Rays & Reds

Submitted by: ShaquilleOatmeal

Rays

NameAgeLevelP1P2AvailabilityYearsAFVSalarySurplusLowMedianHigh
Matt McLain24Majors2B4.424.313.710.68.510.612.7

Total Value:

10.6

Reds

NameAgeLevelP1P2AvailabilityYearsAFVSalarySurplusLowMedianHigh
Yandy Diaz33Majors1BMedium1.423.916.17.86.27.89.3

Total Value:

7.8

General Manager Badge
ShaquilleOatmeal

The Rays most ready prospects are first basemen. Their best prospects are first basemen. And their MLB team has too many 1st basemen. Solution...trade a first baseman. Bob Seymour is ready right now, even if his ceiling is as a LH Trey Mancini, he'd make a very nice LH DH bat. Dom Keegan is probably a 1st baseman, and his bat is MLB ready if they aren't sold on him being a C. Mead and Morel would both make acceptable platoons with Bob Seymour at DH for the rest of the year. Tre Morgan and X Isaac will both reach the MLB as 1B, although I'm not sold on either becoming everyday options at 1B. Last I checked, X Isaac was like 2/50 vs AA LHP with 25 strikeouts, and Tre Morgan had yet to hit his first AAA HR 150 PA into the season. I hate to lose Yandy, as he's one of the best hitters in baseball, but if they can stand to trade from a MLB position, it is without question, 1B/DH. The Reds find themselves a game over .500 with little output from any position other than SS and CF. This trade would get them 2 playoff chances with one of baseball's best hitters, and he his extremely affordable salaries. The Rays get themselves either their CF of the future, their SS of the future, or their 2b of the future. McLain's luck has been awful this year. In June, he had a 124 wRC+ due to a .360 BABIP. This month, he's hitting the ball 2 MPH faster per contact made, and he's had rotten luck. The Rays buy when he's at his lowest value, and expect his bat to trend upward quickly. He's gold glove capable at 3 positions, and should expect a 110-120 wRC+ yearly. A huge pickup for the Rays, even if it costs a fan favorite.

General Manager Badge
mp2891

I'm not as convinced as you are on the projections for all these guys, but I agree that 1B/DH is a position of strength for the Rays. On McLain, I worry his ceiling is Caballero, not the 110-120 wRC+ gold glove defender you see. Admittedly, his BABIP is in the crapper this year and he's probably better than the topline stats show, but he ain't beating out B.Lowe at 2B or Kim at SS if both are back next year. I'm a fan of Mangum at all 3 outfield spots and the Rays are fans of C.Simpson at CF, so CF may be off limits to McLain too. If the Rays decide to go full rebuild and trade B.Lowe, Diaz, Kim, etc..., then this trade makes sense. Otherwise, it's a crowded active roster.

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