Stashing The Starters
July 29th, 2016
Can’t develop a stick.
The thought is almost inconceivable with names like Matt Moore and Jake Odorizzi dangled as trade bait. But that’s the theory floated by ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick earlier this week.
He writes that Rays brass might be willing to stash their starters until more teams can dance for a deal in the offseason:
“Several teams that have had conversations with the Rays have concluded they’re perfectly willing — and leaning toward — hanging on to their big assets and waiting to act during the winter, when they can engage with 29 MLB teams rather than a handful making playoff pushes. Although the Rays will probably trade Steve Pearce and could find a new home for reliever Erasmo Ramirez over the next few days, there’s a growing sense in baseball circles that starters Chris Archer, Matt Moore, Jake Odorizzi and Drew Smyly will end the season where they started it.
“I think they’ll take it to the offseason,” said an official with a club in the starting pitcher market. “They’ll get a lot of information now. They’ll find out who’s really serious, and then they’ll take the month of August to really scout that organization and see who they have a good fit with. There’s no urgency for them to do stuff now. They can set a price, and if they don’t get it, they’ll take it into the offseason and go from there.”
This is why general managers are paid the big bucks. They must be roster managers and poker mavens. Matt Silverman will have his work cut out for him in the coming hours.
July 29th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Any trade involving our starters MUST include the other team’s TOP major league rated prospect ! That’s for starters. A good example is the Cubs trading a very good pitcher Andrew Cashner 2 years ago to San Diego. They got back San Diego’s top minor leaguer, Anthony Rizzo. Now an All Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
July 30th, 2016 at 7:10 am
I agree Darth! The opposition has to give up a lot to get one of these arms! The Rangers seem reluctant to give up Joey Gallo or Jurickson Profar for any of the rays arms so I can not blame Tampa for standing pat there. The Pirates also have a couple of intrguing prospects who are ready to contribute but it seems to me the rays simply settle for guys who are in A balll who have “PROJECTED” high ceilings like Willy Adames which is fine but the chances of an A baller with a high ceiling making an impact is far less than a guy tearing it up in AAA. Herll the Rays gave up a good starter by the name of Smith and a kid Trea Turner who is about to light it up for washington for that sieve Sauza…. Seems to me the bottom line in the Rays front office is the coin and not the talent….
July 30th, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Front office spread sheets have their merits until they become more important than a veteran scout’s take on a minor league player. I’m sure Tim Beckham’s spreadsheet jumped off the page. Then look what happened.
August 1st, 2016 at 12:13 am
Wow! Something to actually cheer about! A sweep of the Skankees! Nice job boys, if you can’t win the season at least beat the turds from New York and Boston!
August 1st, 2016 at 1:01 am
I hate the yankmees !