The D-backs announced today that they’ve acquired right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger from the Rays in exchange for minor league right-hander Curtis Taylor.
The trade of Boxberger to Arizona sheds one arbitration-eligible player for the Rays, who have a sizable arb class and many decisions to face as they look to trim payroll for the 2018 season. While Boxberger won’t be paid at an exorbitant rate — MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $1.9MM salary in 2018 — Tampa Bay was facing arb decisions on 12 players, suggesting that further non-tenders or trades of second-tier players could be on the horizon for the Rays.
Boxberger, 30 in May, was an All-Star closer for the Rays back in 2015 when he saved 41 games and pitched to a 3.71 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 4.6 BB/9 and a 36.3 percent ground-ball rate. Arizona’s ninth-inning situation is currently murky after 2017 closer Fernando Rodney hit free agency at season’s end, and while Boxberger could compete for a high-leverage spot depending on the D-backs’ other offseason moves, he won’t simply be handed the job. For one thing, Archie Bradley could well be the in-house favorite to fill that role at present. Furthermore, the bullpen looks like one area for the D-backs to address this offseason, though they’ll face payroll challenges in doing so.
Beyond that, Boxberger hasn’t been closing in Tampa Bay in recent seasons anyhow, as he’s been plagued by groin and oblique injuries as well as a flexor strain in 2017. When healthy, however, he was quite effective this past season, as evidenced by a 3.38 ERA, 12.3 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 29 1/3 frames. Boxberger has totaled just 53 1/3 innings over his past two injury-plagued seasons, though he’ll be a nice addition that the team can control through the 2019 season, via arbitration, if he can remain healthy next year. Boxberger adds to a massive D-backs arbitration class that now includes an astounding 15 players — though the Snakes have several non-tender/trade candidates in that mix themselves (e.g. Chris Herrmann, J.J. Hoover, T.J. McFarland).
[Related: Updated Diamondbacks Depth Chart & Rays Depth Chart]
As for the Rays, they’ll pick up a prospect that ranked 14th in a poorly regarded Diamondbacks farm system, per MLB.com. The 22-year-old Taylor (23 next July) spent the 2017 season with Class-A Kane County, where he pitched to a solid 3.32 ERA with 9.8 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9 and a 43.6 percent ground-ball rate in 13 starts (62 1/3 innings).
Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com note in their scouting report that the 6’6″ fourth-rounder (2016) has the potential for two plus offerings thanks to a 94-95 mph sinker and an upper-80s slider. Callis and Mayo note that there’s a belief that Taylor could end up in the bullpen ultimately, and Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen tweets the same. Per Longenhagen, Taylor has better control than most pitchers of his height and a potential plus slider, but his delivery is better suited for relief work.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sweetness
This article didn’t mention Stanton or Ohtani. What went wrong?
LOL. I know, right? Shocking.
nice pickup for the diamondbacks. I would imagine if the d-backs don’t sign a closer this offseason, he will serve as the closer.
Always liked Boxberger. This is a real get if he can stay healthy. Bradley and Boxbegere make a nice 1-2 punch at the back end of that pen. And all they had to give up was a 22 year old, 45 FV arm still in single A? Nice move AZ
Finally some movement.
Well this is gonna be the biggest news of the day probably so enjoy it
i hope not friend. but this will keep my belly full till lunch. thanks for sharing buddy.
The stove is lit
I would like to see the d’backs give Bradley a chance to start and if he can’t do it put him back in the pen but keep it a short leash
I believe it’s been put out there that they are initially going to stretch him out as a starter
He is always stretched out as a starter because that’s what he has done his entire career. The D-Backs have said as much. Don’t mess routine. I think he closes this year, anyway.
I personally think that’s an awful idea. Bradley is a two pitch pitcher (fastball, curveball). That plays up in the pen, when your fastball is touching 98. When you’re a starter and it’s sitting at 93-94, you’re gonna get lit up, which is exactly what happened to Bradley. The guy is meant to be a dominant reliever and there’s nothing wrong with that.
He was lights out in the bullpen last year so I wouldn’t risk messing with that
Agree with this entirely. Not worth the risk of messing him up just to try and get a starter out of it. Baseball continues to show us the value of relievers as starts get shorter and shorter…stick with an absolutely dominate reliever if you have one.
I don’t think I’d let him start, unless it was a spot start because the other guy got hurt or sick. I wouldn’t want to mess up what he’s done out of the pen.
Good move by the D-backs. They acquired a good pitcher.
Don’t get excited yet. Boxberger is hit or miss literally. No in between. You’ll know with the first batter. Great change but when he leaves it up……
Rays should’ve traded him 2 years ago, would’ve received far better prospect(s)
Yeah, we should bought Google stock 20 years ago too. Hindsight is fun.
Good move. I scouted Boxxy through youtube. I rated his arm a solid 60/70. This kid got an arm that can throw a pebble at barn…from a mile away lol.
Just looked at youtube of the prospect…I rate his arm as a 57/70. Not a bad return, but not a good return.
And your qualifications to rate pitching are?
hey davbee, hope your thurday is going good. i just been watching baseball for about 45 years so i just kind of picked up a thing or too i guess. I never played baseball because of a crooked spine when i was a teany bopper but I still never miss a chance to see a game now and again.
Just wanted to know how much weight to give your opinion. With a name like “chrisduncanfan” you might actually be Dave Duncan.
oh brother i wish. but my name actually is in reference to Chris Duncan the visual artist at Union College. i’m a drawer, i didn’t know dave duncan had a son
Two sons actually–Chris and Shelley. Both played at the mlb level.
We’re all here because we like baseball and have different opinions so there’s really no need for nitpicking, bud.
honestly, is Mayo or Callis any more qualified than an average fan? It’s just that they have more experience watching prospects than us lol
Mayo or Callis don’t give their own number grade.
tough room today friends. i guess i can give you a little bit of humor to liten things up
What did the baseball glove say to the ball?
Catch ya later!
This is an oldy i recently saw in boys life magazine
I only give him a 52/70. His lead foot lands funny and he can’t dance the Macarena.
Considering the level of prospect sent to the Rays not a bad pickup for Dbacks, but moving from one of the best pitcher’s parks in MLB to the AZ will be a challenge.
True, but he survived the rest of the hitter haven ballparks in the AL East so he should be ok.
Yet another Padre that got away and found success; only to bring it back against them multiple times a season. Sigh.
Dunno if I like this for the D”Backs too much. Such a flush market for relievers, probably coulda got someone just as good for just money
not only that, but this kid they traded sounds like a younger/cheaper version of boxberger. i understand they want to win now but you’re telling me he couldn’t be up at sometime this/next year?
Arizona needs to bring Jared Miller up to the major league roster, he’s going to be a stud reliever.
Damn. Surprised the Rays didn’t get more for Boxberger.
He has been constantly injured and his numbers hide some very inconsistent results. Defense and Trop padded his numbers IMHO.
Did they order a side of fries with that?
Can i haz some fries with that boxedburger
That 1.9 mil Boxberger was projected to make was sure gonna cripple the rays payroll! Good luck replacing him with someone cheaper. No hunter and no Boxberger this year. Cishek a Fa too? Seems like they need some arms.