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Yankees, Mets Have Discussed Manuel Margot Trades With Rays

By Darragh McDonald | November 16, 2023 at 10:32am CDT

The Yankees have “engaged the Rays in multiple conversations this offseason” relating to outfielder Manuel Margot, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. It has recently been reported that the Rays have been discussing Margot with multiple clubs and Rosenthal reiterates that. Joel Sherman of The New York Post adds that the Mets are interested as well.

Margot, 29, has been a solid contributor to this point in his career, largely serving as a strong defender with offense just a bit under league average. Since getting traded from the Padres to the Rays prior to 2020, he has hit .264/.317/.375 for a wRC+ of 97. He also stole 41 bases in that time while generally producing above-average defensive grades: +16 Defensive Runs Saved, +21 Outs Above Average and a grade of +1.9 from Ultimate Zone Rating. Those numbers slipped a bit in 2023 but they can often be inconsistent on a year-to-year basis and Margot was recovering from a significant strain of the patellar tendon in his right knee in 2022.

Going into the 2022 season, Margot and the Rays agreed to an extension that runs through 2024. He’ll make a salary of $10MM next year and there’s a $12MM mutual option for 2025 with a $2MM buyout. Since mutual options are almost never picked up by both sides, teams will consider Margot to have one year and $12MM remaining on his deal. That’s a perfectly suitable price point for a decent regular. Jackie Bradley Jr. got two years and $24MM from the Brewers a few years back. Kevin Kiermaier got one year and $9MM from the Jays despite being 33 years old and coming off hip surgery. Eddie Rosario got two years and $18MM from Atlanta.

But the Rays have often traded away players as they approach free agency, both as a way to keep costs down and to perpetually restock their farm system. The club’s payroll for next year is currently slated to be $126MM, per Roster Resource. They’ve never gone beyond the $80MM range, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. A few members of their arbitration class will likely wind up non-tendered and the club seems to have some willingness to push payroll upwards next year, but it seems like some cuts are still going to be necessary.

There have been some rumors about Tyler Glasnow trades of late, unsurprising given his talent and $25MM salary in 2024, but a Margot trade would surely be more palatable from Tampa’s perspective. Their rotation suffered a large number of injuries in 2023, with each of Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen set to miss some or all of 2024 while rehabbing from surgery. Subtracting Glasnow would leave the club with a rotation of Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Shane Baz, Zack Littell and Taj Bradley. They might be able to get by with such a group but it’s much stronger with Glasnow in it and the club is surely aware how quickly depth can evaporate due to injuries.

Subtracting Margot from the outfield, on the other hand, would not appear to be as risky. They would still have Randy Arozarena, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe as regulars, with players like Luke Raley, Greg Jones, Jonathan Aranda, Vidal Bruján and Harold Ramírez having varying degrees of outfield capabilities as well. Even if the club considers that group unsatisfactory, they could patch together some extra depth via minor league deals and waiver claims. The cost savings of flipping Margot would be less than half of a Glasgow deal but the former would be more appealing in terms of roster construction.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has frankly admitted that they need a couple of outfielders to be slotted next to Aaron Judge. They recently tried to insert Harrison Bader into their center field gap but he didn’t hit much and was often injured, eventually being placed on waivers as the 2023 season was winding down. Jasson Domínguez made his major league debut in Bader’s absence but required Tommy John surgery, leaving the club looking for answers there yet again.

Players like Jake Bauers and Estevan Florial are some of the options currently on the roster but the Yanks would surely like to upgrade there. Bauers hit .202/.279/.413 in 2023. Florial shows some exciting tools at times but he almost always strikes out around 30% of the time wherever he’s playing. Oswaldo Cabrera hit .211/.275/.299 last year in a utility role. Everson Pereira has similar strikeout concerns to Florial and hit .151/.233/.194 in his first 27 major league games.

Trades between division rivals can be tricky and the Yanks might also have caution about Margot’s injury history, something Rosenthal points out. The Yanks have been snakebit in recent years by seeing many of their acquisitions hitting the injured list, such as Frankie Montas hardly being able to pitch for them after being acquired from the A’s. Margot has gone to the injured list in each of the past four years, with his 125 games played in 2021 the only time he got into triple digits during that stretch.

