After weeks of build-up, the Rays shipped lefty Matt Moore to the Giants at the trade deadline for a package that included young infield prospect Lucius Fox. As it turns out, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Fox was dinged up at the time of the trade — which may lead Tampa Bay to seek added compensation from their trade partner.
The 19-year-old is said to have been playing through a bruised foot that was not disclosed to the Rays. While not a significant problem, it may prevent Fox from returning to action before the end of the minor league campaign. That wouldn’t seem to be a major long-term issue, but could take away some valuable developmental opportunities heading into the offseason.
The other two pieces of the pact — infielder Matt Duffy and minor league righty Michael Santos — were both on the DL at the time of the deal, with known injuries. But Fox’s malady was apparently not accounted for in striking the agreement.
It’s important to note that there’s no suggestion that Fox would be sent back to the Giants, who only signed him last summer; to the contrary, Topkin says that’s not on the table. For the Rays to achieve any recompense, they’ll have to “work through MLB,” according to the report.
Fox, a switch-hitting Bahamian shortstop, has not been overly impressive in game action in his brief professional career. He owns only a .207/.305/.277 slash over 331 plate appearances in the Sally League. That didn’t stop the Rays from ascribing rather significant value to him, though, and he certainly comes with an impressive prospect pedigree after receiving a $6MM bonus last year as an amateur.
Um, where’s the end of the article?
My mistake. Edited.
What do you mean?
Bruce Wayne stole it.
Matt Duffy link is to wrong Matt Duffy
I’m sorry, but all I can think about this posting is Lucius Fox and Batman.
Lucious Fox: My foot injury? Oh Mr. Silverman, you wouldn’t be interested in that…
Obscure batman reference is obscure.
That obscure art house movie noone has watched
Are teams just not doing their medical reports? Not conducting their own physicals? Why is this a huge issue all of a sudden that teams now need to be compensated. If your gonna ask for someone in a trade you would
Figure they would research said player.
The Rays probably took for granted that SF would let them know of anything going on physically with Fox. This is the case, especially, because of the timing of the deal.
Since it was completed just minutes before the deadline, I’m sure there were things overlooked and taken for granted such as players’ physicals…
This is an unfortunate gaffe by the Rays, because it is no gaurentee that SF absolutely HAS TO provide the Rays with further compensation…
I am however curious, if the Giants do have to further compensate the Rays, as to what the Rays could possibly receive because of Fox’s undisclosed injured foot…
“The Rays probably took for granted that SF would let them know of anything going on physically with Fox”…..there is no “taking for granted”, teams are required to share all medical records with a trade partner just as a FA player is required to provide a team with their records. In trades teams review players records looking for possible problems. If a trading team deliberately withholds records, treatments, procedures etc that is not a good thing at all. It Fox’s foot injury may not turn out to be as significant as Rea’s undisclosed elbow but it is still a no-no and taints the reputation of the Giants.
Wait, the guy in charge of all of Batman’s equipment plays baseball?
These teams rush to get these deals done at the last minute things are gonna get f’d up. The Rays are the biggest cry baby organization out there. How would the GM know if a guy is playing through an injury, something like a bruised foot. Are every players hang nails reported to the owner on down. This seems ridiculous.
Trading a player that you know is fighting an injury and not disclosing it is like selling a house you know flooded and not disclosing it. There are rules and laws. And if the Rays have any indication that the Giants did this, they would be poor businessmen not to pursue. This a business transaction, and not one most fans understand. Being a cry baby has nothing to do with it. It’s prudent business.
I agree. The Rays are the biggest cry baby organization in baseball. They have an inept front office too.
Its a bruised foot… Not a broken femur for christ’s sake. No compensation should be necessary. The Giants are a nice organization though they might throw the Rays a little bone just to be like “our bad”
Two words: caveat emptor.
Another two words: Dumb comment.
Dumb comment or dumb reader? I have my opinion, but I’ll just keep it to myself.
This could actually end up being a bit of good news for the Rays that Fox was playing through an injury. It very well could be a minor or major part as to why Fox’s play has been very suspect and subpar as of late!
A foot injury in any sport is grounds for definite decreased production, and this is the case especially in baseball. It would definitely effect his range in the field, his running and speed on the bases or out of the box, and it would most definitely effect his hitting!!
