The Rays have acquired right-hander Alex Faedo from the Tigers, per announcements from both clubs. Faedo had been designated for assignment by the Tigers last week when they signed Tommy Kahnle. The Rays are sending minor league catcher Enderson Delgado and cash to Detroit. Infielder Osleivis Basabe has been designated for assignment by the Rays in a corresponding move, which MLBTR covered here.
Getting Faedo, 29, is a buy-low move for the Rays. The Tigers grabbed him with the 18th overall pick in 2017 and Baseball America ranked the righty as the #50 prospect in the entire league going into 2018.
But the big league results haven’t matched up to that prospect billing just yet. Faedo has thrown 175 2/3 innings for the Tigers over the past three seasons, allowing 4.51 earned runs per nine. His 20.9% strikeout rate and 9.7% have both been a bit below league average. He is now out of options and would have had a hard time holding a roster spot in Detroit all year, so he got bumped off.
The Rays are seemingly more willing to carry Faedo on the roster, since they are giving up a prospect and cash to get him. Perhaps the hope is that Faedo is in the process of finding a home in the bullpen. He has worked as a starter and a reliever in his big league career, but with a 5.00 ERA out of the rotation and 3.44 ERA from the bullpen. His 22.6% strikeout rate and 9.3% walk rate as a reliever aren’t outstanding numbers, but better than his 20.2% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate as a starter.
Though he hasn’t had huge punchout stuff, he’s had some intriguing numbers in terms of limiting damage. His 34.4% hard hit rate allowed last year was in the 82nd percentile of qualified pitchers, according to Statcast. His barrel rate was in the 76th percentile and his average exit velocity 65th. His 2023 numbers in those categories were fairly similar.
His out-of-options status will make things a bit challenging for the Rays, a club that normally likes to rotate pitchers on and off the roster with regularity. RosterResource projects the club to run a six-man rotation of Shane McClanahan, Taj Bradley, Ryan Pepiot, Zack Littell, Shane Baz and Drew Rasmussen. That leaves a seven-man bullpen consisting of Pete Fairbanks, Edwin Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger, Manuel Rodríguez, Mason Montgomery, Mike Vasil and Faedo. Montgomery is the only one of that relief group that can be optioned and RR has the out-of-options Cole Sulser listed in Triple-A as of this writing.
The roster might not shake out exactly like that, as spring performance and health can certainly change things, but there’s not a ton of flexibility in the relief group at the moment. But if the Rays manage to keep Faedo in the mix, there will be a long-term payoff. He has just under two years of service time at the moment, meaning he can be controlled for five seasons if he continues to hang onto his roster spot and hasn’t yet qualified for arbitration.
For the Tigers, losing Faedo probably stings a little bit, but at least they were able to recoup some potential future value out of a guy who got squeezed off the fringes of the roster. Delgado, 20, was an international signing of the Rays out of Venezuela. Back in July, Eric Longenhagen and Travis Ice of FanGraphs ranked Delgado as the #37 prospect in the Rays’ system. That report suggests Delgado could carve out a future backup catching role based mostly on his defense, particularly his throwing arm.
The FanGraphs report gives less praise for his offense. He has slashed .215/.337/.322 over three minor league seasons, though he showed some improvement last year with a line of .259/.382/.400. Given his age and that he still hasn’t climbed higher than Single-A, he’ll be a long-term play for the Tigers.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Faedo was going to the Rays for Delgado and cash, prior to the official announcements.
Something is better than nothing – good luck to Faedo in Tampa.
Watch, Tampa will back him into a solid mid rotation starter. Lol
With his former top prospect pedigree, u wouldn’t be surprised if they turned him into a TOR starter. He could be the next Drew Rasmussen, Jeffery springs, etc. but with an even higher ceiling.
Very doubtful
I said I wouldn’t be surprised. And I don’t know why you doubt it with the way the rays have developed the heck out of all sorts of pitchers who were literally just average with other teams. Even if they don’t use him as a starter they very much so can develop him into a very solid and reliable long reliever/swing man and possibly even a good to possibly elite late innings set up man. The thing I’m trying to say is, he has talent. And the rays can and most likely will get way more out of him than the Tigers ever even dreamt of doing.
Cave – Agreed, it was a good fetch.
Can’t believe tigers chose him to be the one to go.
I know right? Why not get rid of someone that doesn’t spend time on the DL every year? Or someone that has lived up to expectations? Alex is I hey prime and hasn’t pitched like the Tigers had envisioned. Sounds like the perfect player to keep.
He probably wasn’t making the team and can’t be optioned anymore without being exposed to this process anyway.
Fans seriously have a hard time separating draft position and player when it comes to baseball players. You all act same way with Matt Manning. A 1st round pick in baseball is like a 2nd rounder in basketball in “hit rate”. There’s a ton of variability.
Manning is 27yo. He spent entire year in Toledo save for like two weeks. He’s a 4A starter.
ALEX FAEDO IS 29 YEARS OLD
We can safely assume what he is at this point. Being #18 overall means NOTHING.
