Rays
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarik Skubal | 29 | Majors | SP | Low | 0.3 | 42.1 | 11.1 | 31 | 24.8 | 31 | 37.2 |
Total Value:
31
Tigers
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brody Hopkins | 24 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.9 | 15.1 | 18.9 | 22.6 | ||
| Nathan Flewelling | 19 | Minors | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.9 | 18.3 | 22.9 | 27.5 |
Total Value:
41.8
I just think the Rays need to go for it. If not now, when? They do a tremendous job at player dev and making value trades, but they are a small market team and it is not often that they have a chance at having the best SP in MLB, and I think this is what it would take to get Skubal. Bidding against the Brewers and Dodgers, two teams with strong farm systems, and the Rays have two T100 catching prospects, I think it makes sense to trade one and have a chance to actually win it all.
They've waited 25 years for a quality catcher. They finally have two in the system and stand a good chance of developing one. I think Bodine and Flewelling are off limits for a rental
I'd like to see the Rays get Skubal but I'm not going to fall into the trap of believing that the Rays can only win with Skubal or must overpay in both total value and with the highest quality prospects to get him. If the cost is too high, then maybe the Rays should pivot to creating an elite Pen by trading for Morejon, Weaver, Raley, Varland, etc. Rays wouldn't have to part with their best prospects and they'd have some of these guys in future years.