As you may have noticed during the 40-man roster hubbub, former top prospect Brent Honeywell Jr. was traded from the Rays to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. For the Rays, losing Honeywell was simply a roster crunch issue, as well as a desire to give him more opportunities, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “We wanted more than anything to give him an opportunity to go somewhere and get a chance to pitch on a regular basis,” said Kevin Ibach, Rays senior director of pro personnel and pro scouting, per Topkin.
Honeywell made his way back from multiple arm injuries to make his Major League debut in 2021, but his future is simply too uncertain for the Rays, who are looking to maximize their competitive window in a tightly-contested AL East. The A’s, on the contrary, are looking to scale back their payroll. Honeywell, therefore, fits the bill for them as a high-ceiling, high-risk arm who bring a touch of intrigue to the roster.
The 26-year-old is out of options, so he’ll need to make the team out of spring training to avoid being exposed to waivers. He’s likely to pitch a swing role out of the bullpen, though much depends on what how many players the A’s ultimately end up dealing this winter.
The Rays have been typically proactive in clearing 40-man roster space this winter, dealing away Mike Brosseau, Louis Head, and prospect Tobias Myers in addition to Honeywell and southpaw Ryan Sherriff, who was claimed off waivers, and Adam Conley, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment. The Rays are not coy about trading prospects like Honeywell and Myers, especially as a means of “paying it forward,” or acquiring younger prospects for players that need to be on the 40-man roster.
I really hope Honeywell does well over in Oakland. Though the Rays trading a pitcher is always going to lead to some skepticism over if that pitcher still has it, especially after as many injuries as Honeywell has had.
Rays are doing something right though. I give up. Watch em’ win the AL East again in 2022. I definitely wouldn’t be surprised. That got something going with all this Analytics.
Analytics aren’t why they’re good. Loads of teams (most of them) do just as much if not more. The Rays are on a roll because they are uncanny evaluators of talent, particularly pitching. They just know something about what to look for in young pitchers that no one else knows. Or how to develop them, or both.
What’s your source that most teams use as much or more analytics than the Rays?
Don’t you think analytics are what is helping them evaluate that talent? Analytics is an umbrella term, encompassing a lot.
It’s not just analytics that make the rays good, if it were a simple mathematical equation then every team would use the same system. The rays staff are great at building depth, drafting, and having an abundance of good pitchers (with great analytics), so they are able to use who is throwing best at the time, then they have multiple options in Durham that are ready to come up at anytime.
It’s more complicated than just a single mathematical system but whatever analytical secret they have they’re not telling anyone so not everyone is using it. This is not mutually exclusive with your point though. They have great scouting, great everything, you’re right.
Rays have no roster space to work in a guy coming off multiple arm surgeries, they are in kill mode, and Honeywell is not automatic. A’s had lots of roster spaces open and if the A’s got him, it most likely means he will be their next Cole Irvin, not “Rays cutting him loose, he’s done”.
Trade works well for both sides, Rays got something for damaged goods, A’s got a low floor high ceiling former top prospect for basically nothing.
I’m surprised they just up and traded him for cash considerations considering this is the Ray’s were talking about. They did better than others I’ve seen recently who allowed the Cubs to pick up Wade Miley…. to avoid a buyout…. assumingly because they couldn’t find a trade partner
For cash considerations mean it really is a release more than a trade. The wording we Want him to give a chance to play somewhere else and that he didn’t even bring back a prospect means he is done.
The rays are not a team that cares about giving a player chances to play and they are too smart to give up on a player who has any potential left.
It is sad because he was a great talent but I think the injuries ruined his arm, that happens to pitchers unfortunately.
Would like him to make a comeback but once your arm is shot you are done as a pitcher, he simply lost his stuff, his AAA k rate dropped from 30% in 17 to 20% which doesn’t play in modern baseball
Debbie Downer. Jeez ⚾️
Wow, way to admit you don’t know what player options are lol the Rays are a CONTENDER. He cannot be stored at AAA to work through his comeback, its either Rays MLB 2022, or gone, no other option.
He is coming back from like 500 arm surgeries, that takes time to get back. Contenders need output NOW. How come you cant see this obvious factual scenario thats happening and turn it into “player isnt on my fave team anymore, that means he’s toast in MLB” – yes dum dum, players who had tons of arm surgeries always end up like this, no one will give up anything or value for damaged goods, but it 100% NEVER means the players career is over. A’s got room the Rays dont, thats all that this is. Bizarre take.
No fan has the rays as their favorite team
The Rays are my favorite team.
Sorry to hear that
Why? They are the best team in the AL East and a year removed from a WS appearance. They are better than 90% of the other MLB teams including mine..
You are incorrect.
They are mine also. A terrific group of players that play their asses off and win.
I am sure you are not the favorite person in your home.. even if you live alone
Rays are my favorite team to bet on, I’m a giants fan but as a rule I don’t bet on teams I am emotionally invested in. Rays always punch above their weight which means money in my pocket.
Watch Honeywell be a real good A’s pitcher.
He was a top 20 prospect in 2018, that wasn’t THAT long ago!
