We're always thinking ahead here in the Tampa Bay Rays front office and although the last thing a 77-26 team needs is a shakeup we need to keep our eyes on the prize. And since we had already acquired his replacement a few weeks earlier and he was going to be a free agent at season's end, it was time to see what would get for this guy and here was the answer:
So long to Alex Duran, who spent 5 2/3 seasons as a cog in our lineup primarily against RH pitching. He raked at 311/363/571 with 127 HR and 437 RBI in 645 games (524 starts). But we couldn't pass up the combo of Lozada and Lopez. More on them:
Lozada:
This of course is the profile of a leadoff hitter, albeit one who mainly gets on base via the hit rather than the walk. But what a hit tool it is, and in 212 MLB at-bats so far he's hit 349/388/462. And playing in Publix Park he should be a regular contender for the batting title. Right now he's out with a partially torn labrum through late September so he'll be mainly helping us next year (although he could make the playoff roster).
Lopez:
Lopez is less exciting than Lozada but an interesting addition nonetheless as he's a starter with 60 stuff and 65 movement. Of course that goes with 45 control and he did walk 32 in 40 IP as a starter this year in AAA although only 2 in 9 1/3 innings with the Cardinals. He'll go to Durham for now but give us some quality pitching depth.
And of course the trade of Duran means it's time for the Ezequiel Avalos era to begin in Tampa Bay.
We told you all about him here, and to that I'll add he crushed the ball at Durham in the meantime to the tune of 372/416/744 with 6 HR and 22 RBI in 22 games. With top prospect Jesus Avalos having a fine year in AA we could be overrun with Avaloses just as we have Moraleses on our roster at the moment.