The Rays, Yankees and D-backs have agreed to a significant three-team trade that will send outfielder Steven Souza from Tampa Bay to Arizona, infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury from Arizona to New York and prospects to Tampa Bay. The Rays will receive left-hander Anthony Banda and two players to be named later from the D-backs as well as minor league second baseman Nick Solak from the Yankees. Additionally, the Yankees will send right-hander Taylor Widener to the Diamondbacks. The teams have announced the trade.
The acquisition of Souza will be the second notable outfield pickup for the D-backs in as many days, as the Snakes added Jarrod Dyson on a two-year deal yesterday just minutes after losing out on J.D. Martinez, who signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox. Souza is a solid consolation price to that failed pursuit, as he’ll give the D-backs a right-handed bat with lesser power but superior defense to Martinez — and it’s certainly notable that he’s coming off a 30-homer season himself.
Souza, set to turn 29 in late April, hit .239/.351/.459 with 21 doubles, a pair of triples and 16 stolen bases in addition to his 30 home runs last season. While he can’t make up for the loss of Martinez’s bat on his own, he’s long shown plenty of pop at the plate and last season walked at a career-best 13.6 percent clip as well. He is, of course, not without red flags. Even if he’s able to sustain the uptick in walks, Souza figures to continue to hit for a questionable batting average so long as he continues to struggle with his overall contact skills. Souza whiffed at a 29 percent rate in 2017, and that actually represented an improvement over 2016’s alarming 34 percent strikeout rate.
That said, he comes to the D-backs with three years of club control remaining, meaning he’ll be a fairly long-term option for them in an outfield mix that also includes Dyson, impending free agent A.J. Pollock, David Peralta and Yasmany Tomas (though the D-backs would surely love to escape the remainder of Tomas’ onerous financial commitment).
Arizona will also add a former 12th-round pick, Widener, that turned in a strong season in Class-A Advanced last season when he tossed 119 1/3 innings of 3.39 ERA ball with a 129-to-50 K/BB ratio over the life of 27 starts. He’s had some durability issues in the past, with Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com noting last summer that he had ulnar transposition surgery in 2015 and dealt with back and knee injuries in college. There’s starter potential for Widener, but he’ll need to prove capable of handling a regular workload in the rotation.
[Updated Depth Charts: Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks]
The 25-year-old Drury, meanwhile, will give the Yankees the infield depth they’ve been seeking as they currently make evaluations of Miguel Andujar at third base and Gleyber Torres at second base. After trading Chase Headley and Starlin Castro this offseason, the Yanks lacked certainty at both of those positions, but Drury presents a more experienced option than any of their infield prospect that has seen plenty of Major League action at both slots. If Andujar and/or Torres prove ready to handle a full workload in 2018, then Drury can shift into a super-utility role and provide depth at a number of spots around the diamond.
Drury is fresh off a solid, if unspectacular .267/.317/.447 slash with 13 homers through 480 plate appearances this past season. Since establishing himself as a regular in the D-backs’ infield/corner outfield rotation in 2016, Drury has batted .275/.323/.453 with 29 home runs. He’s controllable for another four seasons and should factor into the Yankees’ Opening Day lineup, though which position he plays will likely be determined over the course of Spring Training.
Drury, a rumored target for the Yankees dating back to December, comes to the Yankees with more than 1000 innings of MLB experience at second base and more than 300 innings at third base; that division of labor was flipped during his minor league career, as he logged more than 3000 innings at the hot corner in the minors and just 620 at second base prior to reaching the Majors.
He drew above-average marks from Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating for his work in 947 innings at second base this past season, though both metrics feel his limited big league work at third base has been below average. Drury also has 700 innings of corner outfield work under his belt (where he’s drawn below-average marks as well) and has even played six innings at shortstop in the Majors.
The acquisition of Drury likely puts an end to the oft-speculated possibility of a Mike Moustakas signing for the Yankees. And, because he’s not eligible for arbitration until next winter, Drury allows the Yankees to maintain plenty of financial flexibility, leaving room for in-season moves, which was reported to be a priority for GM Brian Cashman.
As for the Rays, the trade sends the latest of several signals that the team is looking to retool its current group and scale back payroll. Souza avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.55MM deal earlier this winter, and he’ll now join Corey Dickerson ($5.95MM) and Jake Odorizzi ($6.3MM) as arbitration-eligible players whom the Rays have shipped out in recent days. The subtractions of Odorizzi and Souza leave the Rays with a projected payroll of just $78.77MM, and that’ll further drop once it’s determined how much (if any) of Dickerson’s salary they’ll need to pay in 2018. The Rays would owe Dickerson 30 days of his non-guaranteed arbitration salary for the 2018 season if he clears waivers and is released — roughly $975K — so this trio of moves should dip their payroll into the $73MM range.
Cost savings notwithstanding, the Rays also look to have bolstered their farm system in a meaningful way with today’s trade. Baseball America rated Banda second among D-backs farmhands (albeit in a weak minor league system), while the publication considered Solak to be the 10th-best second base prospect in the game.
The 24-year-old Banda entered the 2017 season as BA’s No. 88 overall prospect, but he struggled through a down year in 2017, pitching to a 5.39 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a 42 percent ground-ball rate in 122 innings in the extremely hitter-friendly confines of Triple-A Reno. The former 10th-rounder also made his MLB debut in 2017, allowing 17 runs in 25 2/3 innings with a 25-to-10 K/BB ratio. Even with that rough run in Triple-A and the Majors, Banda still has a potential future as a mid-rotation starter, per BA, whose scouting report also noted that he also showed the skills to be a quality late-inning reliever.
Solak, meanwhile, batted .297/.384/.452 with 12 homers and 14 steals through 130 games / 538 plate appearances split between Class-A Advanced and Double-A in his first full season in 2017. He also displayed strong K/BB ratios, striking out at an 18.5 percent pace to go along with a quality 11.7 percent walk rate.
It remains to be seen whether the trades of Souza, Odorizzi and Dickerson will serve as the catalyst for a full-scale fire sale in St. Petersburg, where the Rays still have highly appealing assets such as Chris Archer and Alex Colome. Technically speaking, the Rays have MLB-ready assets that can plausibly step into the fold in the place of Odorizzi, given the presence of pitching prospects like Brent Honeywell, Jose De Leon, Banda and Ryan Yarbrough, among others. Mallex Smith, meanwhile, is an option to step into the outfield in place of Souza or Dickerson, while veteran Denard Span can handle another outfield spot.
