Just completed four trades (three major, one minor) to shake up this team in the short term and get us better situated for years to come. (For those wondering, my trade settings are set about 70% of the way to "hard" and "favor prospects")
Let's start with the biggest:
This one all started with the thought of trading Willy Adames and perhaps acquiring Carter Kieboom (expendable with the Nats' signing of Nolan Arenado) to play third with Wander shifting to SS. When I saw they'd take Bitsko that made me think I should shop Bitsko and see what I could get for him. As soon as I saw Rutschman's name pop up I had to put something together, even though we have Joey Bart as our "cornerstone" catcher. So since they wanted Bitsko (who's a top 50 prospect) bad enough to deal Rutschman, I figured I'd see what it would take to get Kjerstad thrown in. That turned out to be Vasquez, who should be a major leaguer but more of an ordinary one at best. So what does this mean for Bart? Less playing time but Rutschman can play some 1B as well and given our troubles at the position this year that will be an option. It's possible Bart could be dealt in the winter but that will depend on needs. Kjerstad gives us a glut of OF prospects, another strength we can later deal from.
Big trade #2:
Dealing Willy was our worst-kept secret, as he's gotten too expensive for his contributions. The real Rays dealt him in 2021 for pitching, and that's what I did today, acquiring Canning, who will either slip into our rotation for a faltering Brendan McKay (and with Chris Sale on rehab that spot could go to Sale soon) or pitch long relief. Canning is 60/50/55 as a starter and 65 stuff in relief. Also trading Bitsko was made easier by the inclusion of Wetherbee in the trade, LA's #1 pick last year (25th overall) and ranked the #49 prospect overall by BNN. His control is the one thing which could hold him back, though. Carrera was a "make it work" guy, nothing special.
Big trade #3:
Despite trading Bitsko to Baltimore, we were still able to acquire Kieboom to play 3B. Hunt is a fine catching prospect acquired in the Blake Snell trade with good defense and power, but with the acquisition of Rutschman his path was blocked. And just like Adames, we deal Castillo two years after the real Rays did, as with the likes of McKay and perhaps Canning joining the pen we had a numbers squeeze on the staff.
Small trade #4:
With the Rustchman acquisition, Mejia became the odd man out and couldn't go to Durham again as he's out of options. So we shipped him (along with Mead, who's a meh prospect) to Philly to replenish our organizational catching depth with Davis, a first-round pick in 2021, 12th overall (the #1 overall pick in 2021 IRL), who hasn't quite panned out that well so far but still has promise.
There's a lot to unpack here but this is how the roster will shake out:
C-Bart, Rustchman (1B)
1B-L.Diaz
2B-B.Lowe
SS-Franco (3B)
3B-Kieboom
IF-Walls, Brosseau
OF-Meadows (1B), Arozarena, Duran, Bishop, Ona (DH)
SP-Glasnow, Peacock, Skubal, Ryan, Canning
LR-McKay
MR-Sandlin, Vesia, McClanahan
SU-D.Williams, Fairbanks, Fletcher
CL-N.Anderson
On rehab and coming back soon: Vidal Brujan, who will take Brosseau's place, and Chris Sale who will send someone to the pen and someone off the roster (probably Canning or Ryan and Sandlin, respectively)