As for the Mets, Starling Marte battled groin issues that kept him to 86 games of subpar production, making him an unknown going into 2024. Mark Canha and Tommy Pham were traded prior to the deadline and are no longer in the mix. Acquiring some outfield help to bolster the group around Brandon Nimmo makes plenty of sense. DJ Stewart went on a torrid hot streak late last year, hitting 11 home runs in 58 games, but he’s generally considered a poor defender. Acquiring a glove-first outfielder like Nimmo could push Stewart into a bench bat/designated hitter role.

The Yankees, Mets and other clubs with interest in Margot could also look to the free agent market for outfielders, but that would likely mean forking out more money than what Margot is set to make. Cody Bellinger is going to require a nine-figure guarantee while players like Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. should get sizeable eight-figure deals. Even players somewhat similar to Margot, such as Kiermaier and Bader, are likely going to find multi-year deals somewhere.

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66 Comments

  1. Troy Percival's iPad

    1 year ago

    “Harrison Bader with better health” -Manuel Margot

    Don’t they need guys that can hit or something?

    14
    Reply
    • SODOMOJO

      1 year ago

      More like “IKF but a great outfield defender”

      I do give IKF credit for obviously improving out there this past year

      3
      Reply
    • RobM

      1 year ago

      As a bench upgrade, he’d be fine. The Yankees really didn’t have much of a bench at all. If their plan for him is to start, then that’s a problem. Unfortunately, he carries a $12MM price tag when factoring in the $2MM buyout, so this doesn’t seem like a good fit at all. Really not sure how much Tampa will get for Margot unless they want to eat part of the contract, and that is very un-Rays like!

      3
      Reply
      • mp2891

        1 year ago

        Rays fan here and I wouldn’t be shocked if they paid up to $5MM of Margot’s salary so as to get a somewhat decent prospect in return (probably not in the top 30 though).

        2
        Reply
        • RobM

          1 year ago

          Yes, and in fairness, despite my last sentence, that is also a Rays-way, meaning paying up some to get a better prospect. They’re always trying to aim ahead of the duck. Not convinced they’d want to do a deal inter-division, so probably hoping to cut a deal with another team. I do expect Margo to be moved.

          2
          Reply
        • KennyF’nPowers

          1 year ago

          If I’m the Mets I’d ask for Glasnow to be added and lower the prospect trade value for Glasnow by taking Margot’s contract off their hands. If not why would I help the Rays on a player they want to unload to save $$$. Margot will be another below average hitter for the Mets. We don’t need another unless there is some benefit to it.

          3
          Reply
      • Anthony maresca

        1 year ago

        For the life of me Florial played very well when given a chance and i mean the kid deserves at least a half season of consistent playing time and 300 at bats to truly see if he can hit mlb pitching. Yes he will strike out but name a player who is better defensively, speed and has power with a cannon arm for mlb minimum? Perfect CF or LF stop gap until Domínguez returns and perhaps he surprises everyone and puts up his eye popping AAA numbers and solves one of the Yankees OF vacancy. If Volpe got a long leash and hit a measly .209 then im willing to bet Florial hits .240 or better with excellent defense, power and among leaders in SB’s

        5
        Reply
        • RobM

          1 year ago

          You’d lose that bet, Anthony.

          Reply
        • User 3617846742

          1 year ago

          He doesn’t fit the Trashman mode.

          1
          Reply
      • HatlessPete

        1 year ago

        Rob I largely agree with you here. As a one year bridge/insurance policy for Dominguez Margot is a decent add imo. Good defensive upside without being likely to be a significant offensive liability. I wouldn’t be too put out by Margot starting in cf while Dominguez recovers and sliding into a quality 4th of role if Dominguez makes it back as a productive player by the asb. Not ideal that he bats righty but a reasonable option to consider as a complementary piece.

        Reply
    • dasit

      1 year ago

      there are dead men healthier than harrison bader

      4
      Reply
    • Captain-Judge99

      1 year ago

      Easy pass on Rays trashy trash! No thanks!

      3
      Reply
      • StusFirstDollar

        1 year ago

        Like anyone was going to trade with the Yankees for their “prospects”

        3
        Reply
        • Captain-Judge99

          1 year ago

          Like any of the yankees prospects were ever offered to the Rays in the lst place, so keep dreaming pal. Keep your garbage!

          Reply
  2. JoeBrady

    1 year ago

    I wouldn’t waste too much time with this rumor..