But, it’s also true that the Rays face an uphill battle in a competitive AL East — especially following the subtraction of two of their better hitters from 2017 and a rotation mainstay in Odorizzi. Viewed through that lens, there’s good sense for the Rays to continue to at least explore trade possibilities for the likes of Archer and Colome as they look to bolster their farm, improve their draft/international pools for the 2019 season and establish a new wave of controllable, pre-arbitration assets that can help their lower-revenue organization form a core in the next competitive cycle.
That type of thinking has drawn the ire of agents and the Major League Baseball Players Association this offseason, given the diminished number of teams that are even entertaining the thought of signing veteran free agents. But, it’s also factual that the system, as currently constructed in the latest CBA, favors aggressive tear-downs more than it does trying to walk the line between rebuilding and contending — a reality that could conceivably push the Rays into further action on the trade market.
FanRag’s Robert Murray got the ball rolling on the story by reporting that Solak was headed to the Rays for an unknown return (via Twitter). FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweeted that Drury had been traded to the Yankees. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic broke the three-team nature of the swap, including that Souza was going to the D-backs (Twitter link). Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Banda was coming to the Rays in the deal. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Widener’s inclusion in the deal (Twitter link). MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert added that there were a pair of PTBNLs going to the Rays in the swap as well (via Twitter).
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
block buster ?¿
Strange trade. Yanks have a ton of OF but used Tampa to send an OF to Ari for Druri?
A ton of ‘pricy’ outfielders that are LH hitters. Souza was under 4mil and is a RH hitter that can replace some of the power lost in JDM.
Drury also has experience at 2B and 3B so he was likely brought in as IF depth.
Ton of outfielders? Like whom? No one nearly as good as Sousa (whom they would be willing to trade). Ellsbury is terrible.
ellsbury gardner hicks frazier judge stanton etc etc
he said “ton of pricy” lefty hitters. Gardner and Ellsbury are lefties, Judge, Stanton and Frazier are righties and Hicks is a switch hitter.
Ellsbury is overpaid but not terrible. Posted a 1.7 WAR in a limited number of ABs last year.
You would really choose to send one of those than souza? Are u serious? For Drury? Gtfoh
It’s bas8cally to keep Torres down in triple A for an extra week. So they get an extra year of control. Once Torres debuts. Drury will move to 3rd. Torres will play 2nd until he takes over for Didi
Why would he take over for Didi? Good cheap insurance pickup. I agree they will hold Torres for extra year of control. They will say they want to ease him in after TJ surgery.
You were doing well. Until you said Torres would take over SS. For what, so ten they still have to look for a 2b and Didi is a pretty good SS defensively and offensively
From what I hear, Arizona was content on acquiring Souza and only Souza since last December
Marlins and Rays might as well combine their best players and compete as one team…
They’ve only got archer, Honeywell, eovaldi, snell, de Leon, Andriese, And Faria. Why not add another? I am confident the rays will finish in the basement now.
Well they used 8 starters last year overall, got to have that depth.
I suppose so. They have to see denard span play everyday for sure now though.
You’re forgetting Chirinos.
And that’s a pretty solid rotation to move forward with.
I think Yarbrough wins a starting spot out of ST. He’s improved every year through the minors and he put in about 160 inings last year of 1.16 whip and more than 9 k/9.
Rays have already announced a 4 man rotation to start the season – Archer, Snell, Faria and Eovaldi. Yabrough will probably be turned into a LOOGY.
Haha that’s great!
Great day to be a Yankees fan. Bad day to have class.
I would rather learn the details of this trade, than learn mortgages. Just found out.
Brandon Drury? he’s 25, team control through 2021.
Three team trade with AZ… Hopefully this trade works as well for NYY as the previous 3-team trade they did with AZ, landing Didi.
Drury hit .267 with 13 homers, 63 RBI in 445A at-bats and worth +1.2 WAR (2017)
Cons: 28 walks-to-103 strikeouts.
2017 Defense: +5 DRS, +0.8 UZR.
Prospects NY gave up:
23-y.o Nick Solak who hit .297/.384/.452 (143 wRC+) with 12 homers in 538 PA btw High-A and Double-A.
23-y.o Widener 119.1 Innings with 3.39 ERA (3.05 FIP) High-A. Strong 26.4% K rate (129K) but 10.2 BB% (50 walks) Scouting report “Mid 90s fastball guy even as SP and on his best days, slider will be unhittable, still working to figure out changeup. Maybe destined for bullpen and there’s nothing wrong with that”
Widener ranked #15, & Solak #18 in NYY System by Law — 12th and 22nd by Baseball America.
Edit: Widener is #15, & Solak #18 in NYY by Law.
(correct)
But Baseball America had Solak #12, Widener #22.
(BA ranks Solak higher than Widener— Unlike Law)
I like what the snakes r doin. Goldy, Tomas, Pollock, Lamb , Souza, Segura, Owings, Dyson ,Avil a. Argueably the best 1-2 combo with Greinke & Ray. Corbin(s no slouch either. Time throw a few stoychki’s on AZ
Segura was traded to the Mariners 2 years ago…
Greinke, Ray, Miller, Corbin, Godley & Walker solid stable of SP’s. Snakes could sure use Segura & Haniger, D-backs got Dipotoed in that deal. Need to add to their pen, Bradley & Boxberger not enough. Great deal to land a 28 yr old OFer for $3.5 mil who hits 30+ bombs.Souza needs to improve his k-rate & take some walks. Dbacks middle infield awfully thin now with Drury in pinstripes though.
Cashman goat
As a Redsox fan I AGREE Cashman is the best.
Cashman 2nd best. Eppler GOAT.
Yeah. Hard to argue against a man who broke two curses.
I think I am supposed to laugh at that.
What? Eppler couldn’t hold cashman’s jockstrap! What have the angels won in the last ten yrs? Don’t worry I’ll wait!
Pretty sure Cashmans never owned a jock strap.
