A depth surplus and roster crunch is familiar territory for the Rays, who seemingly make a trade or two at the start of each offseason to reallocate spots to players they want to keep out of the Rule 5 draft. This winter saw former top infield prospect Xavier Edwards shipped alongside reliever JT Chargois to the Marlins for a pair of minor leaguers nowhere close to the majors.
Even with Edwards no longer in the picture, the Rays have plenty of infield talent. That could result in another trade, with a different one-time top minor leaguer also appearing to be on the roster bubble. Vidal Bruján played in 52 MLB games last season and has appeared in the big leagues in each of the past two years. He’s yet to establish himself as an everyday player, though, and it’s questionable whether the Rays are in a great position to give him that opportunity.
Bruján appeared at the back half of Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list each season from 2019-22. A switch-hitter with plus speed, he’s put up a solid .274/.355/.440 line and 70 stolen bases over 166 games at the Triple-A level. Bruján doesn’t have huge power, but he’s an advanced contact hitter and athletic enough to be a quality baserunner. He’s gone down on strikes in just 15.9% of his Triple-A plate appearances while walking at a quality 10.4% clip.
That upper minors production didn’t carry over in his first significant big league action. Over 162 plate appearances last season, he hit .163/.228/.259 with three homers and five steals in 10 attempts. Those numbers aren’t an entirely fair reflection of his performance, as Bruján’s .193 batting average on balls in play will certainly come up over a longer sample. He didn’t hit the ball hard at the MLB level but continued to make contact at an above-average clip.
Headed into his age-25 season, Bruján certainly still has promise. Yet he doesn’t have the clearest path to at-bats in Tampa Bay, at least to open the season. Primarily a middle infielder throughout his minor league tenure, he’s certainly not displacing Brandon Lowe or Wander Franco if those players are healthy. The Rays have given him some outfield work to take advantage of his athleticism. Bruján doesn’t have the kind of power one would expect from a primary corner outfielder. He’s not likely to be the caliber of center fielder Jose Siri or Josh Lowe are given his lack of high level experience at the outfield’s most demanding position.
There’s not a clear path to everyday playing time for Bruján anywhere at the MLB level right now. He still has one remaining option year, however, raising the possibility of him heading back to Triple-A Durham for an additional season.
Trading Bruján would represent a sell-low situation. He’d have value but wouldn’t fetch an astronomical return after a down rookie season. Keeping him in a utility capacity gives manager Kevin Cash a potential pinch-runner or defensive substitute later in games but isn’t likely to afford Bruján the at-bats to play his way into a more consistent role.
The latter course of action is also complicated by the Rays’ surplus of alternative bench possibilities. Assuming the club deploys 13 pitchers and position players alike, they’ll have four reserve spots available. One will go to the backup catcher. Luke Raley is out of options, meaning he’ll have to stay in the majors or be offered to other teams. Taylor Walls didn’t hit last season but is an excellent infielder, one whom the Rays trusted more regularly than Bruján when Franco and Brandon Lowe were injured in 2022. Walls can be optioned, but doing so would subtract likely the top defensive shortstop from the active roster.
It’s the opposite story for Jonathan Aranda, who comes with defensive concerns but mashed at a .318/.394/.521 clip in Durham to earn a brief MLB look. Aranda can be optioned back, though he clearly has nothing left to prove against minor league pitching. His lefty bat would also be a welcome addition to a Rays’ lineup that heavily skews right-handed, so it stands to reason the front office would prefer to have Aranda in the majors. Another top infield prospect, Curtis Mead, is almost certainly going to make his MLB debut in 2023 after hitting .305/.394/.548 over 56 games in Triple-A last season. He was added onto the 40-man roster this offseason and ranks as the game’s #36 prospect at Baseball America.
Juggling this kind of infield talent is nothing new for a front office that tends to prioritize high-contact middle infielders on draft day. It’s the kind of depth most other organizations aren’t able to stockpile, which makes even players towards the back of the Tampa Bay roster intriguing to other clubs. If the Rays feel Bruján is trending in that direction, they could open talks with other teams that have acute needs up the middle. The White Sox, A’s, Tigers, Pirates and Angels are among the speculative candidates for such a trade — particularly since non-competitive teams like Oakland, Detroit and Pittsburgh can afford to live with some early growing pains to take a chance on Bruján’s longer-term upside.
