The Rays are amongst a variety of groups which were tied to Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte. Arizona basic supervisor Mike Hazen has constantly downplayed the prospect of a deal coming collectively on their MVP-caliber second baseman, however he hasn’t slammed the door shut given the workforce’s want for beginning pitching.
Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic studies that conversations with the Rays have kicked round a framework that may ship each Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz to the desert. Piecoro writes that nothing is believed to be shut on that entrance and the Rays are usually not essentially any sort of frontrunner. Certainly, he provides that the Diamondbacks have had conversations with one other workforce eager about Marte that may be constructed round a bigger-name beginning pitcher.
Whether or not or not talks with Tampa Bay progress, the point out of a number of controllable starters hammers dwelling the excessive asking worth which the Diamondbacks have set. Pepiot landed in Tampa Bay because the centerpiece of the Tyler Glasnow return two offseasons in the past. He’s the workforce chief with 297 2/3 innings pitched because the begin of 2024.
The previous third-round choose owns a 3.75 earned run common whereas placing out a bit greater than 1 / 4 of opposing hitters. He’s an honest strike-thrower who sits round 95 MPH together with his heater and has a plus changeup. Pepiot’s slider is a distant third providing, and the changeup has made him a reverse splits pitcher. He has held left-handed hitters to a .192/.287/.354 batting line with a near-28% strikeout price over the previous two seasons. Righties have hit .243/.303/.420 whereas punching out at a 23% clip.
Pepiot is unlikely to grow to be an ace, however he’s a longtime mid-rotation starter who turned 28 in August. He has a bit over three years of service time, so he’s underneath arbitration management by 2028. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz tasks him for a $3.7MM wage. Groups place a premium on an inexpensive #3-type starter. The Rays presumably aren’t buying Pepiot, nevertheless it’s a testomony to Marte’s offensive impression that the righty can be on the desk in these conversations.
Baz, 26, has additionally come up in commerce talks with the Astros. The 6’3″ righty is a former high prospect who has but to achieve his higher mid-rotation ceiling. That’s partially because of some early-career accidents, together with Tommy John surgical procedure that worn out his 2023 season. He posted a 3.06 ERA throughout 14 begins when he returned in ’24. That earned him a spot in Kevin Money’s rotation this yr, however Baz had an up-and-down efficiency. He concluded with a 4.87 ERA throughout 166 1/3 innings. That’s regardless of a strong 24.8% strikeout share and 11.6% swinging strike price.
The pure upside is perhaps larger with Baz than it’s with Pepiot. He sits 97 MPH and will get above-average motion on an 85 MPH knuckle-curve and 90 MPH cutter. Baz has plus stuff and is an honest sufficient strike thrower. He has been held again by a scarcity of start-to-start consistency. He allowed one run or fewer 10 occasions (together with seven scoreless appearances) but in addition had 10 outings during which he gave up 5 or extra runs.
Baz additionally has between three and 4 service years and is eligible for arbitration by 2028. He’s projected for a $3.1MM wage. Groups are most likely divided as to whether or not they’d favor Pepiot’s stability or Baz’s uncooked stuff, however each pitchers have vital commerce worth. They’re two of the three returning Tampa Bay pitchers (alongside Drew Rasmussen) who topped 100 innings. The Rays are probably to offer Steven Matz a beginning alternative, however they’d definitely must backfill the rotation in the event that they traded two starters. Shane McClanahan hasn’t pitched since 2023. Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour have restricted observe information.
The Diamondbacks would require a monster return constructed round MLB beginning pitching to maneuver Marte. He’s coming off a .283/.376/.517 exhibiting with 28 dwelling runs. Marte is the very best second baseman within the league and is signed for a cut price $102.5MM over the following six seasons (the ultimate of which is a participant choice yr).
“I feel it’s a dangerous deal whenever you’re speaking about buying and selling actually, actually good gamers in any respect,” Hazen instructed Piecoro. “It’s one thing that we’ve to no less than take heed to in our job. It’s not one thing that you simply actually look ahead to, essentially, when you could have the gamers that we do. Nevertheless it’s additionally the truth of our workforce and the place we’re that I’ve to contemplate some issues.”
Arizona agreed to phrases with Michael Soroka on a one-year deal this week. He’ll be within the rotation alongside Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt. (They’re unlikely to get Corbin Burnes again from Tommy John surgical procedure earlier than August.) Nelson was the one one in all that trio who discovered a lot success this yr. The D-Backs want so as to add one other two starters and don’t have a ton of payroll house to handle that by way of free company. They’re additionally searching for bullpen assist and will improve at third base or within the outfield.
Whereas Marte is the very best second baseman no less than loosely out there on the commerce market, the Rays paradoxically have the second-best such choice. Brandon Lowe is coming off a 31-homer season during which he hit .256/.307/.477 over 553 plate appearances. Lowe is getting into the ultimate season of his contract and is about to make $11.5MM. The Rays have reportedly gotten hits from the Pirates and Reds (absolutely amongst others) about his availability.
President of baseball operations Erik Neander touched on Lowe’s commerce candidacy from the Winter Conferences (hyperlink by way of Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Occasions). He known as the two-time All-Star an “vital, impactful participant who offers energy at a place that’s onerous to search out.” Neander acknowledged the Rays’ historical past of buying gamers whose management home windows have been closing however praised each Lowe and Yandy Díaz as longtime contributors.
“Our historical past is our historical past. We’ve made (trades) with gamers which are established, which are impactful contributors that as they get their means nearer to free company, we’ve made loads of these selections. However we’ve additionally made selections the previous few years to sort of proceed to roll ahead with these guys. We significantly recognize them and are very happy to trip within the subsequent yr and see what this workforce can do.”
Each golf equipment may go in just a few totally different instructions over the approaching weeks. There’s no assure both will find yourself shifting their star second baseman, however the commerce market has but to essentially choose up as a lot of the high free agent hitters proceed weighing their choices.
