Braves
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Rortvedt | 27 | Majors | C | Medium | 3 | 9.9 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 5.2 | |
| Kameron Misner | 26 | Majors | OF | 6 | 1.9 | 0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
Total Value:
6.20
Rays
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Elder | 26 | Majors | LRP | SP | Medium | 4 | 11.9 | 6.3 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 6.8 |
Total Value:
5.6
Why do the Rays need MLB capable SP with options? Rays currently have 6 MLB starters (McClanny, Ras, Bradley, Baz, Pepiot and Littell), plus Boyle, Seymour, Rock, and Workman (among others) in AAA. All but Littell have options. Curet might possibly start the season in AAA too. After that group, the Rays have a small village of top pitching prospects who are 1-2 years away, and they will almost certainly add to that group as they eventually trade away the guys at the MLB level. Unless the logic is "you can never have too much pitching," I think I'd prefer the Rays keep their #2 catcher over adding Elder.
All of McClanahan, Rasmussen, Baz, Pepiot, Taj, and Littell spent time on the IL in 2024. Boyle is the only AAA SP with any MLB experience. The Rays play mostly home games in the first 2 months, so it is imperative to have a winning record for the first 2 months. That means having backups that are MLB capable, and I don't see the Rays having a winning record if Rock and Workman make half our May starts. If we are 30-30 in June, we're way behind the 8 ball.
Fair enough. Of course if Rock and Workman both start 1/2 our May starts, the Rays will be down 4-5 starting pitchers at that point because Rock is at best #8 in line and Workman #10. That seems highly unlikely to me, and should it happen, having Elder won’t really matter.