The Angels won this off-season for a fraction of the cost that CASHman paid.
We won’t know if he won the offseason until Ohtani proves to be who he’s supposed to be. Other than that, all they did was resign Justin Upton and sign a couple aging infielders.
Angels didn’t win anything. They won’t make the playoffs. They still need pitching, a closer and maybe a few relievers
What planet do you come from Bart. “The Angels won this off-season for a fraction of the cost CASHman paid” let’s see. An aging 2B-Kinsler,a SS who always seems to be hurt Cozart to play 3B which is ???,spending big to extend Justin Upton who has been proven to be unreliable and moody(how many times has he been traded),oh and finally willing to hamper your staff with an unproven player (Ohtani)not to mention the grief they’ll get from Pujols about having to play firs..yea they sure won the winter. You’re just too easy guy. Lofl
What did Cashman pay again? Stanton’s AAV is 22 million. He sent out Castro(8.5M AAV, I believe) and he shipped Headley(13M AAV) to SD. Yeah, you might want to look at your numbers again, bud.
Enough with the GOAT talk. ESPN and MLB network have ruined the minds of this generation of baseball fans. Cashman isn’t even in the GOAT conversation. How hard is it to have unlimited funds to run a team? Before baseball became haves and have nots is when you knew who the best GMs were. I’m not saying Cashman is bad…. but cmon. The Yankees SHOULD win every year with their budget. Same goes for the Red Sox, Fodgers
Oops….. Dodgers and Cubs.
The Angels also signed Moutan (sp?) Ohtani Kinsler Cozart for less than NYY have to pay Stanton…and none are signed to long bad contracts.
25 straight winning seasons the most of any team in all professional sports. That is the definition of WINNING EVERY YEAR!!!!
Cashman improved team and lowered team salary. Who did he overpay for this offseason ? We will see what Ohtani can do in majors, not sure they won the offseason. I would say it’s a win for all teams by slowing the salary boost a little and not signing the crazy asking prices and years.
He also dropped Headly 13 mil , Castro 8 mil , and CC salary was cut by 14 mil from last year. He paid 26 mil/ yr for Stanton.
I see your point but I do think they overpaid for Stanton in terms of contract years. The media bubble will burst before his contract expires and it will likely be an albatross around their necks.
How many championships this century?
If having unlimited funds, why he didn’t sign Yu, which he wanted?
Two Butchie,yea it’s been a bad century so far only Four World Series appearances numerous ALCS and divisions wins and team of the 00’s. How’s your team done this Century.
They never wanted Darvish.
Fact
Stanton’s AAV is $22 million?
It’s $25.67 if he opts out. If he doesn’t opt out, including the money Miami would send, it’s $25.50 (+$10 million buyout) he the Yanks decline the final year option, and $26.36 million if they accept.
Castro’s AAV is also higher than that.
But regardless, it’s sort of apples to oranges, there. The guaranteed money between Castro and Headley is $36.71 million. The guaranteed money for Stanton is $265 million (assuming he doesn’t opt out).
Eppler carried Cashman in NY. Cashman always needs his 300 million offseasons to stay above water.
Well said… Payroll disparity has made MLB a farce. Still fun to watch but I have given up on my team competing.
They may as well have signed Lyle m
Mouton. Lotta Icey-Hot gonna be used in that Angels clubhouse
The baseball in round my boy… a single A team can beat any MLB team on a bad day…money helps but it doesnt determine championships….this aint the NFL or NBA…
Friedman, Cashman, Theo, Indians, Astros, in that order. IMO
Surprised to see Souza and not Dickerson.
Who are these people?
Drury is a throw in from the Upton trade to Atlanta that way over performed and became a solid third baseman, but recently regressed. Souza is the player that the Rays got from the Nationals in the Trea Turner 3 way trade with the Padres. He was a once highly regarded prospect that hasn’t lived up to expectations
I’m kinda sick of all the everybody sucks comments on this site, so I’m going to reply here.
Drury had a higher WAR last year than 2016 and his OPS was basically the same, not sure where the ‘regression’ is that you claim. Looks like a solid player who maybe has some upside.
Souza hit 30 bombs last year and had a WAR over 4, not sure what the expectations were but he looks like a capable player in his prime to me.
Could the Rays be preparing to dump even more salary by trading Archer to my Brewers and now have a spot for Santana?
I totally agree with you
That would suck even worse as a rays fan. Not saying brewers don’t have the prospects but they don’t have any elite prospects left and not getting an elite prospect for archer would be a hard pill to swallow.
The Rays could probably attach Span in a package with Archer. If they’re trying to cut payroll drastically more, that would be one to do it.
At this point in the mini-tear down, why would the Rays want to add anyone who has already used up pre-arb years? Santana will not be traded to the Rays. Unfortunately, I cannot say Archer won’t be traded by the Rays.
Statistically it looks like he performed almost the same.
The Rays can’t land Souza, they have him
Ok then
so much for andujar being the guy?
Drury seems more likely to be insurance/a good platoon guy. He’s mostly played 2B anyway.
Great job Yankees! Help take pressure off the entire infield!
Delays Torres’ service time. Good move. Drury can alternate between second and third.
Exactly!
Yankees and Dbacks seem to be good friends in 3 way trades
My thoughts exactly
Count me 3
Didi to Yanks, Shane Greene to Tigers, Robbie Ray to D-Backs, in case nobody knew.
Or going back further, when Max Scherzer was traded with Phil Coke, Austin Jackson and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers as part of the three team trade that brought Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks and Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. Tigers obviously won that trade, and Yanks won the Didi trade.
Would have been funnier if it was Detroit instead of Tampa in the trade.
You know the poster in the Tiger’s front office strictly prohibit’s this, Mike……
Drury has a lot of potential. I’m hoping Souza proves to be worth it.
Rays got the best of this deal
Why’d ownership wait almost 4 months into the offseason to dismantle the team? Sure, Longoria was gone by December, but this is the third key player to be removed from the team in as many days.
Held out for a better offer that never came
Or this was the better offer…
Agreed, I would have thought Souza would bring more of a return.. This offseason has been brutal for corner OF..
Simple….season tickets were already renewed so they got their money.
