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Rays Looking To Add A Bat After Trading Forsythe

By Jeff Todd | January 26, 2017 at 12:27pm CDT

1:21pm: Tampa Bay does have at least some interest in Butler, Topkin tweets.

12:27pm: The Rays are looking at adding a bat after trading Logan Forsythe, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets, but they aren’t locked in to another second baseman. Tampa Bay is said also to be considering first base and DH candidates.

A right-handed bat would be preferred, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times suggests on Twitter. The Rays have apparently cast a few lines in the water, with top remaining free-agent slugger Mike Napoli among the players being contacted. He might be too expensive, though the Rays did move $7MM off of their 2017 payroll in dealing Forsythe.

Presumably, Tampa Bay will also at least give consideration to Chris Carter, who’s perhaps the next-best power-hitting righty still available. Whether or not there’s any possibility of a trade remains unknown. Other defensively limited bats on the market include Mark Reynolds and Billy Butler, with Aaron Hill arguably representing the most appealing remaining right-handed-hitting player with substantial experience at second base.

Clearly, there’s some flexibility here for the Rays given their remaining roster alignment. Brad Miller is currently penciled in at first, but has ample experience playing up the middle and could step into the mix there. Tim Beckham and Nick Franklin are also options.

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71 Comments

  1. alexgordonbeckham

    8 years ago

    Napoli or Carter end up here. They probably haven’t signed Carter yet due to waiting for the price of Napoli to come down.

    Reply
    • justinkm19

      8 years ago

      If Napolis price came down he would already be a Ranger

      Reply
  2. busmannyc

    8 years ago

    how about trading for Jay Bruce. I’m sure the Mets would eat up a portion of that contract just to get him off the team.

    Reply
    • kiermaier

      8 years ago

      The Rays need a right handed hitter why would they want Bruce?

      1
      Reply
      • acm14

        8 years ago

        And they also have a surplus of outfielders

        1
        Reply
    • Mets1234

      8 years ago

      Mets Trade Bruce eat a portion of the contract maybe include a prospect or 2 and receive Alex Colome in return

      Reply
      • sandy kazmir

        8 years ago

        Alex Colome is one of the most valuable relievers in the game. This is hilarious.

        3
        Reply
      • Kayrall

        8 years ago

        And then there’s this guy.

        1
        Reply
      • Toksoon

        8 years ago

        Say no to crack

        2
        Reply
      • vtadave

        8 years ago

        Sure, as long as those prospects are named Ahmed Rosario and Dominic Smith.

        1
        Reply
      • raysdaze

        8 years ago

        LOL, no thanks

        1
        Reply
      • LADreamin

        8 years ago

        Trolling hard here

        Reply
    • angieboy1984

      8 years ago

      Lol we keeping Bruce. But maybe someone like TJ Rivera for someone like Xavier Cedeno

      Reply
      • MrMet19

        8 years ago

        Not TJ! He is a great table setter and should be given a chance!

        Reply
  3. clintwolfron

    8 years ago

    They should trade De Leon for Brian Dozier

    Lol dodgers

    4
    Reply
    • phantomofdb

      8 years ago

      That would be a pretty funny plot twist if the Rays packaged De Leon with a name or two (Faria/Guerrieri…. I would assume Honeywell is off limits) and traded for Dozier.

      2
      Reply
      • phantomofdb

        8 years ago

        It would effectively be Forsythe + a good minor league pitcher (or two) for Dozier. Upgrading by adding one prospect. That actually doesn’t even seem terribly far fetched, in a vacuum.

        Reply
        • billysbballz

          8 years ago

          Yes in your vacuum….

          Reply
        • phantomofdb

          8 years ago

          Good one? In the vacuum of no other moves being involved… sending a second baseman and a prospect for a better second baseman isn’t an unreasonable trade. Not saying its a realistic outcome of this actual scenario…

          Reply
        • babyk79

          8 years ago

          Totally reasonable in that if they rays still want to contend the would essentially be trading for the same player a bit more, same price, but just give up some sort of prospect and maybe the Twins net them back some controllable players like Park or Vargas

          Reply
        • reflect

          8 years ago

          But why are we in a vacuum? It’d be a lot more comfortable outside.

          Reply
      • chesteraarthur

        8 years ago

        That’s not really how the rays opperate

        Reply
      • RBI

        8 years ago

        I would love to see Dozier traded to TB for DeLeon ____. That is just what Twins were asking for… and not unreasonable.

