The Tampa Bay Rays ratcheted up the pre-Trade Deadline action over the weekend and on Monday, acquiring reliever Garrett Cleavinger from the Dodgers, and centerfielder José Siri from the Astros. To create spots on the 40-man roster for Cleavinger and Siri, Tampa Bay designated reliever Luke Bard and fan-favorite Brett Phillips for assignment.
Cleavinger doesn’t have a ton of big league experience, accruing 23 combined innings over the past three seasons. Four of his 27 MLB appearances have come this season, although the majority of his 2022 campaign has been spent at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he owns a 2.79 ERA, but a 4.53 FIP, through 29 Triple-A frames. He’s fanned an outstanding 37.9% of opponents, however, that’s belied by a bloated 13.7% walk rate. It’s been a similar story for the southpaw at the big league level, where he’s punched out an above-average 25.9% of opponents, but also walked 13.4% of them.
Cleavinger boasts a whiffy 96 mph four-seam fastball that has some natural sinking action, an 82 mph slider that has short glove-side cut and downhill action, and a 77 mph curveball that has sweeping glove-side movement and sharp downward bite. He also has been working on a sinker that gets very good movement. Cleavinger has intriguing raw stuff, although he hasn’t yet been able to control it. Whatever the case, he should be able to work on it in Durham and St. Pete since he likely will bounce between the Big League and Triple-A rosters for the balance of season — his final Minor League option year.
In Siri, the Rays immediately bolster their outfield mix. The 27-year-old is a former top prospect for the Reds who tended to stall out towards the end of his time in the Reds’ farm system. In the 2020-21 offseason, Siri made his way into the Houston, and since then he’s appeared in the Big Leagues in each of the past two seasons. The outfielder absolutely raked over a 21-game stint late last season, although he’s struggled in ’22. Through 196 total plate appearances, Siri is hitting .210 BA/.265 OBP/.381 SLG/.646 OPS with a bloated 33.2% strikeout rate.
However, Siri also has big power and has obliterated Triple-A pitching over 16 games this season, hitting .318 BA/.369 OBP/.552 SLG/.921 OPS through 397 plate appearances, with a 156 wRC+. He, too, boasts elite speed as evidenced by his 100th percentile sprint speed ranking, per Statcast. On top of that, Siri ranks in the 97th percentile by Outs Above Average and is tied for the Big League lead among centerfielders with an 8 DRS.
Tampa Bay’s front office believes he’s made adjustments that should improve his offensive performance when he takes the field alongside corner outfielders David Peralta and Randy Arozarena.
Yet, the deal comes at the expense of one of the most beloved players on the Rays’ roster, Brett Phillips. Among the outfielder’s most notable moments was the unforgettable walk-off hit which allowed Tampa Bay to win Game 4 of the 2020 World Series. It is easily one of the biggest hits in franchise history! One also should remember how truly affable Phillips is, and how much he loved playing for his hometown team. Moreover, he has been arguably the best defensive outfielder in baseball this season. Even so, he’s struggled to a .147 BA/.225 OBP/.250 SLG/.475 OPS slash line while striking out in 41% of his plate appearances this season. And since he is out of options, the team found him more expendable than relative newcomer Roman Quinn.
They can deal Phillips between now and the trade deadline, or he’ll find himself on waivers. Here’s to hope that another team will take a shot on him as a depth option — Brett deserves it.