Hell yes. Exactly what we need. Second baseman that allows us to keep Torres down for arbitration reasons (sorry but that’s the way the game works) and a possible super utility bat to back up Andujar and Torres as the city goes on. Ninja Cash does it again
I’m a Yankee fan. Who the Hell is Nick Solak?
Who the hell is Drury?
he’s actually a pretty decent prospect. MLB.com has him ranked as the #5 best 2B prospect in all of MLB
One of my favorite sleepers. He was their 2nd rnd pick in 2016 draft. Pretty good numbers over the last two years. Could be the next Pedroia…..or next Rob Refsnyder. Time will tell…haha
Well Rob Refsnyder is a god so if that’s his ceiling the Yanks have a generational talent on their hands.
Per John Sickels
Nick Solak, 2B, Grade B: Age 22, second round pick in 2016 from University of Louisville; hit .297/.384/.452 with 12 homers, 14 steals, 63 walks, 100 strikeouts in 465 at-bats between High-A and Double-A; best tool is running speed, also has a good eye for the strike zone and showed more pop than anticipated in ’17
hes a decent prospect. has defensive issues but he rakes
The 8th best prospect in your system according to MLB. U sure ur a Yankee fan?
You are not a Yankees fan. Usually teams fans know the players in the minor league all the way down to single A. Solek was talked as maybe even playing 2b.
Most fans don’t get to sit in front of their computers all day but they are as much a fan as you are.
How about going to minor league games then, friend?
You need to quit with the tough talk, corn-neck. Knowledge of minor league systems (or lack their of) is not a determining factor of being a fan. Most fans just watch the big league games (I mean, it’s called MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL here)…
I am familiar with the upper levels of the Yankees systems, and knew of Solak because he was highly touted, but “most fans know them down to single A” is just horescrap.
The closest minor league team to New York is in Staten Island, which is not easy to get to for many New Yorkers, and it’s basically the “rest out of high school & players that will never make the majors” team. Single A is in Charleston, NC. AA is in Trenton, a place a lot of New Jersians don’t want to go, let alone New Yorkers who don’t drive cars. AAA is in Scranton, PA, a place completely inaccessible to locals who don’t drive, and is still a 3 hour trip from the biggest parts of Yankee country.
Going to minor league games is a fun time, but certainly isn’t what make one a fan, nor does it make you more of one.
#burntheflag
Very cool
Not a big fan of this move. Feels like a move to make a move. Andujar clearly looks like he deserves a shot at 3b and has a higher ceiling than Drury and we all know how serious they are about Torres. But then again it’s not like the Yanks couldn’t move Drury if needed.
Nick Solak I think we be a solid mlb 2b.
It’s more about delaying Torres’ service time so they keep him from FA a year longer.
That requires him to miss like the first 10 games, not something you really have to go out and make a move for.
Yeah but are you really gonna play 2 roookie infielders over 150+ games with no backup plan?
They could just start him at triple A for two weeks. I really hope they give Andujar a chance.
They also have Ronald Torreyes so they will have 2 Enoch guys that can play most positions. Anduar will get a chance for sure but Cashman basically picked up some cheap insurance to give the guys a chance to adjust. I’m hoping Anduar as an amazing year so they won’t overpay Machado. Give me Kershaw and Kiekle next year instead.
Kershaw already has an injury history and will break 2000 ip this year.. The Yankees should steer clear of him and the bidding war that will ensue with the Dodgers..
Was going to suggest a trade for Bumgarner instead of overpaying for Kershaw( agree he’s a health risk) but figured people would go crazy. Dallas K and the Bum would be amazing addition instead of Machado or Harper.
Drury is a steal at $500k for a guy who can play 2nd, 3rd and OF. He keeps 2nd or 3rd warm for either Andujar or Torres, probably both to some degree. Solak hopes to be Scooter Gannett. I’d rather have Drury for 2 years at league minimum and win now vs. waiting on a guy who was never in the plans to contribute anytime soon.
Gennett
Scooter had a good year in a launching pad and isn’t great defensively. Yeah I’d most certainly have Drury.
It’s DEPTH!
Not many Major League caliber players left in Florida.
and realmuto stands alone….
.. and is now joined by bour straily archer colome and dickerson(for now)
The Rays are a disgrace. Who’s the bigger joke in Florida, Miami or Tampa?
First they DFA All-Star Chris Dickerson over 6M. They already traded Longoria and Odorizzi. And now they trade Souza who’s actually a youngish OF that’s productive.
Go away Rays.
Still butthurt about Matt Moore trade, eh? OR was it the Giants $200 million 64 win team? Good luck with the Longo contract and one of the weakest farms in baseball. Should be an exciting next decade for Giants fans!
Matt Moore was just dandy in 2016. And we thank you for Longo and taking Span.
I just feel bad for you as fans. You’re top 12 players in WAR, more than half are no longer Rays. And Archer and Colome are surely next.
I personally don’t like what I see from the Rays. I understand lowering payroll, but to blow up the team really sucks!! As for Longo, I still like him as a player and I think he’ll be productive for the Giants. And who knows if maybe a change of scenery will jolt him to have a much more productive season. I don’t get why we took on Denard Spans contract, but it is what it is. I’m interested to see some of our young bucks play.
Yeah, you’ll be hard pressed to find many/one Rays fan that like’s what they’ve seen in recent days!! That said, seems like a good return for Souza, who has taken some strides, and seems like a great all around & clubhouse guy – but does have a 30+ K rate, and didn’t fit in with the upcoming core’s timeline…just like Odor, BSD, and even Longo to some extent (although that is more so about expected decline).
Way to go Raysdaze! Why is a SF fan even telling the Rays to go away? Besides the Rays are going away very well competitively on their own.
Is Chris Dickerson related to Corey Dickerson?
Pretty much same person… point remains. They DFA’d a 6M All Star because…
Every team needs an AllStar.
Dickerson was awful; the 2nd half. What does TB know? If no one claims him he’s got 3 options according to Roster Resource here. Does he get his MLB contract if he’s in the minors?
He has enough MLB service time to refuse a minor league assignment. He’d get his money either way though.
He doesn’t have enough service time yet to refuse the assignment. He’s a season of control away. That said if the Rays release him they save about 5M. Dickerson was terrible in the second half and really without a position. Corner guys who are more so DHs have shown not to be valuable this offseason. The idea was probably to tender him and trade him, but that probably went awry as the market developed. Longo was a year away from 10/5, his best days are behind him.
