The Tampa Bay Rays have evaluated nearly every game the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees’ Florida State League affiliate, have played in recent weeks, according to league sources.
People familiar with the Rays’ thinking characterized those assignments as normal coverage, not special assignment or trade deadline coverage. That said, it’s a good time for the president of baseball operations to Erik Neander to get up-to-date reports on the Yankees’ outlook, as the teams face off on several fronts.
The Rays are going to be “active” at the trade deadline, according to a person briefed on their plans. Given their position in the competitive American League wild-card race, it’s hard to imagine being active means shopping aggressively.
The Rays are 48-48, which leaves them in fourth place in the AL East and 10.0 games behind first-place Baltimore. They are 5.5 games out of the final playoff spot, which doesn’t put them out of reach, but they are behind the Yankees, Twins, Red Sox, Royals and Astros.
Neander and his group have long earned a reputation among competitors as one of the smartest organizations in the sport. They are one of the few front offices capable of navigating the difficult situation of buying and selling at the same time, and certainly a front office that knows when to call it a day after a tough year and recharge for the near future.
The Rays have already sold two pitchers, the starter Aaron Civale To Milwaukee and the reliever Phil Maton to the Mets. But both situations were unique and didn’t necessarily mean a sellout. Civale had underperformed for Tampa after arriving from Cleveland last summer, and the Mets were willing to pay Maton’s entire remaining salary for 2024.
The trades, however, showed Neander’s willingness to remove players from the major league roster under the right circumstances.
He also showed his willingness to negotiate within the division with the Yankees as recently as March, when they acquired the catcher Ben Rortvedt from New York in the three-team deal that sent the infielder Jon Berti to the Yankees (Note to Yankees: Be careful. The Rays often win trades.)
Partly because Berti has been injured for most of the season, the Yankees are looking for help in the infield, particularly at third base. It wouldn’t be surprising if the team also upgrades second base, in light of the possibility that the free agent Gleyber Torres‘ off-season. And despite being a rookie Ben RiceBecause of the galvanizing effect he has on the team, the Yankees wouldn’t mind adding a player capable of playing first base.
It’s not rocket science. Rays All-Star Isaac Paredes He is capable of playing all four infield positions. According to league sources, the Rays would at least listen to Paredes.
We can list other names (as we said, this part is not rocket science): Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, and Amed Rosariowhom the Yankees tried to sign last offseason before dealing with Berti.
On the pitching side, at least some Yankees insiders have their eyes on the left-handed reliever. Garrett Cleavenger since the beginning of the season.
In their search for swing-and-miss relievers for the back end of the bullpen, the Yankees have long considered moving Luis Gil to a relief role. They could then add a mid-rotation starter to replace Gil’s current role.
Right Zach Eflin He is in the second season of a three-year, $40 million contract, the largest free agent deal in Rays history. He is due an $18 million salary next season, plus a $1 million bonus if he is traded.
Once again, the Rays are smart: By signing Eflin to a reasonable contract, they made him tradable for that final year. Rivals consider it far more likely that another team will pay Eflin after July, and if not, then after October.