There weren’t any indications over the offseason the Rays were especially anxious to move Bruján. Perhaps an injury in Spring Training paves the way for him to assume a more obvious role in Tampa Bay than exists right now. If everyone’s healthy come Opening Day, though, he’d head into the season as an interesting potential trade chip if the Rays don’t flip him during Spring Training.
Note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly suggested Bruján was out of options. MLBTR has confirmed the Rays were granted a fourth option year, with Bruján having one option season remaining. MLBTR regrets the error.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
I’m guessing the Dodgers will flip a low level pitcher for him.
He’d certainly fit the Giants’ desire to get younger with better defense. Perhaps either Hjelle or Waites (or both) could be enough? I’d consider giving up Wade Jr, but the Giants also need a LH 1B.
Yes he fits the Giants needs, but not at the price you’re offering. They absolutely aren’t giving up Wade or Hjelle (probably not Waites either). Giving up Waites and Hjelle would be sheer madness.
Oh I hope Hjelle has a good zip next year
I haven’t joined the bandwagon quite yet. But of course I hope he shows progress and sustainable progress.
Really Pete? If Hjelle were that good the Giants wouldn’t have signed Manea and Stripling.
I think you like many, and me, have been infatuated with Hjelle’s height. But that hasn’t translated into knock out stuff. Really, he’s just organizational depth at this point. If SF can get this switch hitting kid who can play SS and has less than a year of service time for Hjelle, done and done.
DAVE — I think you misread my comment. As my follow up I said, “I haven’t joined the (Hjelle) bandwagon quite yet.”
At this moment, I don’t think he’ll be a decent rotation piece, but my point was that I didn’t think the Giants should trade a (potential) starter for Brujan, because I’m not that sold on HIS upside either, and I rather wait a little on Hjelle.
My response to Kapler’s Coconut Oil was that his trade idea wasn’t very sound.
Headed to White Sox
I know that they wouldn’t trade him to a division rival, but that would be worth a look for Boston. Issue is Boston has nothing to offer Tampa.
Red Sox and rays have no problem trading with each other as far as I can tell
Tigers could use him as a replacement at 2B for Schoop next year (or this year if his offencse tanks again) if the price is right and none of Kreidler, Maton or Wenceel Perez look good for that spot (either because they are playing 3B or don’t hit this year).
Tampa Bay is likely to be looking for non roster players back. He would definitely be a nice option for Detroit, especially with his speed, and the higher walk rate seems to be a Harris type. Kriedler to 3B and Brujan at 2B might be a nice fit.
The A’s send lazor Ramon. A’s have too many outfielders, maybe Seth brown
While Pache might be someone the A’s want to hold onto for another year or two, I can see him as a fit in Tampa.
vaderzim;
Jose Siri is a similar player to Pache.
And Pache can’t hit.
Siri is a better player than Pache – although in fairness that’s a low bar.
I’d take that any other year but I think the A’s are on a mission to play small ball for a few years. Speed and hits have been their downfall. Olson, Chapman and Laureano have all have good years but average wise it hurts to looks at it. Throw Khrushchev Davis in that group also. I’m a massive A’s fan and I wish they had more money and a new stadium but life isn’t perfect. I genuinely think they’re on the cusp of being sneaky good.
Side note:-
They and Khris Davis have the most unbreakable stat in the history of world sport…..
I hope this interests you guys cause it will never happen again
Khris Davis average 2015 – .247
2016 – .247
2017 – .247
2018 – .247
2015 was the only one of those 4 years he has under 500 at bats
Whoever picks this bum up should be fired. He’s cold soggy garbage that the Rays have no use for. So much talk of Tampa’s farm and they have him and Josh Lowe to speak of. Not impressed!
Wander die? McClanahan, etc.?
They graduated less recently
Bruján has 188 MLB plate appearances and Lowe has 200 – but sure, let’s write ‘em off.
I’m not impressed with the stupid comment
The thing is this….
In 2022 the Rays played him all over the field – 2B, SS, 3B and the 3 OF positions. He was terrible at all of them. Along with Choi messing up at 1B and their rotating Wander Franco and Taylor Walls between SS and 3B…..sometimes every other day (the angles and throws SS’s and 3B’s make are totally different, Franco and Walls were messing up routine plays because they couldn’t get in rhythm) – the Rays D was losing them games right and left so badly that I had to stop watching their games.