I don’t normally take up for small market teams, but you’re so off base. You can make fun of the Rays all you want, but it’s simply what they have to do to survive right now. Until they get a new stadium, preferably where fans show up, and a new tv contract they are stuck trading in depreciating assets for future value. It’s absolutely completely different from the Marlins, but hey you seem extremely intelligent @SFGiantsGuy. Dickerson is meh, just will be another LHB with no position that is victim to the way baseball is played now. Just for sake of argument his WRC+ per month went from a 169,169,121,84,82,53 maybe just maybe the Rays know something you don’t crazy thought I know…
*169,160
The Rays run the small market club like this because they have to! Not like the A’s who have the money
It’s Corey Dickerson, and they probably felt like they were selling high on Souza. But this return is solid. Banda has a lot of promise and could potentially setup, and Solak is a solid middle-infield prospect. They now have a solid infield prospect for every infield position.
I hated seeing Souza and Dickerson go, and they probably did as well, but ownership is telling them to trim down, so what could they do?
My guess is that they’ll sign a leftover free agent or two and trade Archer with Span to free-up more payroll space and bring in a couple of outfield prospects. Very likely they could get a solid pitching prospect as well.. Solid young pitching staff to move forward with as-is, though.
The Rays aren’t in terrible shape moving forward.
If they were willing to let Archer go to the Yankees they could easily get those solid OF (Frazier) and pitching (Adams/Sheffield) prospects you are looking for.. When they were trading Price a couple of years ago they were said to be unwilling to trade him within the division.. Only to see him end up with The Blue Jays and then Red Sox the following year..
Way too much for archer.
Souza very good but like this trade is sooo strange and one sided towards arizona
Nooo how can they give up on Drury so quickly.
Solak and Widener for Drury? Terrific trade for the Yanks.
Seriously? It seems like an overpay for an average player
WRONG. His WAR was 1.6, and WAR is everything, so unless you have a sabermetric stat to counter WAR… you are WRONG. He’s above average.
Ellsbury had a 1.6 war. He wasn’t above average. I think Torreyes had a War of 1+
1-2 WAR is average guy. 0 war is replacement level. There’s a difference
1.6 WAR is ok if you make about 12 million or less. In that regard Ellsbury is below average.
Drury is a definite depth piece a platoon guy that can play a little 2B and 3B. I really hated to see Solak go but the Yankees do have a glut of infielders and even though I liked him still not a major leaguer yet. Good trade Cash as usual.
And good for Solak !
Best of Luck, Solak !
Significant?
This should help the Rays secure financing for a new stadium.
My sarcasm meter just went off…
Why would the Rays trade a 30 hr outfielder for a middling second base prospect?
the motivations for all the Rays moves this off season have been pretty obvious.
What’s “middling” about either Solak or Widenor? Just because neither appeared on a top 100 list? Both were drafted in 2016. Solak in the 2nd and Widenor in the 12th or 16th round. Each guy was impressive in their 1st full seasons. They profoundly would be top 7-10 on a week fam system
The Diamondbacks did really well to turn their infield logjam into a solid starting outfielder, and the Yankees did well to add some infield insurance on the cheap.
I don’t really get what the Rays are doing.
Rays ownership to Derek Jeter, “hold my beer”
great comment!
lmao
Generating content for “The Ray Tank.”
I’d say this is a solid trade for all teams. I’d give Arizona the edge if any.
Agreed, teams are getting good at making trades that look to improve all the teams involved.
They also gave up Taylor Widenor one of their SP from the 2016 draft. Not a fan of this deal.
yes, they have it wrong above. he’d be going fromr NYY to arizona. widener could end up a reliever but a nice arm.
Actually it’s a smart trade. They got him because he can play 2B & 3B and it’s also good financially. They will possibly be able to keep Gleyber Torres and Andujar on the roster both with Drury around for insurance. They can also use him like a Ben Zobrist
I just don’t see the need. Drury isn’t that much better than Torreyes except he has more power. His glove at 2b or 3b isn’t anything special. We have Andujar, Torres, Estrada and Wade who all deserve a shot to win a position this year. It seems that Widenor and Solak are a lot to give up for the rather incremental difference between Drury and Torreyes who will probably both be utility guys.
Solak is a good player, but he was blocked as a Yankee. Same with Widenor.
Not really. I mean, there are others in front of him on the depth chart but Torres hasn’t won their job yet. He’s simply the preferred guy they want to claim the spot.
Put it this way, I’d rather they used those guys to get a pitcher not a IF. If they truly see him as a back up then just it would have been better to sign a veteran utility guy on a 1 year deal and keep the prospects.
Solek upside is what? Roughly Brandon drury? Not the same profile but likely similar value. Now they get that player now when they need it.
i would say his upside had yet to be determined. he could be the next Pedroia or the next Refsnyder
It’s very extreme to say he could be the next Pedroia.
Solak is entering his age 23 season and spent most of last season at High-A. Pedroia debuted in his age 22 season, won the Rookie of the Year at 23, and the MVP at 24. It’s very, very unlikely he’ll end up producing like Pedroia has since 2007 (53.0 WAR).
Hitting wise, I guess he has the chance to be similar if everything goes right (the best case scenario). But he projects to be an average defender at best, whereas Pedroia is a four-time Gold Glover who’s posted a career 15.0 dWAR.
Torres has never played in the majors l, so how van you say which one is better. We known which one is supposed to be better, but right now, it’s not guaranteed.
Yanks are getting frugal
Wait till next year ! Will show you whose frugal
I mean last time Souza was traded was a 3 team trade too…
the Nats got Trea Turner and Joe Ross from Padres
the Padres got Wil Myers from Rays
the Rays got Souza and a Lefty prospect Travis Ott from Nats
so that went OK for the Padres and nice for the Nats…
That went good for the rays and Nats. Pretty bad for the padres. They have an 80 million dollar Steven Souza right now in wil Myers.
Since that trade Myers has been 6 WAR, while Souze has been 6.3 WAR. The Rays also received Jake Bauers who is a top 50 prospect. While Trea Turner still looks to be the best player in that trade, I still like what the Rays received back compared to what they gave up. I see the Padres as the clear loser in that trade.