    7
    Reply
    • paddyo furnichuh

      1 year ago

      Congrats on the Bills OC job-not sure how you have time to post here

      2
      Reply
  3. NYMETSHEA

    1 year ago

    I really really hope Mets don’t get Margot. That 10 mil plus cost of prospects to acquire Margot could be spent better on elsewhere, like pitching.

    3
    Reply
    • SODOMOJO

      1 year ago

      You Mets fans are all about hitters!

      Maybe we could learn a thing or two….

      Reply
      • Diggerydoo

        1 year ago

        *Mariners would like a word on “needing” hitters*

        1
        Reply
        • SI

          1 year ago

          Mariners need an impact bat not a platoon 4th OFer… 5th OFer they have few of those on the roster already.

          Reply
    • ham77

      1 year ago

      0.6 WAR sounds about right for the Mets

      1
      Reply
    • mp2891

      1 year ago

      Margot isn’t going to cost any prospects. Certainly not any prospects that matter.

      4
      Reply
      • SODOMOJO

        1 year ago

        Reliever 1 for 1

        Reply
  4. acoss13

    1 year ago

    Yankees need lefties that can make contact, I’m not sure Margot moves the needle here…

    2
    Reply
    • SODOMOJO

      1 year ago

      Does any team really want him penciled in as starting? He can play everyday if pressed into action sure, but you want him as your 4th outfielder/occasional platoon against lefties

      3
      Reply
      • acoss13

        1 year ago

        Yup I agree, he’s not much of an upgrade for any team, let alone the Yankees. If he had some base-stealing skills he’d be worth more.

        1
        Reply
        • SODOMOJO

          1 year ago

          Yeah he’s one of those fast guys that has really poor instincts on the base paths. I was keeping an eye on him this past year to make a jump in that department with the rule changes… nope!

          3
          Reply
        • Diggerydoo

          1 year ago

          yup. He seems to “Guess” and not read the fielding. I am a rays fan, don;t get me wrong, but Margot IS a dog with fleas. From a RC-like plate discipline to clueless base running, I REALLY hope he is dealt and the batboy is called up

          2
          Reply
    • User 3617846742

      1 year ago

      No no no contact that is the Trashman way as Hal thinks swinging and missing is the way you play the game.

      1
      Reply
  5. YanksPhan42

    1 year ago

    Above average D and makes contact, but again…..oft injured and right handed. Also, not a good base stealer and has displayed little power. What’s the price tag?

    1
    Reply
  6. DugoutJester

    1 year ago

    Now this is the off season news we’ve been waiting for!

    Reply
  7. ccahoe02

    1 year ago

    As a rays fan I HIGHLY doubt it will take much to get Margot. It is more of a salary jump and maybe a lottery ticket prospect

    1
    Reply
    • mp2891

      1 year ago

      Yep. Rays fan here too and I completely agree.

      1
      Reply
  8. top jimmy

    1 year ago

    Why?

    1
    Reply
  9. thegreatgoodbye

    1 year ago

    As a Yankee fan and someone who has lost all trust and confidence in GM Cashman. I beg NYY to stay away from making any deals with Tampa.

    3
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      1 year ago

      Until the Martian returns, I’d rather keep Judge, Florial, Bauers, and Cabrera in the outfield over taking Margot and his $10MM salary and $2MM ’25 buyout. The same applies to the Mets.

      4
      Reply
      • dasit

        1 year ago

        if all 3 of florial, bauers and cabrera get more than a handful of at-bats cashman might actually get fired

        1
        Reply
      • Anthony maresca

        1 year ago

        I agree as Florial imo is the perfect #9 hitter, CF/LF stopgap, lefty with speed, power and excellent defense earning mlb minimum. This nonsense nees to stop cause if they trade for Margot then fans need to start boycotting every game to send a message Cashman needs to go!

        1
        Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          1 year ago

          He’ll get a shot again in ST to make the club but the Yankees aren’t high on his AAA skills moving over to the big leagues. There are reasons why he’s gone through waivers several times going unclaimed.

          Reply
      • Captain-Judge99

        1 year ago

        No worries this is the best”fake news” ever.

        Reply
      • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

        1 year ago

        Was wondering what happened to you YBC…thought you disappeared!

        1
        Reply
  10. Tom the ray fan

    1 year ago

    We will gladly give NY our 4th outfielder that were overpaying so we can make room for pieces that will help us win 100 games next year :p

    3
    Reply
  11. Rsox

    1 year ago

    Watch Cashman get fleeced for whatever they give up in return

    4
    Reply
  12. Mad Hatter

    1 year ago

    Just what the Yankees need, another light hitting right hand batter.

