The Rays cut seven players from their 26-man roster today, as per a team announcement (Twitter link). Outfielder Randy Arozarena, right-hander Trevor Richards, left-hander Anthony Banda, infielders Nate Lowe and Mike Brosseau, first baseman/outfielder Brian O’Grady and two-way player Brendan McKay are were all optioned to Triple-A.
Given how the Rays so often shuttle players from Triple-A and the big leagues, it’s safe to assume all seven of these names will wind up seeing action for the club this season, should the season get underway. Tampa Bay is perhaps better equipped than most teams to handle the challenges posed by a potential shortened schedule and an effort to fit as many games as possible into an abbreviated period of time, as the Rays’ strong farm system gives them a lot of extra depth, and many of their players (especially pitchers) are already used to frequent trips up and down the ladder.
Since Lowe, Ji-Man Choi, and the newly-acquired Yoshitomo Tsutsugo are all left-handed hitters, it made sense that the younger Lowe would be the odd man out of the first base/DH mix. The same is true for O’Grady, acquired in a trade with the Reds back in November.
Arozarena is also a newcomer to Tampa Bay, having been acquired as part of the multi-player trade with the Cardinals in January that brought Jose Martinez to the Rays. Martinez is the right-handed complement to Choi and Tsutsugo (though the Rays have been experimenting with Tsutsugo as a part-time third baseman and outfielder), while Arozarena will provide outfield depth at Triple-A. Arozarena’s chances of making the Opening Day roster were lessened when the Rays picked up Manuel Margot from the Padres, though Arozarena’s ability to play all three outfield positions will very likely make him the first call-up should an injury or need arise in the Rays’ outfield.
The delayed start to the season should give Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow time to get fully healthy, which meant McKay and Richards were suddenly expendable. Since the Rays still plan to occasionally spell their starters by using openers, Richards will probably get action either in a traditional starting role or as a bulk pitcher behind an opener — he served in both capacities after being acquired by the Marlins at last year’s trade deadline. In fact, it could be easy to see a scenario where Richards and “Two Way McKay” are combined together in a piggyback outing, with the intriguing McKay (one of the game’s top prospects) also serving as an X-factor at the plate.
I wish the Rays would give Lowe the chance with consistent play. That bat can be real special
Kind of hard when the have Choi, Martinez, and Tsutsugo blocking the 1B/DH spots in the lineup. The acquisition of Tsutsugo especially shows they don’t trust Lowe yet to be their everyday 1B/DH. However, if something goes wrong with one of those guys, Lowe will get his shot.
I’m not even sure that Lowe would get a long look if those 3 flopped. The Rays have more options than almost anyone in Baseball. They could shift Brandon Lowe to 1B and play Wendle at 2B. Or even Brujan or Brosseau at some point. O’grady had a big spring and he’s sitting in AAA as a 1B option.
He’d get a look if they slumped—but he better hit quick because the Rays have an incredible amount of choices. The Tsutsogo/Martinez acquisition (particularly Tsutsogo) tells me they don’t have much faith in Lowe’s #’s transferring over to the bigs. He certainly has nothing to prove in AAA.
his best option for consistent play is probably in AAA.
a bit surprised Brosseau didn’t make it. thought he would be a key utility player
Today’s different. Today’s not the same. Today I’ll make the action.
The Arozarena for Liberatore swap still doesn’t make sense to me. Great FO in TB but I just don’t get that one. Arozarena had a fantastic spring but they made moves to completely block him so he wasn’t going to be in the majors to start the year. Obviously they also got Jose Martinez in the trade but that could’ve easily been done with much less.
Rays get a lefty masher to compliment Choi at 1B, and a high floor CF prospect. Rule number 1 of roster building is don’t assume any production from rookies until they produce.
Trading a top 50 pitching prospect for a high floor outfielder—who you aren’t playing in the big leagues still doesn’t make sense. Especially not when you make the Margot move after.
It looks like the Rays thought CF’s might be a prime asset to flip. Seems like they got caught with their pants down. You can’t play 3 and you traded a premium lefty to get a AAA CF at this point. If that isn’t selling low on Liberatore idk what is. When the trade was made I have the Rays the benefit of the doubt because that FO has been great over the years. But if someone like AJ Preller pulled that he would’ve been slammed.