Souza is so maddening….He has serious potential but homeboy needs to cut down on those K’s
I guess the Braves are not looking at an outfielder after all. They have to protect another top 5 draft pick.
Rays land the guy they have?? This is poorly written
Solak is actually a very good prospect. He didn’t fit in with the Yankees long term plans due to Torres, but Arizona got a solid player in Solak. He’ll definitely be a solid MLB 2B.
Solak is going to Tampa not Arizona
Damn, Thought for sure they would add a 40 hr moose to lineup on a 1 year contact.
Wonder where Moose lands now?
White sox or cardinals is my best guess
Moose was kicking himself for not taking the QO. Probably hoped to get a one year deal with the Yankees.
yeah that 17.3 million looking pretty good right now.
He might not get 10 million now.
Teams don’t give 1-year deals to players with the QO attached. Even though the 1st round picks are protected, 2nd and 3rd rounders are still treated as gold.
Oh no. Does this mean the Moose to Yankees “whispers” now have to be put to bed? What will Heyman do?
this made me laugh
Anthony Banda is the other player.
Great move by Cashman, he wanted Drury at the beginning of the winter, and still has the money left to land a pitcher. He can get a starter now or wait until the deadline. Drury can play second or thrid and he still doesn’t block Andujar or Torres. I wonder if the Yanks sign Lynn or Cobb now?
Seriously, Florida doesn’t deserve MLB teams.
I disagree. The Marlins fans have endured multiple fire sales going back 20 years, but supported their teams when they won. They financed a large portion of their stadium when other markets (Montreal and Oakland) wouldn’t have. The Rays fans had absolutely terrible teams for their first 10 years of existence, and couldn’t convert those draft picks into top tier talent until Longoria and Price came along, but most importantly they play in the hands-down worst facility for baseball, especially given the nice weather in the area giving people better options outdoors. If they had a retractable roof in a more accessible location, it would be different story. Bad owners and bad facilities are the real issues in Florida, and the the other owners bear responsibility for allowing that. I don’t blame the fans, but I sure feel sorry for them.
Welp. Looks like the most relevant baseball played in Florida this year will be in March
The crop rotation at the Trop continues!
Both the Yankees and the Red Sox need a super sub. The Yankees goes and gets a player with potential to be one. The Red Sox go out and get… a DH.
Eduardo Nunez?
I guess you missed the Sox signing of Eduardo Nunez last weekend.
Nunez, Swihart and Holt all play multiple positions. Sox paid up to 110M for a DH who can play corner OF if needed. Yanks traded their second baseman and a couple prospects so they could bring in a near 300M DH who can also play RF if needed. Yanks are bust!
Nunez’s .313/.341/.460 last season is better than Drury’s .267/.317/.447 line. And, unlike him, Nunez can play short.
“Nunez can play short.”
-18.3 UZR/150 career at SS in over 2000 innings. He makes Derek Jeter look like The Wizard.
And he’s pretty bad at 3B too (-10.5 UZR/150)
Nunez can’t/shouldn’t play anywhere in the field at the ML level.
So what are the yankees giving up cause seems like only solak while part are moving from rays to arizona.
Seems like Archer could be on the way out too
Small error: it currently reads that widenor is going from Arizona to New York.
A very interesting trade. Positional flexibility is clearly at a major premium.
Unbelievable how is Souza not in a Brave uniform tonight nobody could tell me that what they got in this deal couldn’t have been topped by the Braves. I am tired of losing I want to be playing meaningful baseball in September at least I am tired of being out of it by 4th of July. I am tired of hearing about Comargo he should be in a battle for SS with Dansby not playing 3rd and providing no power. I know and believe that Acuna is the future but in the same breath so was Francour & Heyward and look what happened to them. There is no reason to force him up he can develop for a couple months until Markakis could establish his worth and be moved. We need a 4 hole hitter now and Souza’s price was great. I been clamoring for Dickerson or Renfroe & here Souza becomes available and we can’t ship out a couple guys from our so called best farm system ?
Unbelievable !!!!!! It’s been long enough it’s time to make moves and I don’t want Donaldson as a free agent next year. Because to me that’s what AA is waiting for to throw a ton of money at him and move Riley to the OF.
you are being way to optimistic if you think the braves will ever go after free agents
Oh shut up, They were just playing meaningful baseball 5 years ago. Go try and be a Mariners or White sox fan,
I don’t think the Braves want to win. How long does it take an Experienced GM to see what we have and what we need? 3rd basemen and leftfields have been flying off the shelves and this guy is signing bullpen guys like we have 50 already. I have had enough of this guy already!
yankees should have gotten corbin instead
So apparently it is impossible to trade Souza without involving at least 3 teams and 10 players.
Drury is…. meh, infield depth at best, BUT I think Souza can have a big year in that ballpark with that line up. Nice get for the D Backs.
If the Cubs were getting Drury you’d say he’s gonna be the best utility man in the game..OMFG!!!
Hahaha, I’m the furthest from a homer. I was very critical of Theo in 2015/16, I just happened to be dead wrong.
Could Tampa Bay now restore Corey Dickerson to its roster?
Although I guess Anthony Banda will require a slot on the Rays’ 40-man roster.
Rays and Marlins will battle it out for first draft pick next year.
Drury doesn’t block either guy. It’s a great trade. It keeps Torres’s service clock from starting on opening day. Gaining that extra year of control. And also insurance that Torreyes regresses in the utility role.
Wow, Arz gave up Banda and NY gave up Solak …and that’s all the clubs got?
In a couple years I think TB fans are going to look at this deal pretty fondly
Actually that’s very true. Both teams gave up top 10 prospects and neither got a very good return. I do think Souza can be good, but he’s pretty inconsistent
Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that minor league righty Taylor Weidner is going from Arizona to New York in the deal, too.
Widener isn’t going to NY. He is going from NY to Arizona.
So the Rays are essentially going to field a minor league team? I feel for Rays fans
You can look at it this way from the Yankee’s perspective. Out went Headley’s and Castro’s salary, (and Fraizer’s) in came the younger and far cheaper and controllable Drury and the expensive but pretty incredible Stanton, for the cost of several prospects.