    2
    Reply
  13. Allin

    1 year ago

    The yankees don’t need another righthanded bat with a low OPS+. The MLB average OPS+ is 100. Margot has reached that once in his career., 2022.

    2
    Reply
  14. This one belongs to the Reds

    1 year ago

    He has too high a salary for Po Boy to pursue.

    1
    Reply
  15. Misty Moobs

    1 year ago

    YANKEES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2
    Reply
  16. dasit

    1 year ago

    for god’s sake just sign bellinger
    he’s the only free agent hitter not named ohtani who could actually move the needle

    1
    Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      1 year ago

      Any team that overpays on a long term contract based on one good year in a hitter’s park deserves what they get.

      2
      Reply
      • dasit

        1 year ago

        every long term contract is an overpay, bellinger has had more than 1 good year, and despite its reputation wrigley is closer to neutral than hitter-friendly

        Reply
  17. Joel P

    1 year ago

    I dont see why anyone would want Margot. At all.

    2
    Reply
  18. Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman

    1 year ago

    Margot to the Yankees??? I do not understand.

    Reply
  19. LFGMets (Metsin7) #FireCarlosMendoza&DrewSmith

    1 year ago

    Do not want him, can’t hit at all. Would rather just keep Nimmo in CF

    Reply
  20. Seaver rules

    1 year ago

    Please Metsies no. It would be like having no stick, good glove Juan Lagares. He’s a dime a dozen.

    1
    Reply
  21. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    1 year ago

    As a fan of a team, any team, doesn’t matter which team, could be literally any team, in response to a proposal to trade for Manuel Margot:

    No.

    Reply
  22. ctbronx7

    1 year ago

    That’s right, Cashman. Trade for another RIGHT HANDED hitter.

    You can’t make this stuff up.

    1
    Reply
  23. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    1 year ago

    Margot for Pereira. Now Yanks have their CF of the future!! Trade Dominguezz for Soto. (Okay some of this is mere speculation.)

    Reply
  24. badco44

    1 year ago

    Do the Yanks actually need another right handed bat in the outfield?….not!

    Reply
  25. Dmac13

    1 year ago

    I’d pass if I were the yankees I think there are better options for a 4th outfielder in a trade market.. why not go after someone like jp Crawford in Seattle, Santander or another oriole outfielder they have Santander, Mullins hays kjerstad, cowser, Stowers, mckenna and more or Gavin sheets in Chicago. Again as a 4th outfielder. But still hoping they get Joc pederson and trade for soto to go with judge

    Reply
    • rocky7

      1 year ago

      Santander wouldn’t be a 4th outfielder….the guy can flat out hit and would need to start……great trade if the Yankees could pry him away from the Orioles….doubt it….and he’s miles better than Joe Peterson……..

      Reply
      • Dmac13

        1 year ago

        Agreed Santander is better than pederson and I think he is available with cowser and kjerstad coming up to go with hays and stowers and mullins. If im the yankees id focus more toward trading capital for soto and signing pederson as opposed to trading for santander or a margot. That’s what I was trying to say. In other words why trade 3 or so prospects and then more for soto and deplete your farm? Keep a couple and sign pederson

        Reply
  26. Juggy

    1 year ago

    Until I see Cashman and the Yankees getting some really good hitting. I don’t see the Yankees winning at all.

    Reply
  27. Yanks4life22

    1 year ago

    I still feel like there is a breakout season in line for Margot. He can be average to good in almost every category if he puts it all together for a season. Really wouldn’t mind him being the CF for next year.

    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      1 year ago

      Margot another right handed hitter someone the Yankees don’t need. Go get Franco from Ray’s who should of been a Yankee from the beginning but MLB screwed that up

      Reply
  28. angt222

    1 year ago

    Rays are looking to dump their expensive players. Margot going to be paid $10M to be a 4th OF. Glasnow getting $25M when he’s never made 30 starts.

    Reply
  29. Chris from NJ

    1 year ago

    Hey Darragh,
    Just a note. The Mets don’t need to aquire Brandon Nimmo. They already not only drafted him but signed him to a pretty lucrative deal to stay with The Mets. Brandon Nimmo can’t push Stewart out unless the Mets aquired another outfielder in the ilk of Brandon Nimmo. Just a suggestion otherwise always excellent work

    Reply

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