Gave****
Which I was willing to do because I thought the Rays FO was in love with Arozarena. But when you effectively block him and trade away Matt Liberatore you probably deserve some skepticism.
So just because RA isn’t playing in the majors this year means it was a waste? We acquired a very good hitter in Martinez and if RA gets a full year next year and completely mashes who cares that it was a year later? You’re saying it was a waste because they blocked him just for this year
Jbigz, you are right.
Arozarena only had a 1.003 OPS in 2019 combined AA and AAA. He could have been the starting LF in St Louis using O’Neil and/or Thomas as expendable trade chips. Then he’s traded to Tampa with an already crowded OF. Arozarena has little to prove in the minors.
The trade does not make much sense to me either. Especially for a team attempting to compete at this present time.
Libertore could have been in Tampa’s rotation as of next year. Knowing them they will be moving guys, pitchers included, to shed payroll.
Liberatore would not have been in TB’s rotation next year, stop overinflating his stock, which is falling rather than rising.
TB has one of the best rotations in baseball and is not going to lose any starters next year except probably Morton. But Morton will be replaced by either McKay or Honeywell if he recovers, or even one of their other high profile arms like McClanahan or Ryan, who were all ahead of Liberatore on the depth chart,
Arozarena will get time with the Rays this year and has a direct path to be a starter next year once the Rays dump Kiermaiers contract.
Libertore will be called up in St Louis as of June/July 2021. I didn’t say opening day, you assumed it.
Kiermaier is not getting dumped. He’s injury-prone and makes too much money. Tampa does not have the luxury of taking on salary to deal Kiermaier either. Stop floating that idea.
Snell and Glasgow are injury prone. More pitchers entering pay raises. They will attempt to deal one of the two sooner than later to squeeze future talent and save money. That would’ve opened the door to Libertore come early summer 2021, as stated.
It’s how you finish a season. You forgot to think further ahead. Good effort.
Why are you talking about Liberatore getting called up in St. Louis. The original contention (that you made) was “Liberatore could have been in Tampa’s rotation as of next year”, which he would not be, opening day or not (which I said nothing about by the way).
I would bet you one Wander Franco that Kiermaier is getting dumped at the end of this year (even more likely after they picked up Margot). Eating salary is not the only way to dump a contract, bundling prospects works too and the Rays conveniently have the best farm system in baseball. Further, they wouldnt have to eat much money anyway because Kiermaier is a valuable piece even if he cant hit as he is the best defensive CF in baseball.
Snell and Glasnow are not injury prone. And the Rays are not going to be trading them anytime soon. In case you didn’t notice they are entering their WS window. Snell was locked up on good terms just last year, meaning he is staying through at least ’22. Glasnow doesn’t have enough service time, or enough of a track record to make big $$$ in arbitration so he’s not going anywhere either because the Rays are not going to trade a Cy Young arm who is only in the first or second year of arbitration. Liberatore would have been in AAA at best in summer 2021.
“Good effort”. Maybe learn a little bit about the team you are armchair GM’ing next time.
Learn about the team? Says the guy with the name Yandymania.
Libertore was about to start in AA and was probably sliding into AAA later this season, before this virus. In 2021 he’d start in AAA and then make his way to the majors. YOU SAID he wouldn’t be in the starting rotation next year. I said by June/July. I stand by that.
Name a team taking Kiermaier and that garbage contract and I’ll give you a golf clap.
Snell and Glasgow are injury prone. Clearly I learned more about your squad than you do. The second comment wasn’t as strong as your first.
It makes no sense to trade for an outfielder who is major league ready and then lay him to waste in AAA. To do that and trade a top prospect like Liberatore doesn’t make sense.
Why would you block a 25 year old outfielder? It isn’t some 18 year old who never played upper minors baseball.
I thought Banda got traded at some point, guess I’ve played too much MLB The Show.
He always gets traded because The Show GMs realize that in the video game he doesn’t develop into anything, so they trade him when his value is the highest (immediately).
The Show trades everybody all the time for no reason.
The fact any of these guys could start on this roster, makes me feel very comfortable with our depth.