Drury also permits them to control service time for Torres and Andujar,(which, if either work out, could be worth a great deal) and gives them youth and depth.
Net all around, a reasonable way to leverage their farm system. It could work out.,
After reading all these comments I’ve come to realize Drury is a much better player than people realize. You’re gonna love him in NY.
Yankees fan here who enjoyed watching the diamondbacks at times the last couple of seasons. You’re absolutely right. Drury still has a ton of untapped potential. Extra base hit machine who’s improving defensively. I’m hopeful.
One way to think about it. Another way is to observe a 317 OBP in one of the best hitting parks in baseball and conclude he’s kind of a decent utility guy, a young Daniel Descalso. Also his glove is mediocre at best. Bet he won’t play much in NY.
Sure, sure, his lack of plate discipline may limit his ceiling, but a power hitting utility infielder who keeps his average afloat and offers average defense at 25 years old with 4 years of team control is valuable no matter how you slice it.
Descalso. Lol. Surely you jest.
I agree. He’s a solid pickup. Any player that can play most positions on the field and 4 years of control starting at league minimum is valuable
Only the Tampa Bottom Feeders would consider a $3.55 million salary to be “too high” and must be eliminated so as to “reduce” payroll.
Some time soon the rest of MLB MUST address the Mickey Mouse organization being passed off as major league and force the owner out—sold to someone willing to put a big league team on the field so as to justify the big league ticket prices and concessions, being charged. That or have MLB buy the franchise, move it to Montreal or Carolina, then sell it to someone with deep pockets, someone willing to spend real money to make the team competitive for a championship, rather than the allowing the clown in charge now to embarrass the game, a guy who seems to be operating the franchise from month to month with his daddy’s trust fund interest.
It’s a sorry day for baseball when the Bottom Feeders have a lower team payroll than does the Yankees Class A team over in the city of Tampa. Not to mention that the Yankees minor league team has a much nicer, more easily accessible stadium—not to mention a better overall team—than do the Bottom Feeders who play in a stadium that more resembles a dingy and dank mausoleum, over in equally dreary St Petersburg.
The Tampa Bay Rays are a small-market franchise that has advanced to the postseason four times in the past 10 seasons, including one trip to the World Series. The Rays finished third in the AL East last year, just a shade under .500 at 80-82.
In Steven Souza, the Rays traded three years of a nearly 29-year-old outfielder projected to produce a 2018 WAR between 1.2 and 2.3:
https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5667&position=OF
In return the Rays got two interesting prospects in left-hander Anthony Banda and second baseman Nick Solak (plus two more players to be named). The trade could look good for the Rays in a few years.
The last franchise sold was the Marlins, and even with the new ownership, cant afford to operate at the payroll of the previous owner. Change isnt making them better.
And if I’m mistaken, even after the moves of the past few days the projection models (from fangraphs) estimate they haven’t regressed at all. Just because a team doesn’t spend money the way YOU think that they should, doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to be at least as good as they were before.
I don’t think you included enough doom and gloom, could I add a side order of pessimistic paragraph blocks?
St Petersburg is a tremendously beautiful and vital city that is full of energy.
As for the stadium it is a great place to see a game for its sight lines and is one of the most affordable tickets in baseball.This is coming from someone who has seen games at just about every stadium, True the Rays are hampered by financial restraints , but the farm system is
Loaded and is primed to make a run for the World Series just like they did half a dozen years ago. The Astros,Royals, these are the models to follow……Jeter and Co. Will also straighten out the Marlins . Patience is a virtue…..
Kouzmanoff’s going to be mad.
Rays are blowing it all up
DBacks fighting for the wildcard spot saw the Pirates acquire Bryce and had to counter it.
Still can’t say that without laughing
hes basically chase headley at a league minimum salary
The Yankees and d backs sure love these three team trades ! Lol. The last two they both were involved in worked out great for both teams. Let’s see how this turns out
The Scherzer trade was kind of disastrous in hindsight
Being that the Rays & Marlins are both tanking maybe MLB should create a Florida joint venture where season ticket holders of either Franchise can attend games at each other’s ball parks being that the product will be so awful…..
Rays attendance this year should be record setting…
One would have to think the Rays could have gotten a better return if they waited until July to trade Souza
Dang, Souza is worth 4 decent players? Like the deal for all sides.
“That type of thinking has certainly drawn the ire of agents and the Major League Baseball Players Association this offseason, given the diminished number of teams that are even entertaining the thought of signing veteran free agents.”
It’s funny…
When the Cubs and Astros rebuilt, they were mostly praised (Astros SI cover, for example) and I never heard the MLBPA or agents complain about them. When 3 of the 5 poorest teams in the league retool and/or rebuild, it’s suddenly scandalous.
Is it because the agents and the MLBPA know the Rays, Pirates and Marlins (except in occasional FA binges) don’t drive the free agent market and don’t care about offending them whereas they sat silent when the deep pocket teams they need to sign their clients year in and year out? Seems like it.
If I were a player/agent, my issue would be that so many are seemingly doing it at the same time. Rays, Marlins, Tiger, White Sox, Royals, Reds (kinda), Braves (kinda), Pirates (kinda).. It’s hard to blame them given the landscape of a lot of top-heavy teams, but it’s also not good for the sport if there are 6-8 intentionally crappy teams every year. If this amount of tanking/rebuilding continues,
I imagine MLB will step in and impose a revenue floor, and possibly greater revenue sharing if teams can’t field a $75 million payroll without losing money..
I asked last year how many teams would have to be in rebuild mode to impact the FA market. I think I have my answer after this winter.
Dickerson could technically be put back on the roster now, no?
Wonder how soon Yasmany Tomas is wearing an AL uniform being a DH. No way he is getting playing time in AZ. Not many DH needy teams though.
Yankees picked him solely for advertising. Judge and Drury.
Wow. Outstanding for Arizona. High walk power hitting 4WAR RF and an upgrade on defense. He should like Chase.
Rays did get the 5th rated 2B prospect with a promising bat but all told it’s got to hurt to be a fan there.
NY gets a serviceable stop gap who can play 4 positions. Drury was mostly a product of Chase in his splits and he’s no Castro but he keeps them under the tax.