Brujan needs to go to a team that plays him at one and maybe two positions and gives him a chance to get grounded…..and that’s even before we get to his hitting.
@ Samuel
On this we very much agree. So frustrating to see teams take kids and throw them all over the place when they first get to the big leagues. Best way to wreck a guy. Let him get his feet under him first.
Ben Zobrist with KC was the first ‘Super-Utility player (and the benchmark for that position) and even he spent the first 2 seasons in the majors as a fulltime shortstop. It wasn’t until after he’d gotten used to the bigs that they started moving him around.
Canuckleball;
The first utility player I saw was Dick Williams with the Orioles. He actually came up with the St. Louis Browns as an OF, playing all 3 positions. A few years in they had him play 1B, 2B, and 3B as well. When I saw him the Browns had moved to Baltimore and become the Orioles.
Of course he made his name as a manager, unexpectedly getting the Red Sox to the WS in 1967, and winning 2 WS with the A’s in the 70’s. Along with managing and consulting elsewhere that got him in the HOF.
The White Sox should consider taking a flyer on him. He’s a switch-hitter who could compete for the 2B job and also has the versatility to become a competent utility player with the ability to also play SS and the outfield. He’s a recent well regarded prospect that might provide better production that an older and more expensive Leury Garcia currently offers the White Sox.
Sheets for Brujan
I like the trade a lot actually
This solves the Sox 2B situation and provide the Ray’s with young 1B/DH LHH vacancy
Tampa would only be moving him due to a roster crunch. Unless Sheets has options remaining, it wouldn’t work. The simple solution is to send Walls, who has options, to AAA to play every day and work on his hitting. He will still be available in case of injury. I’m sure they won’t be hurt too badly by whoever replaces Franco at SS on what should be a rare day off.
Rays could still use another run producer though. Right now the top of their 1B depth chart is a 3B who hit 200 last year (Paredes) and a right fielder (Ramirez) who hit 6 HR’s. Both are terrible 1B defenders. They have no regular DH either..
I’m not sure which I like best: Sheets, Walls, or Blankets.
Yankees Clipper
Sheets, but only with a pillow contract.
Manny: With that choice, you made your bed, now you have to lie in it.
Perhaps the Rays and Mariners can match up with roster crunches later this Spring. Mariners have little muddle infield depth in upper minors and some pitching they may need to thin as well as some outfield guys running against the roster clock.
Once Rick Hahn is done wiping the egg off his face over the Clevinger debacle, he might want to get a look at Brujan for the White Sox
Thanks AB for the indepth analysis of Rays young talent. As an Os fan that frets playing TB way too often year in and out, I appreciate the insight. Agree. Between these three international player prospects (Aranda, Mead and Brujan), Vidal does look like odd man out. And Mead has the most upside? Yes? No? Maybe? Super young and body has not filled out yet.
Oops. Meant “AF” not “AB”.
I think rays are best giving their prospects a shot before their window is closed. The farm is still deep
E-Rod for Bruján straight up? Have read E-Rod has yet to report to ST for pitchers and catchers and after that fiasco last year with him, I get the feeling Detroit wants him out. Not sure if Tampa would be interested though..
26 career hits and 45 strikeouts. Thats a lot of swing and miss so far
More strikeouts than hits doesn’t mean swing and miss. It means a low BABIP
I’d rather them ship Walls and use Brujan as their bench player. He is more versatile, faster, and has a better chance at becoming a decent hitter than Walls.
This kind of problem is what led the Rays to send Nate Lowe to Texas. He was in a time share with Choi at 1B and due to holes in Lowe’s swing, Lowe’s poorer defence, Choi’s consistently better statcast numbers, and perhaps trade value Choi looked like the winner. Of course injuries caught up to Choi, and Lowe figured his swing out, then got out of his timeshare and the rest is history. The same could happen to the Rays with some of these players they are unable to guarantee a position and at bats.
I suspect some opposing team is going to get lucky with a trade/pickup of one of these “blocked” players
Edwards and JT being traded to the marlins for next to nothing is so puzzling to me. I wish the Braves were in on that deal. We need minor league depth and actually in theory could use them soon