Tampa Bay Rays considering shortstop Ian Desmond

The hour grows late for free agents, especially those who expected to land a multi-year contract this offseason. Free agent shortstop Ian Desmond is one of the few “name” players still on the market, and it remains unclear exactly where he might sign.

One team that has a potential fit and is reportedly interested is the Tampa Bay Rays. SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo has the scoop:

Each winter there are usually a few free agents who turn down qualifying offers but fail to motivate clubs to part with a first-round draft pick. Desmond is definitely on that fringe this year, and it’s easy to understand why after considering his performance in 2015.

The former All-Star struggled in his seventh (and possibly final) season with the Washington Nationals, slashing .233/.290/.384 over 156 games. He still flexed some power, clubbing 19 home runs, but his game slipped in many other areas. He collected 62 RBIs, his lowest total since becoming a full-time player in 2010.

He swiped 13 bags after four straight years of stealing at least 20. His .674 OPS was also his worst since 2011 when he posted a .656 mark.

Those numbers are a far cry from his production levels in 2012, inarguably Desmond’s finest year as a major leaguer. He put up a .292/.335/.511 slash line along with 25 homers and 73 RBIs, earning an All-Star appearance, the first of three consecutive Silver Sluggers and even nabbing some MVP votes.

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At that time Desmond seemed poised to assert himself as one of the game’s best shortstops for years to come, but those expectations took a serious hit with last season’s underwhelming results. A contract year, it was a particularly inconvenient time for Desmond to falter.

It’s easy to see why teams such as the Rays are thinking twice about inking the shortstop. Desmond turned 30 years old last September and expecting him to recapture his 2012 form may be too optimistic. He has successfully bounced back in his career before, however.

In 2011 Desmond endured a season much like the last one, managing a meager .656 OPS with just eight homers and 49 RBIs in 154 games. He followed that year up with 2012’s All-Star campaign, as his OPS rose .189 points and his home run total more than tripled.

Desmond pulling something like that off again is a long shot, but it shows he’s capable. At this point he will likely have to settle for a one-year “prove it” deal, meaning he will be highly incentivized to get back on track and improve his stock for next offseason’s free agency period.

Tampa Bay could be a good place for him to do that. After the departure of Asdrubal Cabrera to the Mets, the Rays have a bit of a question mark at the shortstop position. They acquired Brad Miller from the Mariners back in November as part of the Nate Karns trade. 26-year-old Tim Beckham (2008’s first-overall draft pick) is another option, and top prospect Willy Adames is also in the pipeline.

Bringing Desmond in for a year would help bolster Tampa’s resources at the position while not interfering with the ability of someone like Adames to take over in the future.

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However, as Cotillo clearly notes, surrendering that draft choice is a significant obstacle in this situation. For a franchise like the Rays that relies so heavily on the draft, it just might be a deal-breaker.