The Rays’ trade discussions about left-handed relief ace Jake McGee have intensified over the past 24 to 48 hours, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). McGee and teammate Brad Boxberger have drawn significant trade interest, and several have suggested that one of the two is likely to be moved. McGee makes a bit more sense as a trade candidate, given MLBTR’s $4.7MM salary projection (Boxberger is not yet arbitration eligible) and the fact that he has only two years of club control remaining to Boxberger’s four.
Morosi tweets that the Dodgers — who are reportedly moving on from their pursuit of Aroldis Chapman in light of his domestic violence allegations — make sense as a landing spot, given president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman’s familiarity with McGee (Friedman was formerly the Rays’ GM). The Astros have been linked to Tampa Bay’s relievers as well, though they’ve reportedly agreed to a deal to acquire Ken Giles from Philadelphia, so perhaps they’re no longer in the market for top-tier relievers. The Twins are also known to be looking for left-handed relief help, and indications late in this week’s Winter Meetings were that Minnesota isn’t likely to make a play for top-of-the-market free agent lefties.
McGee, who will pitch the bulk of next season at age 29, missed the beginning of the 2015 campaign recovering from offseason surgery on his left elbow and was sidelined again in September by a torn meniscus. He was brilliant as ever when healthy enough to take to the mound, though, firing 37 1/3 innings of 2.41 ERA ball with 11.6 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and a 38.9 percent ground-ball rate. He has a collective 2.07 ERA with 138 strikeouts against just 22 unintentional walks over the past two seasons — a span of 108 2/3 innings — and averaged better than 96 mph on his fastball from 2013-14 (94.5 mph in 2015). He’d be a boost to any club’s bullpen and should fetch the Rays a considerable return if a trade is ultimately agreed upon.
“Boxberger is not yet arbitration eligible — and the fact that he has only two years of club control remaining to Boxberger’s four”
I think one of those 2 Boxberger’s should say McGee
Both are in reference to Boxberger. Not yet arb-eligible, four years of club control remaining to McGee’s two.
I changed the dashes to parentheses, if that makes it a bit more clear.
Yeah it does now. Thanks Steve.
Could be a plan B for the Dodgers or the Padres.
Twins?
I’d be happy with that. Wonder what the price would be.
McGee isn’t quite as splashy as Chapman, but he comes with an extra year of control and is significantly cheaper (not that it much matters to the Dodgers). They are both big lefties with outstanding fastballs. Chapman throws harder, but McGee has much better control. I think McGee will bring a decent return in this market.
Honestly, just about anything would be an upgrade over our ‘pen the last few years. I would be extremely happy with McGee
Phillies need a lefty for the bullpen could see this happening but probably not gonna
It wouldn’t make sense for philly right now . They are not competing for a title this year . So why go after a vet?
Because that’s what the Phillies do, they signed otero Russell Hernandez and frieri for the pen, I don’t think Russell’s gonna be I the pen and with two years of control, he would help them out a bit, the Phillies aren’t as far away from contention as everyone thinks or at least in my mind, they will definitely not be any form of good next year but 2017 could be differant and if not and McGee performs well they flip him for something
If I had to bet my life, I would say the next update will say the Cubs and Rays are nearing a deal. They had a deal two days ago that they were close on, reports in Chicago were that the Cubs slowed these down. I think they needed to get Heyward first, Baez no longer needed in the OF. Hope it happens with Baez + and includes McGee and Cobb.
The market opened up now for the Rays. I see them shopping else where.
I doubt rays would only trade cobb and mcgee for baez+ Cobb can get baez alone
Dodgers would end up giving up a good package for McGee.
Rays don’t even need Baez they have a ton of middle infield depth
Although it’s true the Rays don’t “need” Baez, his potential power would be welcome, possibly at first base. The Rays should, and probably will, find a way to clear roster a salary space by moving Jennings, Loney, and a middle infielder. Their best return on one of the many middle infielders would be Forsythe, after the solid year he had at 2nd. If offers for Forsythe aren’t solid, hang on to him and let the young guys wait another year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rays traded with the Dodgers and got a certain troubled Cuban outfielder in return either.