Here’s the latest from Tropicana Field, as per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times…
- The Tigers are one of many teams who showed interest in Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger during the GM Meetings. (Topkin also mentions the Astros, whose interest in the duo was reported a few days ago.) The two relievers have drawn a lot of interest, yet Topkin observes that the Rays aren’t under any real pressure to make a deal now and could revisit trade talks at midseason if they don’t find a current offer to their liking. MLBTR projects McGee to earn $4.7MM in 2016 while Boxberger is still a year away from arbitration eligibility, so the Rays aren’t yet facing any financial burden from keeping both relievers. Detroit is known to be looking at both trades and free agency in order to upgrade their bullpen, so it’s no surprise that the Tigers would check in with Tampa.
- It’s not impossible that Asdrubal Cabrera returns to the Rays on a one-year contract, even with the newly-acquired Brad Miller in the fold. It helps that Miller and Logan Forsythe are both pretty versatile players, so the Rays could conceivably use both at several positions while Cabrera (or a similar veteran shortstop like Alexei Ramirez) gets the bulk of playing time at short.
- The Rays are willing to eat some of James Loney’s $8MM salary to help facilitate a trade, which Topkin believes could help them swing a deal in a thin first base market. Topkin also suggests that if the Rays dealt a pitcher, they could insist on adding Loney as part of the trade package.
- Matt Moore ($5MM) or Drew Smyly ($3.9MM) could be the likeliest candidates to be moved if the Rays decided to deal another starter, Topkin opines, as both southpaws carry significant salaries for the low-payroll club. Even after trading Nate Karns to the Mariners, the Rays may have enough young arms to get away with moving another starter, and they could also add a low-cost veteran to add further depth.
- Topkin looks at some of the familiar names (including Daniel Nava, Rene Rivera, J.P. Arencibia) who could be cut from the Rays’ 40-man roster this week to make way for prospects to be protected in advance of the Rule 5 draft.
Would love to see the Pirates try and get Jake McGee from the Rays. With Bastardo, Soria, and Balnton all being free agents, and Melancon on his way to being traded, the pen will need help.
Watson will do a great job as close, but McGee would be a great 8th inning man. Other than Watson, Jared Hughes is the only reliable bullpen arm that is returning for 2016.
James Loney also would not be a bad option to platoon with Michael Morse. Plays strong defense at first base and still hits RHP pretty well.
Someone’s gonna take the Rays up on that: A young pitcher plus Loney for, what, a better 1B? A corner outfielder? What do they need?
bats. so yes. maybe freddie freeman fits here if the braves eat half the deal. would be a lot in prospect cost with the braves eating some money but stranger things have happened.
Don’t think the Braves fit. All their prospects are pitchers and they need the same thing as the Rays: young controllable hitters. Rockies is the obvious fit (actually, for either team). Corey Dickerson would look good as a Ray.
Someone will be hard up to pick up Loney. There is still defense there, and he could hit well again in the right line up.
Why would TB wanna cut J.P Arencibia from the 40 Man Roster? He had a slash line of .310/.324/.606 through 71 At Bats, much more better than any Tampa Bay catcher they had this year :-/
I watched several of Matt Moore’s starts last year and they were awful. Just because he finally put together 2-3 starts at the very end of the season that weren’t terrible doesn’t mean he has much trade value, coming back from TJ or not. He’s going to have to show other teams he’s the old Matt Moore again before anybody bites on him. 5m for a Justin Masterson type is way too much, league minimum more like it. However.. He shows teams he is healthy and they might be able to stick some of Loney’s bad contract with him and move him that way, but not before.
lol. This is the same person who said the Rays farm system was “abysmal.” I think he hates TB. Moore had a noodle arm in his first stint in the ML after TJ. His command and velocity improved steadily and was very good to close out the year. Pitchers do not start feeling ‘good’ until about 17 months after the surgery, regardless of effectiveness.
If 3.9 million per year is considered a “significant” salary in need of being dealt for the Rays, then that franchise just needs to be folded or moved to AAA. Even mediocre starting pitchers are garnering upwards of $10 million per year on the open market.
That being said, I would love for the Rockies to look at a package of Smyly and Loney. Loney always hit extra well at Coors when he was a Dodger.
Loney Jennings and a starter, maybe smyly, for soler. Slight chance or just a kid dreaming?
I want to know how the freaking rays have a seemingly endless supply of young controllable arms. They trade an ace away and no problem here are three more were going to have in spring training. It’s insane!
That organization just breeds pitchers. Pitching coach Jim Hickey probably has a lot to do with that.
The Rays and the Rockies need to merge. That would be a heckuva team.
Blake Snell and many more are waiting until Archer and the rest are traded.
Blake Snell is the next one. Plus Alex Cobb when he gets back from injury.
Smyly for Fulmer and Boyd would make a lot of sense for everyone… IF the Tigers are confident in Norris.
What would the point be of that, for the Rays? They’re already swimming in AA and AAA SP prospects. They need hittng.
Reset the clock. That has been their MO for a full decade.
Silverman has been going more towards position players though. I.E. the Zobrist trade and the Karns trade.
I think Fulmer’s stock has risen a little more then that.
Moya and Jones for Smyly.
No… tigers don’t need to lose their best prospect for a few years of smyly. Good thought though.
Haha no way the Tigers would deal Fulmer for smyly, trust me, we want him back, just not for a decent prospect and Boyd
Would love to be able to get Rene Rivera back as a backup on the Padres, our pitchers really loved throwing to him. Get Hedges some regular ABs in AAA.
Could see the bucs making a move for boxberger or mcgee, and loney. Almost seems like too good of a fit, with the pirates needing relievers to replace soria, bastardo, and probably melancon and a first baseman and the rays needing young hitting prospects. Maybe a Cole tucker, Connor joe, and low level prospect for the pair?
Loney is a nice, cheap LH pickup. .270 10 hr 70ish rbi… Someone will want that
Plawecki and Robles for McGee
Giants should send Susac (and a bit more) to Tampa Bay for Loney & Smyly.