Eight more players that could be on the move.
The Rays seem like they’re about to pull off a five-year rebuild in the span of three weeks, having already moved several pieces off the roster that were aging, getting expensive, or generally standing in the way of talent on it’s way back from injury or soon to be promoted from the minors.
Indeed, there is a wave of talent waiting in the wings for the Rays, and with the 99-win team of 2023 going belly up — starting with the loss of Wander Franco, and ending with the dismal start to this season — it makes sense to set the stage for the next Act.
If the Rays do nothing else this trade deadline, enough moves have happened to restock the low minors to make Jerry Dipoto blush. According to MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings, nine of the Rays recents acquistions have taken spots in the team’s top 30.
Here’s a quick recap, with links:
When the dust settles, we will be sure to recap all the players added, but with just under 36 hours left until the deadline, here are a few more players we think could be on the move.
The Rays are almost certainly going to deal Amed Rosario. The versatile Rosario signed a $2M, one year deal in February and has since filled in wherever needed this season and is having the best offensive season of his career. The 28-year old is currently hitting .307/.331/.417 over 275 plate appearances, registering 126 wRC+ against left handed pitchers, and a still respectable 109 wRC+ against right handed pitchers. Any contending teams in need of a utility man and/or a right handed hitter would love to add his presence to their roster.
The 2024 season has been an inconsistent one for 28-year old Zack Littell, a reliever the Rays converted to starting last year. Since joining the Rays Littell has shown glimpses of being a potential top of the rotation arm as he pitches deep into games and limits damage. His most recent outing was his best of the season as he hurled seven shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds. With pitching coming at a premium this deadline, the Rays may look to sell high on Littell, who still has another season of team control.
After a rough start to the season, Yandy Diaz is back to being one of the best contact hitters in baseball. Since May 1st, Diaz is hitting .291/.342/.444, registering a 127 wRC+ over 298 plate appearances. The 32-year old Diaz has another season remaining on his contract as well as a 2026 team option. There are reports of several teams, most notably the Seattle Mariners, being interested in Diaz.
“I’m going to get a little choked up here. Given everything over the past year, this turned into a special day. I felt at peace on the mound today.”
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) July 28, 2024
- An emotional Pete Fairbanks after closing out the game and with a strikeout, for Ellis.
Pete & his wife Lydia hosted the… pic.twitter.com/0xuU3wXAsx
Tampa Bay’s closer — and potentially the most famous face left on the roster — Pete Fairbanks would bring back a hefty haul that’d surely make prospect pundits salivate. Despite a difficult season on a personal level, Fairbanks has still been extremely effective in the backend of the Rays bullpen, compiling a 3.11 ERA | 3.25 FIP with a 22.7 K% and 10.4 BB% over 37 2⁄3 innings pitched. Fairbanks signed a contact extension in 2023 that keeps him at low cost ($4 million annually) and under team control thanks to a $7 million club option in 2026.
Lowe’s value on the trade market is incredibly difficult to discern. He might be the best second baseman in baseball. He also might be too oft-injured to be trusted, playing a position teams usually hide their defensive misfits. In an injury marred season thus far, Lowe is hitting .262/.355/.524 with 12 HR and a 150 wRC+ (!) over 220 plate appearances. It should be no surprise Lowe’s .262 ISO and .524 SLG% are among the best in baseball for hitters with at least 200 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Lowe is still under contract through the 2026 season with an $11M AAV for the next two years, both club options.
An incredible blend of power, speed, and defense, along with an electric personality, makes Siri one of the most exciting players to watch in baseball; however, his offensive output is inconsistent, as he’ll flash signs of being an offensive force, but a tendency to strikeout severely impacts his game. Entering play on Tuesday, Siri is hitting .199/.270/.392 with 14 HR and 10 stolen bases over 90 games. Meanwhile, Baseball Savant registers Siri as one of the best defenders in the game as he possesses elite range and arm strength. The 29-year old Siri is under team control through the 2027 season, entering arbitration for the first time this upcoming offseason. Center Field is not a position the Rays need to clear just yet — helium prospect Chandler Simpson is only at Double-A — but clearing the spot could open up playing opportunities for the rest of the season for some experimentation with positional flexibility, and there’s always a market for elite defenders.
A veteran hurler with a fastball that Baseball America once dubbed as the “invisi-ball,” Colin Poche has carved out a solid career in the Rays bullpen. The 2023 campaign was a breakout year for Poche as he compiled a 2.23 ERA | 3.34 FIP with a 24.8 K% and 9.8 BB% over 60 2⁄3 innings pitched. This year has been more of the same from Poche as he holds a 2.89 ERA | 4.83 FIP with a 21.8 K% and 9.1 BB% over 28 innings pitched. The 30-year old Poche is now among the highest paid players on the current Rays squad, albeit with a $2.4M salary. Poche has one more year of arbitration before free agency next offseason.
During the 2023 season, Shawn Armstrong showcased that he had the ability to be a dependable pitcher in the big leagues as he compiled a 1.38 ERA | 2.54 FIP with a 26.1 K% and 5.3 BB% over 52 innings pitched. Unfortunately, Armstrong has struggled mightily in 2024, specifically during a month long stretch from mid-June through the All-Star break where he allowed 16 runs on 21 hits over 9 innings pitched. The All-Star Break seemed to allow him to get over those struggles, and he’s back to his usual self with only one earned run over six innings in the second half. Armstrong will become a free agent at the end of the season, so the Rays may look to free themselves of the remaining portion of Armstrong’s $2M salary for the 2024 season — and with the Rays, every penny counts.
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The trade deadline is Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
