Rays swim​ into the Ravine amidst trade rumors

Phil Gurnee ♦ July 26, 2016 ♦ Leave a comment

Evidently the Dodgers are interested in just about everyone who plays for the last-place Tampa Bay Rays. Names being bandied about are Logan Forsythe, Evan Longoria, Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore, and Alex Colome.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect for Dodger fans to get acquainted with possible future Dodgers as the Rays will be playing a two-game set at the Ravine starting tonight. Even better two of the names Chris Archer and Matt Moore will be starting the games. Dodger fans hope they don’t see Alex Colome because that would mean the Rays are going for the win.

The Rays play in the tough AL East and have been the punching bag this year for the division. At 38 – 60 only two teams have fewer wins and both of those teams were expected to be horrible. The Rays had hopes entering this season but they have been dashed.

They  have had some injuries but no key players right now. Players like  Justin O’Conner, Logan Morrison, Mikie Mahtook, Brandon Koch, Desmond Jennings, and Orlando Arcia who aren’t the stuff of legends. The one key injury that Tampa has had to deal with was one time closer Brad Boxberger, but Alex Colome has filled in so well, hard to pin the loss of Boxberger on the teams tribulations.

So why are the Rays so bad if they have so many players that teams covet? I don’t know, I’m just here to talk about who they do have.

C –  Casali, Conger, Maile. Interchangeably horrible. Austin Barnes would be such an upgrade.

1st Base – Logan Morrison was getting this gig, but he’s been horrible, and now he’s hurt. Luckily Steve Pearce has returned from the DL and Pearce can hit a little. He can hit a lot against LHP and might be the best hitter in 2016  against LHP with his 1.209 OPS.  Overall Pearce has been the Rays best hitter even with the revival of Evan Longoria as he brings a 145 OPS+ into this series.  This might be a surprise if not for the fact that Pearce did this for the Orioles in 2014.

2nd Base – Logan Forsythe did miss a chunk of time and early on this season was a huge offensive contributor to the Rays, but since coming off the DL on June 10th, he has been a liability. Overall Forsythe can brag about his 115 OPS+ but in July the OPS+ is at 65. Been an every other month for Logan so far. April – 1.035 OPS, May – .550, June – .814, July – 608

Shortstop – Brad Miller started so poorly it is a surprise he kept his job. On May 4th, against the Dodger Miller was hitting .174 with two home runs. Since that date, Miller has put up a .798 OPS with 13 long balls.

3rd Base – Evan Longoria finally found his missing power stroke. The face of the franchise has already hit more home runs (22) this year than he did all of last year (21) and as many as the year before (22).  As recently as 2013 Longoria was considered one of the great young hitters in the AL and finished sixth in MVP voting. That completed a string of six straight seasons with an OPS+ > 127, but tough years followed in 2014 and 2015, and headed into this year it was a valid question “Was Longoria on the downside of his career”? He seems to have answered the question with a resounding no. The former Long Beach State star used to go to many a game at Dodger stadium and could find himself back here as a Dodger if the Dodgers are unable to sign free agent to be Justin Turner. Longoria would have big shoes to fill as Turner is the Dodger engine.

Right Field – Sometimes trades work out, sometimes they don’t. The Rays had a huge trade chip in Wil Myers but shipped him off to San Diego as part of a crazy 10 player three team trade. Everyone got something good out of it except the Rays.  What the Rays got was Steven Souza who has some pop and speed but the strikeout rates suggest he’s got a long way to go. He already has 104 K’s in only 295 PA. His career K rate is 34%.  Orlando Arcia was picked up from the Twins for nothing and at least hit for league average while subbing for Sousa. Still that sentence, that Arcia was acquired from the Twins for nothing should tell you all you need to know about his ability. Unless of course, he becomes David Ortiz.

Center Field – This was supposed to be the domain of Kevin Kiermaier the defensive whiz but he did get hurt, and since coming back has been horrible. Horrible seems to get used a tad in this review.

Left Field – Corey Dickerson was acquired from the Rockies for their previous closer Jake McGee. Dickerson as recently as 2014 looked like a future young star but it appears he was just a Coors mirage. Dickerson is hitting in July which is good because it is the only month he’s hit in with much authority. He can’t hit left handers at all and will always need a platoon partner.  Which for the moment happens to be Brandon Guyer. Overall Guyer is doing ok work but in July he’s been horrible.
July Stats for Tampa Bay:

Now I know why they are horrible, they have alot of horrible players.