Solak is the sleeper in the trade.
Like the trade for Arizona. Don’t like it for the Yankees (why not just sign Drew or Hardy to a low-guarantee, high incentive deal instead of giving up two decent prospects?).
I just feel sorry for anyone who cares about baseball in Tampa, but the move itself is fine. Getting a recent top 100 prospect and a top-10 guy from an organization with a strong farm system is good value for an arb-eligible OF who produces about 2 .5WAR/season.
The Yankees sign Drew??? Are you spending too much with the wacky weed?!? Yanks HAD Drew and he was despised by the fans and anyone with a pair of eyes. He was AWFUL!
If Cashman announced he just signed that loser, they BOTH would be run out of town.
If the Yankees want to give their prospects to other teams and only get replacement level players in return, I’ll gladly let them. But it doesn’t seem wise to give up two of their top 20 prospects on a guy who is a below-average hitter, a below-average baserunner, and a below-average fielder.
Because both Drew and Hardy are 35 next season.
And Drew can’t play the outfield like Drury and has been (at best) a replacement level player the past four years.
And Hardy has never played a game anywhere besides short, has struggled with injuries lately, finished the season with a .214 average last year, and hasn’t reached double digit home runs since 2013.
Drury es un jugador que conecta muchos 2b ,es joven ,gana poco y juega varias posiciones que puede servir de seguro en caso de que Bird se lesione.
Solak se perfila como un gran jugador! puede batear extrabases ,buen BA y muchas BB.
Los Yankees tienen la oportunidad de darle el chance a Gleyber Torres en 2b y Miguel Andujar en 3b por lo que ese cambio me parece sin sentido a menos que sea por lo antes dicho.
Tampa Bay esta de risitas!
Souza going in this trade is a surprise to me. Oh well that’s one less bat in Tampa’s order to worry about. Their already bad offense just got even worse now. At this point since they are obviously tanking why not just flip archer ? They might as well at this point considering that they are now the pre 2008 devil rays
I predict a 100 loss season.
Yanks made out well with the last infielder Cashman fleeced the D’Backs for, Didi Gregorious. Drury comes with four years of control so he’ll have time to learn the game, sharpen his skills and make himself into an All Star.
Solak is a very good prospect but NY has Gleyber Torres ready to take over second base for the next 13-14 years. Widener also had a fine season last year but the Yanks have a bunch of terrific young, hard throwing starting prospects so the organization could afford to part with him for added depth.
Looks like Andujar will start the season in Triple A, while the big losers appears to be Tyler Wade, who plays many positions, is a good defender and has very good speed—much like Drury.
Major props to Brian Cashman, who took his time and got his man: a low cost, versitle infielder obtained for good by superfluous prospects.
D-backs got Robbie Ray for Gregorius. If that’s a fleecing, then we need more fleecing’s. AZ got the best player in this deal as well. Souza will play well in the desert.
The team you were looking for who got fleeced was the Tigers.
Ray>Didi>Greene
Gleyber Torres for the next 13/14 years, really? Drury an all star?
The Yankees are lucky that they hired Castanza instead of you…..
Sort of a waste of assets here for the Yankees. Drury is good but would have made more sense to hold the minor leaguers to use as part of a more significant trade during the season. Still guys they could have signed at this point for around the minimum who could have started in the infield short-term: Phillips, Hardy, could be others. I think it would behoove them to have another older veteran around a la Holiday last year, 2B/3B would have been a good spot for one.
Solak has no spot in the future of this team. This works fine.
He was suggesting to keep Solak for a different trade down the line. Not that Solak was going to be a starter.
The talent difference between teams is becoming laughable, this is not good for the sport. Florida’s teams especially need to be held responsible, if they can’t spend money to put a major league product on the field, they shouldn’t be able to have a franchise. Same with the Pirates and A’s, It’s constant rebuild and pray for a 2 year window, then fade back into obscurity.
Cashninja again
Good trade.
So now we have like 7 or 8 players competing for 2 spots in Spring Training…
Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres, Danny Espinosa, Jace Peterson, Tyler Wade, Ronald Torreyes, Brandon Drury…I think thats it
While a little healthy competition is often a good thing this is getting a little silly now, especially given how capable the “Toe-Night show” proved to be last season.
Who’s gonna back up Bird when he sneezes and ends up on the DL for 6 months? Wish we kept that Garrett Cooper guy we got from Milwaukee, he had promise.
To be fair, Danny Espinosa and Jace Peterson werent really in the running to begin with. But still, you make a point. Im all for Gleyber and Andujar taking over the reigns but with Wade looming, Torreyes being a serviceable backup for 3B, SS, and 2nd, and now Drury, I cant help but think that its becoming too crowded. Didi wont and shouldnt go anywhere. I get that you probably need somebody to play 2B to keep Gleyber another year but you didnt need to make a trade like this to keep a player down 16 days. Now we are at this crossroads where we dont know what to do with the odd mans out. We already have this problem in the OF with 6 MLB level players all looking for a spot in the OF and now we have 5 viable options for two positions. I guess its a good problem to have but a problem nonetheless.
You keep saying “we”. Are you in meetings with Cashman and Boone about all of the problems? I think we should all relax and see what Cashman builds this team into by August. They overachieved last year. I’m not sure why everybody has them pinned for WS. I do think the second half of season pitchers did figure out Judge a bit. After AS break most of his homers came off September pitchers, some call ups and some packed season in already. In playoffs, with playoff pitching he was back to slumping. I think Sanchez and Bird healthy could each out homer Judge this season.
“You keep saying “we”. Are you in meetings with Cashman and Boone about all of the problems?”
Yes, i am number 1 analyst for them. Jokes aside, by saying “we” im not trying to claim that I have direct influence/ownership of these decisions. I am just giving my analysis from a fans perspective looking at a team through an ownership’s perspective. Its figurative speech. If you want to throw a hissy fit about it then be my guest. You know, next time you reply to someone, you should actually address what they say instead of rant on about random stuff, yeh?
Would just like to point out the Biggee’s just got a .271/.319/.767 multi -position 25 yr. old for two non-roster invitee’s. Hmmm…
The Rays are becoming laughable at this point.
Terrible trade from the dbacks side
Great trade for the Dbacks!!