Rays utilityman José Caballero has gotten trade attention from some other clubs, reports Francys Romero. The versatile infielder is operating as a backup behind Tampa Bay’s typical starting infield of Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe, Junior Caminero and Ha-Seong Kim. Lowe went on the injured list this morning with ankle tendinitis, so Caballero drew into tonight’s lineup at second base. Taylor Walls will probably get the bulk of the playing time in place of Lowe, yet he was needed at shortstop today because Kim is day-to-day with lower back discomfort.
Caballero, 28 next month, has a light bat but provides value on defense and as a baserunner. He led the American League with 44 stolen bases last season, though he was also caught an MLB-high 16 times. Caballero is 32-39 as a basestealer this year. FanGraphs has graded him as an above-average overall baserunner in each of his three big league seasons. Caballero has also rated as a plus defender at each of second base, third base and shortstop.
The secondary skills have made Caballero an above replacement level performer in each of his three seasons. He has never provided much at the plate, however. The righty hitter owns a .218/.315/.310 slash with two home runs and an elevated 30.3% strikeout rate in 251 plate appearances this year. Caballero has never reached double digits in home runs nor hit above .230 in a season. He’ll qualify for arbitration for the first time this offseason as a Super Two player.
Tampa Bay wouldn’t get a huge return for Caballero. It nevertheless stands to reason they’d be open to offers, as he’s arguably a bit superfluous with Walls also on the roster. Whether to trade designated hitter/corner infielder Yandy Díaz is a much bigger question for the front office.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggested last week that the Rays are likely to hold Díaz, who is signed for another year and a half on a deal that also includes a 2027 club option. Romero hears similarly, posting that they intend to keep Díaz as they compete for a playoff spot. The Rays are half a game behind the Red Sox for the AL’s last Wild Card spot. Díaz has popped 16 homers with a robust .293/.352/.474 batting line this year.
Even as they’re in position to add before next week’s deadline, the Rays could hear teams out on their rotation depth. Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot make for a strong top two. It seems unlikely that they’d move Shane Baz. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported that the Rays could consider offers on Taj Bradley, while Zack Littell is a potential trade candidate as an impending free agent. Dealing a starter would open a rotation spot for hard-throwing Joe Boyle, who is currently operating in a multi-inning relief capacity.
The Rays still await a return from ace Shane McClanahan. The two-time All-Star has not pitched in an MLB game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. He sustained a triceps nerve injury during Spring Training that cost him the first half. McClanahan had a setback last month and has now hit another speed bump — albeit one that seems fairly minor.
According to the MLB.com injury tracker, his minor league rehab assignment has been halted after he felt biceps soreness in his most recent appearance. Manager Kevin Cash told team reporter Ryan Bass that the biceps discomfort is unrelated to the triceps problem. Cash suggested McClanahan could resume a throwing program within a few days, but he won’t take the ball for his previously scheduled rehab start at Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
“The versatile infielder is operating as a backup behind Tampa Bay’s typical starting infield of Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe, Junior Caminero and Ha-Seong Kim.”
Kim has played in 10 games this year and a few sentences later it’s stated that he’s dealing with a day-to-day injury. I’m not sure you can say he’s part of their ‘typical starting infield’.
Oh my! The internet…
The last 4 games have had the Rays infield going with Aranda playing at first base, Lowe at second base, Kim at shortstop, and Caminero at third.
BLowe is on the IL and hasn’t played in the 19th. HSK walked and stole a base on Monday, but was pulled. He is now day-to-day.
The “typical” is in reference to the starting infielders… and was not directed towards Kim.
Not sure why that went over your head nor the 9 folks who liked your comment.
Commenters on this website seem so damn entitled, bitter, negative and just so eager to complain about something. It is insane.
WRONG>>>Díaz, who is signed for another year and a half on a deal that also includes a 2027 club option.. Actually 2026 is the club option.
WRONG – the Rays already picked up his 2026 option and added a 2027 club option when doing so.
You can’t be my huckleberry.
Caballero has also been operating as the team’s 5th outfielder so he isn’t as superfluous in my opinion
unless the plan is to go after someone with more thump in their bat by flipping a starter, I don’t see why the Rays would ship him off while Morel wastes away on the bench
Keeping Cab may be the plan. Morel was advertised as having a Top-10 bat speed earlier this spring. . That would leave plenty of room to cut down the swing and still retain some power. Work in progress? Anyway it seems like nobody is interested in trading proven power even for a starter. I think the Rays know they’ll be lucky to patch together a healthy rotation next year with what they’ve got., if they’ve got Littell. They’ll have Kim at full strength, another year’s maturity of Simpson (who was instrumental in the winning run last night), And supposedly there are more guys on the farm. Not too bad.
Just like all season, I expect Cabby (254 PAs) and Walls (270 PAs) to receive essentially equal amounts of playing time.
Yandy Diaz would be a nice pick up. Just my opinion.