This would be the case, especially if it is back foot when he’s batting. Then again, either foot would provide enough discomfort to alter his normal swing, throw off his mechanics and timing, and it would definitely negatively impact his ability to concentrate and fully focus at the plate. Sustaining your full focus and 100 % concentration are two aspects of hitting that are absolutely necessary for success!!
As a hitter, you only have tenths of a second to see the pitch, identify the type of pitch, and to ultimately swing at said pitch…
All in all, I am not giving Fox an excuse for why he has struggled, BUT having a foot injury is an honest and legitimate hindrance..
With Fox having some of his focus sapped by that injury, and with the fact of having his foot alter his muscle memory and/or weight distribution for his hitting mechanics, this very well could play a fairly significant role in Fox’s struggles thus far.. So, like I previously stated, this is definitely NOT ALL BAD news for the Rays!!
Fox’s line has been the same all year round
So the Rays acquired three injured players for Moore? I really hope the real Duffy is 2015 and not 2016. Can’t imagine that they couldn’t have acquired a better package in a one for one swap.
rays got a good package just becuase they are injuried doesnt mean it was a bad deal lol
You are right. The Rays obviously chose to turn down the half dozen better offers.
You lose out Tampa. Where was your physicals for these players before the trade was finalized ?
You can’t give another teams players a physical.
Idiot. You can’t demand physicals in trade deadline deals. That’s why the head office has disclosure rules.
How do you give a physical to a guy that’s already hurt?
Sorry, but it’s called due diligence. Not to be confused with the Padre’s situation, which looks like a bonafide bait and switch, this just makes the Ray’s look petty and frankly, amateurish. These people are athletes, not glass figurines. They are going to have minor aliments that the seller does not need to disclose or even know about themselves. There are things that need to be disclosed and things that do not. Like in the Rea situation, he had already been treated for elbow/arm discomfort and something like that absolutely must be disclosed for two reasons 1) the Marlins would then absorb the medical and rehab costs 2) may never get the player then intended to receive. His career could be over, who knows. The arm is his primary asset. A banged up pinky toe is a 2 week off type of thing. I hope the Padre’s get heat over their situation. Maybe we should just investigate the Mariners for the last 10-15 years, which more than any team over that period, has made trades only for the player they sent out, to become injured shortly after on their new team and in some cases, we’re talking severe injuries. I don’t want to run down all the names, as it would take too long, but it’s pretty much all of them. This is the one team that I’m always weary about when the team I follow trades with them.
How much due diligence can you due in season while your club is traveling around and playing, their club is traveling around and playing, and a MiLB player someplace else altogether, right at the deadline ? MLB has disclosure rules because there isn’t much room for due diligence and they will decide if the Giants broke them. Btw – I think you’re wary of the trades, not weary. I, on the other hand, grow weary of ill informed posters thinking they know the business of baseball.
Need to be most wary of war-weary players and WAR-weary execs
Okay. I want to hear this, “all the names that would take too long to list”. At least, give me 5 names? For serious injuries, not poor performance. They are different, if you haven’t realized.
Wow, in addition to being really long, this is just an idiotic comment. Congratulations. You may have won the prize for the day.
Man, what is happening with disclosing injuries? First the Padres now the Giants?
Who trades for 3 hurt players? Lol
who cares they arent serious injuries
And to think they wanted Javier Baez straight up from the Cubs for Matt Moore. Why didn’t the Rays ask for Joe Maddon back to go along with Baez?!?Get serious, Tampa.
matt moore is a solid pitcher who has years of control left and has a cheep contract..
Time for the MLB to crack down hard and I do mean hard…. if the proof is there. If MLB can even get close to proving these allegations, they need to hammer the guilty teams. Make examples of anyone caught (Including my team if they did anything wrong).
A bruised foot isnt enought to warrant any type of compensation. His 2 months of Sally league or single-A play this year isnt worth much.
I say the Giants buy the Rays front office 2 bottles of champagne and a cheese platter, that should cover it. I hate how the Rays are trying to make a big deal about it. Im sure the Giants will send over another sub-par prospect in return for Fox if its that big of a deal to the Rays…..
So glad that Pena took the triple-A option and stayed with the Giants. He shows some promise to be a good utility bench player in the near future