Mining the Tampa Bay Rays for Trade Targets

Glasnow would be a sweet addition. The Rays will understandably want value in return though. The budget squeeze makes any transaction for Glasnow tricky and he onlt would be aboard for one year. I'm finding it hard to come up with ideas to satisfy Tampa Bay. Maybe adding Chistian Vazquez to players like Charlee Soto, Bailey Ober, Tanner Schobel could raise an eyebrow. The problem is I don't want to trade all of those guys and believe the Twins still need Vazquez. 

The trade articles have been hot any heavy since the FO basically said big name FOs are out of the question.

But, if they won’t sign a free agent to a significant contract, why would they trade for somebody with a significant contract?

They’re just not trading for Glasnow, Alonso, Corbin Burns, etc.

I get that articles about which utility guy they’ll sign for a 1 year for $5 aren’t going to generate the clicks….but that’s what we’re looking at.  You know it’s going to be exciting when they come out say what they did immediately after the season ends.  They wouldn’t say that willy nilly.

Glasnow looks to be the prime target on this list. He's a legit ace assuming he's healthy, and fits the Twins' greatest need. If he has a great year, we could extend a QA, get a draft pick if he signs elsewhere. The others mentioned don't seem as appealing or realistic, although Arozarena is talented. But how about Yandy Diaz as a RH 1B target? He's at $8M annually through 2025. Tampa Bay has Curtis Mead, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero coming at corner IF to backfill Diaz. Tampa may intrigued by the chance to shed around $7M of payroll if they believe one of their young guys can step in for Yandy.

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Trade for Devin Williams - 2 years of solid bullpen!!! ……..$6.2M/yr.

After trading Polanco, take the $$ available & sign a FA pitcher for $12-$13M. (Maeda - Lugo - Severino)

$122M payroll now after arbitration tenders ………..,,less Polanco @ &10.5mm - then add a FA & Williams and we cap payroll at $130M.

Who are you trading for Williams? What is your return (player, team) for Polanco? Curious.

The Twins are a contending team building for sustained success with a mixture of elite veterans and talented prospects. Their pitching staff was among the best in baseball in 2023, and arguably one of the best in franchise history. I don't believe for a minute that they'll enter next season with no TV broadcast deal or revenue. So I'm not buying into the idea that the payroll will certainly drop a significant amount. As of last month, the Twins team owner is listed as the 4th richest in all of MLB, behind the Giants, Braves, and Cards owners and ahead of 5th place Steinbrenner of the Yanks. The team has a playoff window right now with a good team, weakened division competition, and many dents in the armor of teams such as the Yanks and the Red Sox. The spent money has to smart, granted, but I can't see the reason for tightening the wallet as much as has been discussed. No TV revenue? Nah, I don't believe that'll be the case..

"The spent money has to *be* smart..." Sorry, clumsy thumb syndrome. Point is, if there is a great fit for getting a great one year player, why not now? Salary can be offset somewhat by moving a Polanco, Vasquez, or Kepler, and hopefully playoff wins will help the return on investment.

I don't dismiss trading with any team as a potential way to improve the Twins. As suggested in the OP, our trades with Tampa Bay have generally been successful during the last decade or so. (This is probably attributable more to luck than anything.) But if I were a Tampa Bay fan I would be frustrated and even angry that other teams, especially average-market teams like the Twins, view the Rays as little more than a feeder system. I would view it as condescending. Over the last 5 years the Rays have the second best record in the AL, trailing only the Astros. They should be emulated rather than looked down upon.

2 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

I don't dismiss trading with any team as a potential way to improve the Twins. As suggested in the OP, our trades with Tampa Bay have generally been successful during the last decade or so. (This is probably attributable more to luck than anything.) But if I were a Tampa Bay fan I would be frustrated and even angry that other teams, especially average-market teams like the Twins, view the Rays as little more than a feeder system. I would view it as condescending. Over the last 5 years the Rays have the second best record in the AL, trailing only the Astros. They should be emulated rather than looked down upon.

The Rays fans have brought that on themselves by their low attendance, which results in trading players before the players want a big contract. I can’t blame other teams for discussing players that the Rays are willing to trade to cut costs. 

I think you have to put the Mets owner near the top of the list for wealthy.  And he's WILLING to spend.

As much as I like to dream big, I think Beast is right.  We will probably temper our spending.  To me that eliminates Glasnow as a trade candidate at $25 million.  I see a 2nd Tier FA signing for sure but no way am I going after a "Maeda" type.  I'd like a little more Juice at the same or slightly higher price ($12 to $15 million per year) like Montas.  I'd settle for an innings eater like Giolito.  I'd gamble a bit for a Severino.  But Glasnow despite the talent is just to big a risk at $25 million per.  

I don't see any way we acquire Arozarena and Margot has no "pop."  However, Harold Ramirez is intriguing and the price isn't outrageous.  He would be a BIG upgrade on Solano from a hitting standpoint and the 1B option helps a lot.  Throw in some DH and just a "little" LF and it works.   

Glasnow is the opposite of what this FO is looking for.  He is expensive and not controlled.

This FO wants inexpensive starting P's with multiple years of control.

Glasnow is headed to a big market team like the Dodgers.

None of these players do anything for me. Glasnow@ $25M. Not possible.

Arozarena would be OK, but would he be worth signing lonng term? 250 average & 23 HR. Ho hum.