Athletics
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vidal Brujan | Minors | 2B | 40.6 | 32.5 | 40.6 | 48.7 | ||||||
| Brent Honeywell | Minors | RHP | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | ||||||
| Josh Lowe | Minors | OF | 25.1 | 20.1 | 25.1 | 30.1 | ||||||
| Curtis Mead | Minors | 3B | 2B | 7.3 | 5.8 | 7.3 | 8.8 |
Total Value:
73.7
Rays
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Manaea | 29 | Majors | SP | Medium | 1 | 29.5 | 10.1 | 19.4 | 15.5 | 19.4 | 23.3 | |
| Matt Olson | 27 | Majors | 1B | Medium | 2 | 81.1 | 29.5 | 51.6 | 41.3 | 51.6 | 51.9 |
Total Value:
71
There's this, too. Olson does seem an unlikely target for Tampa because of the cost of acquisition.
The only obvious hole on the Rays next year is a starting pitcher capable of being a #1-3. Rays are likely to send Baz back to AAA at the start of next season for control purposes (unless the new CBA gets rid of that game), which leaves them with a starting rotation for the first month of McClanny, Raz, Patino, and some combination of Fleming, Yarbrough, Chirinos, a free agent reclamation project like Wacha was this year, and guys who probably won't be ready on day 1 like T.Romero. McClanny is the real deal, but Raz could suffer a sophomore jinx and Patino might fail to take the next step. Lot of uncertainty in that group, which is why the Rays really ought to bring 1-2 guys in. Fortunately, the Rays have plenty of trade candidates to make it happen. That just needs to be the priority. Frankly, if the Rays wanted, they could bring back all their position players from this year and get back to the playoffs with just that group. No "upgrades" needed.
Yeah, I could see that. Like I mentioned above. I kind of just tried to throw together an Olson trade based on possible fits because people were talking about it on Athletics Nation. I would likely do this trade, if it was proposed, but I agree that Tampa may not. They'd still have to trade Choi afterward or something. I don't really like the options for an Olson trade, which is why I'd rather trade Chapman, if they're going to trade a big piece.
Chapman's a better fit for the Rays, but I think that's unlikely too. The difference between him and Wendle/Diaz just isn't large enough to justify the trade cost. Of course, if the Rays are able to acquire a good pitcher via free agency or for little in trade cost, then that opens things up for them. They absolutely have to trade several players this winter to free up space on the 40 man and make room for other promising rookies. Consolidating several players into Olson or Chapman would then make sense.