, 35, is a 13-year veteran who hit .259 (60-for-232) with five home runs and 26 RBI in 82 games for the Rays this season. He started 65 games between left field (44), designated hitter (20) and right field (one). He was acquired from the Washington Nationals in August 2013, and in parts of three seasons with the Rays batted .254 (146-for-574) with 13 home runs, 56 RBI and 33 doubles in 200 games. In 2013, he took part in the first postseason of his career as the Rays advanced to the American League Division Series.

Speculation over who may fill DeJesus’ spot on the roster ran the gammit, from the power hitting INF Richie Shaffer and OF Mikie Mahtook, to Grady Sizemore who was recently optioned to Durham.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Rays) added his two cents, tweeting:

Rays seem likely to bring Sizemore back on Friday (when his 10 days are up). Could do a 1-day move on Wednesday, maybe a pitcher.

Catcher Bobby Wilson was recalled for Wednesday afternoon’s matinee against the Detroit Tigers, however, he isn’t expected to remain with the team for the long-haul. Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wilson is here for protection with Casali filling the DH role Wednesday. It seemed like an odd short-term move, since Wilson doesn’t have an option, and someone will be called up ahead of the upcoming series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Tigers 5-2, Cabrera Activated From the DL

Curt Casali celebrates with Charlie Montoyo as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning on Monday. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Curt Casali celebrates with Charlie Montoyo as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning on Monday. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
On Monday night, the 50-51 Tampa Bay Rays did something they hadn’t since July 8 — score more than four runs in a game. The ninth hitter, catcher Curt Casali, led the way with two homers and three hits on the evening, en route to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Nathan Karns set the pace for the Rays by putting together another impressive outing, positing six innings of one-run baseball, while fanning three along the way. Karns located his pitches well and played off the Tigers’ aggressiveness at the plate, by pitching to contact to great effect — aside from a two-out single by Victor Martinez, the righty put down 18 of 19 batters before allowing a seventh inning leadoff solo shot to Yoenis Cespedes.

Karns improved to 6-5 overall, with a 3.37 ERA through his first 20 starts. He stands among the top in all of baseball to record at least 15 starts with two runs or fewer, and leads all rookie hurlers with 106 strikeouts. 

 Following Karns, a trio of relievers came on to solidify the victory. 

 Kevin Jepsen inherited a runner when he took over for Karns in the seventh. The RHPR coaxed a fielder’s choice to put down the lead runner at second, then worked around an Alex Avila walk to strand a pair of runners on the base paths. All told, the reliever pitched pretty well with a little help from Curt Casali, who made few excellent blocks behind the plate. 

 Jake McGee got the eighth inning. The lefty struggled and relinquished his first earned run since May 26th — a streak of 21-2/3 innings. McGee allowed a two-out single to Ian Kinsler after a nine pitch battle. Kinsler was wild pitched to second before Cespedes singled him home for Detroit’s second run of the game. 

 Brad Boxberger worked around a two-out walk to earn his 25th save of the year. 

 Offensively, Casali led the way with three hits, while both Evan Longoria and Logan Forsythe chipped in with multi-hit performances. Casali gave the Rays a one run advantage with a massive third inning solo-shot to deep left-field.

The team followed that with two more runs, scoring one in the fourth and another in the fifth. Kevin Kiermaier hit his team-high 34th extra-base to drive in Steven Souza Jr. in the fourth, and David DeJesus came around to score on Forsythe’s single in the bottom of the fifth. For Logan, it was his team-high 23rd multi-hit game.

Finally, Casali capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the eighth that rattled around the catwalk and landed in the 162 Landing.

Per ESPN.com, it is believed to be the first home run hit off the B-ring catwalk since Frank Thomas hit one for the Chicago White Sox on April 4, 1998, in the fifth game ever played at Tropicana Field.

An aside, Casali got his third consecutive start behind the dish as an attempt to jump start the Rays’ scuffling offense.

I’d have to say the strategy worked.

The New What Next

Jake Odorizzi (5-6, 2.85 ERA) will make his 16th start of the season against former Ray David Price (9-3, 2.31 ERA). Odorizzi has received three runs or more just four times in his fifteen starts. The righty is 2-2 with a 1.40 ERA in six starts at Tropicana Field this season. A year after being traded from Tampa Bay at the Trade Deadline, Price will make his final start before this year’s Deadline, with trade rumors surrounding him yet again. Price tossed eight innings of one-hit ball in a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay last August 21. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/28/15 Starting Lineup

Guyer LF
Butler DH
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 1B
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Casali C
Beckham 2B
Kiermaier CF
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

— Kevin Kiermaier left last night’s game with a minor abrasion of his left eye, sustained during pre game workout. Kiermaier was using an elastic stretching/resistance band before game, and while e switched his feet, it snapped up and hit his eye.

— Longoria doubled and reached three times in a 2-3 night at the plate, and Forsythe drove in his 42nd run of the year on his fifth inning base hit.

— Asdrubal Cabrera was activated from the DL after the game and is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Jake Elmore was the odd-man out, and was optioned back to Triple-A Durham, leaving Tim Beckham as the lone platoon infielder.

Elmore said of demotion:

Another opportunity to play in the big leagues and help the team any way you can (like) moving around positions. And now I go back to Triple-A and hopefully get my swing back completely and hopefully be back and help the team win some more. So it’s hard for me to stay down. Obviously, the news hurts, but I feel confident that I’ll be back. I’m just taking positives from every situation that happens.

Foreshadowing the activation of Cabrera, INF Tim Beckham did pre game work at first base, giving Tampa Bay another right-handed hitting option with several lefty starters upcoming — a role Elmore had been filling.

— The Rays finally promoted Taylor Guerreri — the team’s second selection in the 2011 draft (and 24th overall) — to the Montgomery Biscuits. Guerreri joins Ryne Stanek, Jake Bauers, Jacob Faria, Jeff Ames, and Chris Kirsch, all of whom were promoted earlier in the season.

Guerreri faired well in 2012 with the Rays Hudson Valley affiliate, and was promoted to Bowling Green the following season, where he continued to pitch well. However, at the conclusion of the 2013 season, it was revealed that Guerreri would have to undergo Tommy John surgery, costing him most of the 2014 season.

The organization took it slow with Guerreri since his return, limiting the righties to time on the mound this year, while holding him to a rigid pitch count each appearance. Yet he has been excellent during time on the mound, warranting the promotion. Guerreri’s posted a 2-2/2.14 ERA/2.01 FIP/25.6% K%/6.4% BB% line in 52 innings of work (12 games).

— Per Ken Rosenthal, former Rays utility-man Ben Zobrist is headed to the Royals in a trade with the Athletics.