After the membership’s first shedding season in six years, the Rays are headed into what figures to be a pivotal offseason for the membership as they give the impression of being to stay contenders in a extremely aggressive AL East division. As famous by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions, a method the membership might look to handle its lackluster offense (twenty ninth within the majors in runs scored this yr) this winter is by buying and selling from their rotation depth to accumulate a bat, even when that bat doesn’t deal with their reported offseason precedence of enhancing the membership at catcher.
For a Tampa membership that enters the winter in severe want of an offensive increase, it’s laborious to disclaim the logic in dealing from their deep group of accessible arms. Kids Taj Bradley, Shane Baz, and Ryan Pepiot all emerged as stable, inexpensive rotation choices for the membership this yr, and Zack Littell’s first full season in a giant league rotation appears to have established him as a high quality mid-rotation possibility with one yr to go earlier than free company.
In the meantime, Jeffrey Springs returned to make seven stable begins for the membership within the second half after present process Tommy John surgical procedure early final yr and Drew Rasmussen additionally rejoined the membership’s pitching employees late within the yr following his personal 2023 elbow surgical procedure. Rasmussen pitched primarily in a reduction position this yr, by no means throwing greater than 38 pitches in an outing, however figures to be a rotation possibility for the Rays come Spring Coaching. That additionally figures to be the case for lefty Shane McClanahan, who went underneath the knife final August however figures to be prepared for Spring Coaching as effectively.
With a minimum of seven high quality rotation choices even after dealing away Aaron Civale and Zach Eflin on the commerce deadline over the summer time, it might definitely make sense for the membership to discover dealing from that depth with a purpose to deal with the offense. The Braves, Cubs, and Pink Sox are all already identified to be considering including rotation assist this winter, whereas the Orioles and Mets are among the many many different groups that would stand to learn from including a starter or two this winter as effectively. With much more golf equipment certain to look to bolster their pitching when the offseason totally will get underway following the World Collection, the Rays must be effectively positioned to make a deal in the event that they so select.
Given the membership’s small-market payroll and deal with long-term sustainability, it might be one thing of a shock to see the Rays transfer on from any of Bradley, Baz, or Pepiot with out recouping a equally proficient and controllable bat in return. Then again, it wouldn’t be a shock if golf equipment had been hesitant to deal for McClanahan or Rasmussen given the previous hasn’t pitched in additional than a yr whereas the latter hasn’t stretched out to start out since coming back from harm. That would depart Littell and Springs because the more than likely candidates to be dealt this winter, with every hurler having varied professionals and cons as a commerce candidate.
In terms of Littell, the argument for dealing him is slightly easy: the righty is just underneath staff management by means of the tip of the 2025 season and initiatives for a not insignificant $4.8MM in his remaining journey by means of arbitration in response to MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz, so by dealing him the Rays might save a bit of cash to handle different areas of the roster whereas additionally doubtlessly bringing in a extra controllable participant to enrich their offense. With that being stated, Littell’s standing as a rental might dampen the return for his providers considerably on the heels of a 3.63 ERA marketing campaign that was extra stable than wonderful.
If groups aren’t scared off by Springs’s lack of quantity over the previous few years, then, he would possibly be capable to carry again a extra important return. In any case, the southpaw has been dominant when wholesome with a 2.44 ERA and three.10 FIP in 184 1/3 innings of labor since 2022, when he first grew to become a starter. Outcomes that robust can be priceless to just about any rotation in baseball, and Springs’s $21.75MM assure over the subsequent two years lands within the type of candy spot that may make him a relative discount for different groups whereas nonetheless clearing a big monetary burden off the books in Tampa, permitting Erik Neander and his entrance workplace to discover additional upgrades in free company even past what Springs would carry again in commerce.