The story of Brent Honeywell is why very few pitchers throw screwballs anymore. It just shreds arms, at least when combined with velocity. But man, his was a pretty pitch 3-4 years ago.
“For the Rays, losing Honeywell was simply a roster crunch issue, as well as a desire to give him more opportunities…l
_____
It’s the Rays. It’s about the money.
Yeah, the money they are going to give Wander, which is over $200M.
Haven’t seen I dunno, many teams throw $200M out there???
If MLB/MLPA sets a $100mil salary floor the Rays might was well lock in Wander through his prime years.
The offer probably won’t contain a no trade clause, so they likely trade him before the contract becomes too expensive for them.
Standard. Let’s say it is 10/200. It won’t, it’ll be something like 150M with potential to make 50M in bonuses. It’ll be something ludicrous like 1M, 2M, 3M, 4M, 5M, 27M, 27M, 27M, 27M, 27M. Bonuses all after year five after he’s traded.
The Rays track record on this is quite clear. It’s about the money then trading the player for additional prospects.
Franco has already been traded. We just don’t know exactly what year, but we will have a better idea if he signs a contract. If he’s smart, he’ll reject it.
More like we’re cheap with spending money on a guy that in all likelihood isn’t going to move the dial anytime soon if at all.
A’s current rotation is Bassitt-Manaea-Montas-Kaprelian-Irvin with Puk, Jefferies and Honeywell all potential rotation options in the event of a trade. But that rotation as it stands, is that of a contender.
Bassitt and Manaea are FAs end of season, I can see either of them getting moved for a huge package. Montas will require more due to higher ceiling/control and I can also see Honeywell coming back out of nowhere and reaching his potential here. But also, A’s can still keep everyone and contend – the option that no one from OAK has out and out said is not happening.
The FO has been clear they are open to trade ideas but are not committed to selling – this is a FACT you will never read from any MLBTR headline writer or any MLB media writer. Its really propaganda at this point, total control of a narrative because the team itself will never commit to saying anything concrete, so the press goes “alright then, you are selling”. They have done this almost every year of the Beane tenure after Giambi left. Totally fraudulent claims because the writers are forced into being black and white headline hit hunters.
You are delusional if you think the A’s aren’t selling. They let their highly successful manager walk because they didn’t want to pay him a relatively meagre salary. Oh, and the fact that they have had several “compete, sell, retool, compete again” cycles in the last decade.
Pitchers with one year of control left rarely bring back a “huge package” in a trade scenario. They’d fare better trading their players with 2+ years of control left if they are looking to maximize the talent they receive in return. Bassitt & Manaea will bring back some decent value but not nearly as much as they would if they had 2-3 years of control remaining.
I’m pretty sure Mike Marshall (of Dodger fame) is Honeywell’s uncle or god father or something; maybe just Honeywell’s dad’s buddy. But Marshall’s the one who got him into the screwball. And, ya it has seemed to destroy his elbow.
Too bad. I saw him in AA a few years back, and thought he’d become what Walker Buehler has……thought they had the same kind of ability.
Worth a flyer for the A’s, even if his options are cooked. They might be able to pass him through waivers at the end of spring training, when everybody’s tightening up their rosters.
uncle
Replace the As and Rays with any two other teams and nobody cares. Since it is those two teams everyone omg smartest move ever by smartest clubs in the league!!! Both teams win this wow such low risk high rewards yada yada yada
that is really an untrue statement. In most cases that anything that has to do with the Rays and/or A’s go unnoticed. Now if this trade was made between the Angels and Yankees it would have been front page material on ESPN and major sports media outlets.
You are an amusing and peculiar person. Greatly appreciated in these times of danger.
Honeywell looks like he could be Greinke’s son
Fred, he may look like his son, but he certainly doesn’t pitch like him.
Another top prospect who failed. Too many fail, that’s why I wouldn’t hesitate to trade them for an established player.
And you’ll have a losing team that’s too expensive to sustain and filled with a combo of overpaid, declining vets and minimum wage scrubs. The strategy you’re describing just doesn’t work.
I’d love to see Honeywell come back and have a successful career
Was this the guy talking a TON of smack before he ever threw a pitch in the MLB? Humble pie is best served cold.
I think that’s revenge that is best served cold – humble pie is best served warm with two scoops of vanilla ice cream
Hagen Daas required. No HFC.
Regardless of who he plays for, you have to root for a kid like Honeywell. He missed close to 4 full seasons of baseball due to injuries: part of 2017, all of 2018, 2019 & 2020 and part of 2021 too. The fact that he’s even able to take the mound is amazing and he’s still only 26 years old. Unfortunately, his body might not be able to withstand a full season of baseball. As talented as he is, it might be best for him to come back as a relief pitcher and not put as much mileage on his shoulder/elbow as starting pitchers do. If healthy, he has all the tools to be a great #3 starter and possibly even a #2 starter, but it seems like he’ll never be healthy enough to reach that potential. Hopefully he can carve out a nice career in the bullpen and fulfill some of his dreams/potential. This could be another diamond in the rough for Billy Beane, that cost him next to nothing to acquire.
Or not.
Nothing other than a roster spot.
Would be fun to watch Honeywell get to pitch more. Those screwballs really screw the arm up.