Rays may have arms to move; which teams are eyeing struggling Cubs
MLB trade deadline watch is a collection of news and notes from our reporting team of Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal.
Injuries have hit the Tampa Bay Rays’ rotation hard this season. Health should not be viewed as a given. However, with two key reinforcements on the way, the Rays may end up being a team to watch when it comes to sellers in the starting pitcher market.
Jeffrey Springs and Shane Baz are working their way back from injuries in Triple-A Durham. Club officials view Baz as building himself up now that he’s healthy whereas Springs remains behind in terms of the Rays knowing what to fully expect from him for the rest of the year. If everything goes smoothly — and that’s an important clause here; setbacks happen and another injury for someone else is always a possibility — then the Rays may end up with one of those “good problems to have.”
They may have to soon create two openings in their starting rotation, which includes Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Taj Bradley, Zack Littell and Ryan Pepiot. As things stand, no one deserves to be optioned to the minor leagues. So if things stay on track, a trade becomes probable.
Of the group, league sources suggested Civale and Littell would be the likeliest to be traded. Littell, 28, is making $1.8 million this year and has an additional year to go before becoming a free agent in 2026. Civale, 29, also won’t be a free agent until 2026 and is making $4.9 million this year.
Aside from what they could do with their starting pitching, the Rays will have some decisions to make regarding their overall trade deadline strategy. At 40-41, they’re 11 games back of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East, but only four games out of the final wild-card spot. While much can change between now and the July 30 deadline, initial impressions are that the Rays are hesitant to wave the white flag on the season.
July will ultimately dictate the Rays’