        1
        Reply
    • gogoblue

      8 years ago

      If the Twins would have accepted one-on-one deal, Dozier instead of Forsythe would have been a Dodger by now. If the Rays want Dozier, then they would have to add another good prospect along with DeLeon to get it done.

      Reply
      • terry g

        8 years ago

        Which they could do.

        Reply
      • tylerall5

        8 years ago

        Which is what he said

        Reply
  4. brushbackmlb

    8 years ago

    Avi Garcia or Melky Cabrera (if the White Sox eat some of the salary) would be interesting. I’d love to see Avi down there. He’s still a guy with skill who might benefit from a fresh start somewhere.

    Reply
    • TheBoatmen

      8 years ago

      I have said this a few times about the Jays should trade for somebody like Avi. They have had good luck breaking out studs like EE and Bats. I think Avi could to.

      1
      Reply
    • Toksoon

      8 years ago

      Avi stinks , low everything

      Reply
  5. therealryan

    8 years ago

    I’m expecting Chris Carter to be signed soon. A 1/$6.5 million with an $8mm option or $500k buyout.

    Reply
    • raysdaze

      8 years ago

      At this point, don’t see Carter getting much more than 1yr/5mm…

      4
      Reply
      • A'sfaninUK

        8 years ago

        I wouldn’t be so certain, just because MILW didn’t want to pay him 8 mill in 2017 doesn’t mean another team will, he could wait til ST injuries happen and teams get desperate.

        Reply
        • acm14

          8 years ago

          If another team was willing to pay his projected arb salary MIL would have traded him for a nothing prospect. His contract will be less than 8 mill for sure

          2
          Reply
        • CubsFanForLife

          8 years ago

          It’s not that the Brewers didn’t want to pay him 8MM this year. Carter’s powrr drives his arbitration earnings, and with another 40 HR season, he’d be pushed up into the 12 MM range. (And then at leat 15 if he has another year of arbitration, I don’t know off the top of my head.) The Brewers didn’t see a whole lot of development coming besides the power, so it makes sense to cut baot.

          Reply
        • CubsFanForLife

          8 years ago

          power* least* bait* goodness gracious

          Reply
    • acm14

      8 years ago

      No need for an option, he will still be in arbitration next year

      Reply
      • therealryan

        8 years ago

        My bad. I thought this was his last Arab season.

        Reply
        • therealryan

          8 years ago

          Supposed to be arb season.

          Reply
        • Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA

          8 years ago

          No Carter has two controllable years left i.e. 17

          Reply
  6. A'sfaninUK

    8 years ago

    And thus, the official courtship of Napoli begins! This is so cute seriously you guys!!!

    Reply
  7. Phillies2017

    8 years ago

    I know he’s lefty, but Utley seems like a fit. Inexpensive, second base, solid power, leader and theres a solid Philadelphian presence living in Tampa.
    I could see Utley and either Reynolds or Carter each on 1-year deals. Carter is under team control through 2018 via arbitration if I”m not mistaken.

    Reply
    • gogoblue

      8 years ago

      Utley is 38, and he is Southern California native. There is almost no way he would move to east coast team like Rays at this stage of his career unless it is World Series contender, for which the Rays are not. Utley is more likely to sign with Padres than the Rays, lol.

      Reply
    • Toksoon

      8 years ago

      Yea just old and can’t hit or field anymore

      1
      Reply
      • vtadave

        8 years ago

        Utley was above average defensively and he did hit .273/.343/.425 against RHP. He’s useful.

        Reply
  8. lovethegame27

    8 years ago

    CJ Cron from the Angels maybe…who pitcher can we get from Rays??

    Reply
    • Mike b

      8 years ago

      Cron for Odorizzi seems to be a fit. Angels could slide chavez down to the bullpen and spot start when needed

      Reply
      • kc38

        8 years ago

        Absolutely not. Odo blows cron out of the water

        2
        Reply
      • ducksnort69

        8 years ago

        Yeah, Cron is so valuable that the Angels took away his everyday job. The has shown guys like Cron are really valued this year…

        Reply
      • Daryl125

        8 years ago

        Angels are allergic to starting pitching though, that move doesn’t make sense.