People will then complain and say “well Maeda should have gone”. OK. But why? At least Maeda has a track record of MLB success. And a track record of, if nothing else, giving and eating some innings. Faedo does neither. That’s not even with Maeda having a guaranteed contract, so you may as well give him a shot.
Conversely every MLB organization has 29 and 30yo former prospects and 1st round picks at AA and AAA still trying to carve out a MLB career.
It’s okay to let Faedo go. No, really, it is.
He’s not very good
This guy has potential. Had a very nice 2023, but gave up a lot of home runs.
I think Tampa is gonna do their magic and turn this guy into one of the best starters in the league.
Yeah cuz often injured 29 year old pitchers who have never had any sort of sustained success in the majors magically sort it out and turn into Cy Young.
Man. People gotta separate draft position and player. Alex Faedo is a JAG. Just a Guy. If he was drafted in 17th round not one person would be bemoaning his exodus.
Don’t be so bent out of shape, eh?
I think you are misguided. They are better with hitters not pitchers. If Fetters couldn’t work his magic, there’s nothing Tampa will be able to do. He had Comerica Park & still gave up long bombs!
Idk. I’m not from Detroit, so you guys know more about him.
All I know is that Isaac Paredes thrived in Tampa after being forgettable in Detroit. I just don’t know what magic serum the Rays give to below-average players turning them into great players.
Tigers love their C/1B-types
Progressed every year. Tampa will make him a better pitcher.
No, he hasn’t. He actually has REGRESSED since his debut. He’s also 29 years old.
He stinks
Diabetic Rockstar is right. He had lots of chances and was meh. Wish him luck but he didn’t have a spot in Detroits bullpen anymore.
Tampa Bay will turn him into a Cy Young contender, as he was hyped to be when the Tigers drafted him.
He’s 29 years old.
Drafted 7 years ago.
It’s okay to let him go.
There’s a whole bus full of JAG (just a guy) pitchers in AAA. We used half of em in the playoffs last year. None were named Faedo.
Faedo, I knew it was you!
This is my offer: Nothing. And I’d appreciate you picking up the check for today’s lunch.
I swear to God, I didn’t know it was going to be a (base)hit!
I’M YOUR BIG BROTHER AND I WAS PASSED OVER!!! I’M SMAAT!! I’M NOT DUMB LIKE EVERYONE THINKS!!!”
The Rays will turn this guy into a number 2 starter, have him throw a million innings, then trade him to the Padres for 3 of their top 5 prospect.
Tampa can’t keep getting away with this.
Tampa will DFA him by June
To be a Rays fan you really have to be stat nerd, MiL prospect follower. My BiL is old and a long term Ray fan from the beginning, but he just gets angry year when they trade stars or vets. Damn man, grow, learn; you’re not too old to change.
As a Tigers fan, I wish Faedo all the best.
Knew that someone would nab him. Good luck in Tampa Alex.
Pretty good opportunity for Faedo here, and he gets to play for his hometown team.
That’s what I came here to say. Beat me to it.
Faedo grew up in Tampa so hopefully going home and working with pitching coach Kyle Snyder gets him straightened out. Probably pitch in relief with some spot starts.
He’s gonna be fine. There’s nothing like playing in your hometown! Good luck, Alex. The funniest guy on the Tigers just left town.
Faedo will get solid coaching. Let’s see how this plays out.
He had one of the top pitching coaches in Chris Fetter in Detroit, but they couldn’t keep him healthy (or the baseball in the park when he was healthy).
Best possible landing spot for Alex. Home town team. I wanted him to be so much better than he turned out to be. That’s OK. He was a good guy. I liked his competitiveness. I hope he does well in Tampa.
This Delgado kid is just that: a kid. Only 20 yrs old and hasn’t gotten out of A ball. Does not appear to have much power. Has a middling BA. Hits around .250 against fellow teenagers. His OBP of .350, however, sticks out a little. Draws walks. But he’s a catcher. and a switch hitter. So how bad can that be? Maybe another Scott Hatteberg (he was just a LH’d hitter) in the making!!!
Better than nothing. Probably be in Lakeland to start the year. Will be interesting to see if he can make West Michigan in 2025.
In addition, his Fielding percentage around .985 is just a hair below really good. .990 is considered very good. But his caught stealing rate around 30% IS quite good. Again, mostly against fellow teenagers.
Faedo also lives in Tampa, so he is probably excited by the destination club
If it doesn’t work out, they could let Faedo run some Mickey Mouse nightclub somewhere.
I like the kid and will be pulling for him in Tampa. He may do very well being close to home.
Whenever the Rays or Braves acquire Tigers, they become All Stars. Congrats, Fido!
Faedo probably will have success in Tampa. I thought he was beginning to find his groove in the bullpen and among the chaos at the end of last year. I don’t have faith in him as a starter. But, I see him as a reliable bullpen piece. Andrew Miller comes to mind.
The amazing “Faedoman!”