Tampa Bay Rays complete coup by acquiring Shane Baz

The Tampa Bay Rays have completed the trade that sent Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates, setting themselves up for years to come.

When the Tampa Bay Rays traded Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates, it was a complete shock. The surprise was not that Archer had been traded, as he had been in rumors for some time, but rather that he was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In exchange, the Rays received a handsome price, with Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and a player to be named later heading to Tampa Bay.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the other player in the deal was sent over. In addition to the aforementioned duo, the Rays acquired Shane Baz, the 12th overall selection in the 2017 draft, and a top 100 prospect according to MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus.

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This just furthers the coup that this trade has become for the Rays. Glasnow has been a force since the trade, striking out 20 batters while allowing just six hits and three walks in his 12 innings. As he gets stretched back out into a starting role after spending most of 2018 in the Pirates bullpen, he has started to become the player Pittsburgh had hoped for.

While Meadows is not in the majors yet, he has also impressed in the Rays system. A consensus top 50 prospect heading into this season, he has 13 hits, including six doubles and three homers, in his 43 plate appearances in Durham. It appears to just be a matter of time until he is in the majors once again, a possible mainstay in the Rays lineup.

Baz, although he is a long way from helping the major league club, adds to what has rapidly become an impressive farm system. He had produced a solid 3.97 ERA with the Bristol Pirates, striking out 54 batters in 45.1 innings with an incredible 62% ground ball rate. However, he has struggled with his command, issuing 23 walks. If he can harness his upper 90s fastball, as well as his cutter and slider, Baz has the potential to become something special.

The Tampa Bay Rays have finalized their trade of Chris Archer, landing Shane Baz from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their already impressive haul just became even better.