Tampa Bay Rays could look to move an outfielder
Numerous teams across both leagues are actively trying to move one of their outfielders, but it looks like we can add the Tampa Bay Rays to the list. Indications are that the team will look to lower payroll for the upcoming season – it stood at $80 million in 2014 – and those efforts could lead to some moves. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times believes that will likely include one of their outfielders.
#Rays seem likely to deal from their OF depth, and Silverman said "that has been a place where we have had discussions with teams.’’
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 7, 2014
If #Rays do deal an OF, Joyce and/or DeJesus - both to make around $5M - would seem likely to go. Would think they'd listen on Jennings too
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 7, 2014
Financial limitations are nothing new for this Rays franchise. It’s something the organization has been plagued with for years. They’ve found success in recent years in spite of that, but even the results from 2008 through 2013 failed to generate enough change in attendance to turn around the team’s fortunes. Talented players, brought up through the club’s own system, were traded away before they reached free agency simply to avoid getting nothing in return.
While Tampa Bay’s current outfielders aren’t on the same plane as those traded away in years past – notably James Shields and David Price – they still bring some value in their own right. As Topkin notes, both Matt Joyce and David DeJesus would appear to be prime candidates to be on the move.
Joyce spent the bulk of the 2014 season in left field for the Rays. The 30 year old is slated to earn $3.7 million this coming season and will have one final year of team control left before hitting free agency. Joyce saw 493 plate appearances this past season, batting .254/.349/.383. His 111 strikeouts marked a career high and his nine home runs were his lowest total dating back to 2009.
He’s a career .250/.342/.441 hitter who can handle either corner outfield position.
DeJesus, meanwhile, saw most of his playing time at DH this past year. The soon-to-be 35 year old appeared in 83 games for the Rays, also seeing time in both outfield corners, while hitting .248/.344/.403 in 273 PA. DeJesus has the experience and versatility to make him a slightly more intriguing option than Joyce, despite his $5 million salary.
There is also a team option for 2016 in DeJesus’ contract, worth $5 million or a $1 million buyout.
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What’s curious is Jennings’ speculation that Desmond Jennings could also be had under the right circumstances. The 28 year old is heading to arbitration for the first time this winter and will be under team control – albeit at an escalating cost – for three more seasons. Jennings hasn’t quite developed into the star that many hoped he’d become.
Serving as the team’s starting center fielder for much of the year, Jennings bat just .244/.319/.378 in 542 PA. He hit 30 doubles but just 10 home runs, while his 15 stolen bases marked both a career-low and a team-high.
Moving Jennings might bring back the bigger return, but Joyce and DeJesus are both more likely to be on the move. The Rays have to maximize every dollar they can out of their payroll and given their plans to spend less a move of some kind seems inevitable.