        Reply
  9. lovethegame27

    8 years ago

    What**

    1
    Reply
    • rikk

      8 years ago

      Alex Colome. We may need to add a catcher. Maybe a prospect like Taylor Ward

      1
      Reply
      • vtadave

        8 years ago

        So Cron and Ward for Colome? Rays pass on that easily.

        3
        Reply
        • alexcastillo19

          8 years ago

          They will end up signing Butler

          Reply
        • kc38

          8 years ago

          If they end up with butler out of all those guys people are going to be even more enraged by the Forsythe deal. I honestly think they feel the hurt of everyone even out captain that they are gonna bring in a guy like Napoli who can fill that clubhouse void after Francona praised the heck out of him in Cleveland I think Napoli is a perfect fit with Tampa to be a leader and help out our young core and young manager

          1
          Reply
  10. kc38

    8 years ago

    They also saved 6.9 million by trading smyly. I think Napoli goes to Tampa because they need to make a semi big move for them after trading forsythe and claiming they are hellbent on winning this year. And Texas has seem to have moved on from nap on to Carter and Tampa seems to be moving in the opposite direction after saving some more money. Also rumors of weiters being a fit

    Reply
  11. triberulz

    8 years ago

    Rays knew there were tons of FA bats available, thus trading Forsythe. Rays could move Miller back to SS, Duffy to 2B. Sign Lind/Reynolds to platoon 1B. Billy Butler signed to be the DH, All three of those players signed would probably equal the 7 mil. Forsythe was making. At this point Lind/Reynolds/Butler wiould be happy to take any deal.

    Reply
    • therealryan

      8 years ago

      I wouldn’t want any of the deals you mentioned. Duffy is the everyday SS next year. Miller should be the majority 2B and occasional 1B. Then I want Carter or Nap to be the 1B/DH. Prefer Carter, but Nap is also fine. If they can’t get either of those two, I would rather platoon Franklin/Beckham at 2B and use Miller at 1B.

      Reply
  12. CFish96

    8 years ago

    Jose Abreu or Todd Frazier would be a great fit for the Rays.

    Reply
    • jj312

      8 years ago

      I was thinking the same

      Reply
  13. RaysFan2021

    8 years ago

    Rays need to do sign Carter or Napoli before it is two late and move Miller to second.

    Reply
  14. ducksnort69

    8 years ago

    Brandon Moss never gets mentioned. Is he injured?

    Reply
    • kc38

      8 years ago

      The Rays already have too many left handed hitters. Need to replace forsythe bat and I would’ve liked another right handed hitter before forsythe even left.

      Reply
  15. babyk79

    8 years ago

    Party at Napolis!!! Florida edition

    Reply
  16. bradthebluefish

    8 years ago

    How Napoli can’t get a good deal is beyond me. He showed great power and good patience with solid glove work yet again. It’s beyond frustrating that teams only want to sign him to a cheap one year deal.

    1
    Reply
    • gorav114

      8 years ago

      I was a little surprised too. He has a great reputation as a veteran presence, would be inexpensive, and can still rake. I thought the Os were leaning that way until the price on Trumbo dropped so significantly. I would prefer him over Moss, Carter, the sheriff (Mark Reynolds), Butler, and/or Morneau. I really like Morneau but he’s probably one of the more risky ones of the bunch due to his health.

      Reply
  17. jj312

    8 years ago

    Perhaps they look at Frazier and Abreu, from the White Sox?

    Reply
    • kc38

      8 years ago

      Why lose prospects for abreu or Frazier when you can get a cheaper or more talented player on the market?

      1
      Reply
      • gorav114

        8 years ago

        Especially when CWS are in a mode where they expect excessive returns. I see the reasoning for Sale, Eaton, and/or Quintana but I don’t think a team is going to give away top prospects for Melky, especially the Rays. I think if the price was reasonable on Melky and Frazier they would be gone already. I think the Os at least would give up a decent prospect for Melky but Chicago wanted a cheap team controlled bullpen piece in Brach plus a top team prospect

        Reply
  18. reflect

    8 years ago

    The Rays are like a college team. No one ever plays more than 2 years.

    (Except Longo of course).

    Reply
    • gorav114

      8 years ago

      2 games in that home stadium listening to cow bells would have me begging for a trade to a bench role in Minnesota instead!

      Reply
  19. blue1962

    8 years ago

    Beckham is not an option, we drafted him in 2008 when are they going to realize what all the fines have known for a long time. HE STINKS….. We are always searching for a deal and sending our Stars to other teams..

    Reply

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