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The Rays could take advantage of the weak pitching market
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes the Rays being in a potentially lucrative spot, the meaning behind contract projections, and a possible homecoming for Matt Holliday.
Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images
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There are many storylines across the league this offseason, including the robust reliever market, some big-time sluggers in free agency and teams like the White Sox and Tigers who may decide to tear it all down. Maybe the most interesting part of the winter, though, is the utter lack of starting pitching on the free agent market. This is a year in which Jeremy Hellickson receives a qualifying offer and declines it. Rich Hill is the top arm on the market, and even he comes with major health question marks. Now, those teams who may tear it down could strengthen the crop by making Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Justin Verlander available, but there’s not guarantee that will actually happen.
All of this leaves open the opportunity for the Rays to become the most attractive sellers in all of baseball. Should they choose to, they could deal any of their rotation pieces and get substantial help in return. Chris Archer would be the crowned jewel, as he’s just one year removed from being one of the best pitchers in baseball. At just 26, his prime is just starting. Beyond him, there’s Drew Smyly, Jake Odorizzi and Alex Cobb, all of whom have considerable upside despite large fly ball tendencies.
As I said, however, Archer will be the prime target for every team seeking starting pitching help if he is indeed made available. Despite the down season in 2016, he continued to show off his big-time stuff by striking out over 10 batters per nine innings. The rumors have already started, with Atlanta showing interest in the former All-Star. With Archer publicly commenting on Tampa Bay’s lack of spending, him being part of a different organization could be even more likely.
- It’s the time of year in which we’ll be hearing a lot about how much players think they should make on the open market. Do those desired contracts really tell us anything?
- The Mariners traded for Danny Valencia on Saturday, lending more credence to the idea that Jerry DiPoto is a robot built specifically for trading.
- A lot of teams are in an interesting spot this offseason, but the Dodgers could be the most compelling.
- One of the things they need to figure out is just what their plan is in left field.
- It looks like we could see Matt Holliday return to Colorado, where his underrated and spectacular career started.
- Finding themselves at something of a crossroads this winter, the Tigers missed an opportunity to sign Lourdes Gurriel.
- Ditto for the Yankees, for whom this type of decision is becoming a trend.
- After signing Kendrys Morales, the Blue Jays are now reportedly interested in Steve Pearce.
- If the whole baseball thing doesn’t work out, Trevor Bauer may have a future in tutoring.
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