Rays could cut ties with starter with 3.56 ERA in the middle of postseason race
If the season ended today, the Rays would be in the postseason as a wild card team. It would make sense for the team to address areas of need at the trade deadline, but the way the organization has operated in the past points to them potentially trading away a key player on an expiring deal.
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Zack Littell will be a free agent after the season and he has been a solid player for the Rays this year. He has a 3.56 ERA in 19 starts this year. However, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand suggested he could be traded away.
"The Rays have a wealth of starting pitching depth, and with Littell approaching free agency this offseason, he's the type of candidate Tampa Bay typically looks to move," wrote Feinsand. "If the Rays want to get really aggressive, they could look to deal Taj Bradley, who is under club control through 2029 and would likely require a far bigger return. Thursday's trade for reliever Bryan Baker is proof the Rays are looking to improve the roster with an eye on October, but this is a club that has not historically operated in the same binary, buy-or-sell mode as most teams. The rotation surplus -- in addition to Littell and Bradley, they have Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Shane Baz and Joe Boyle, with Shane McClanahan nearing a return from the IL -- should give the Rays a chance to move one starter to address another area of need."
While Littell could help the team make the postseason, they may be willing to part ways with him in order to add a player who fits another need and start relying on other players in the rotation.
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Littell could be a great addition for a contender in search of starting pitching. However, since the Rays are in the postseason race, they may not want to trade him to a team in the American League, and potentially hurt their postseason chances.
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