Tampa Bay Rays Trade Deadline Overview
By David Hill
Where are the arms?
With pitchers like Price and Shields being traded away, the Rays had hoped that Matt Moore, Alex Cobb and Chris Archer would pick up the mantle and be the next potential stars to front the rotation. They added Drew Smyly in the Price trade last year, and while he has displayed flashes, has been injury prone and inconsistent.
Meanwhile, Cobb has yet to pitch this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and likely won’t be back to himself until next year at the earliest. Of course, that is if he can come back successfully. Moore has struggled since going under the knife in 2014, with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.449 WHiP since his return last year. Archer, meanwhile, has fought his command all year, posting a career high 3.9 walks per nine innings.
While Blake Snell looks like he could be a solid option in his own right once he remains in the Majors, where is that next wave of young starters? Where are the next top of the rotation type of arms, where they could trade a pitcher like Archer if need be?
The Rays have to hope that either Honeywell or Taylor Guerreri can become that next top of the rotation starter. However, that may be more hope than actuality at this point, as that run of arms may not be there any longer.
Next: The elephant in the room