DENVER — The Tampa Bay Rays bolstered the American League’s best roster ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline, adding starter Freddy Peralta, catcher Liam Hicks, reliever Tyler Wells and outfielder Jack Suwinski without surrendering any of the organization’s top-tier prospects.
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said the deals capped a tense stretch in which the front office wasn’t sure it could get anything done. “There were times where we thought there was a real chance that we might just roll with what we have, and we were going to be OK with that,” Neander said. “This group itself does have the best record in the American League as is.”
Tampa Bay parted with eight Minor Leaguers who were ranked among the organization’s Top 30 at the time they were traded, headlined by right-hander Michael Forret, outfielder Aidan Smith and infielder Brayden Taylor. But the Rays kept their elite tier intact — prospects Theo Gillen, Nathan Flewelling, Caden Bodine, Cooper Flemming and Brody Hopkins all remain in the system. “That’s a credit to our staff for putting us in a position to have a deep system, to have a lot of desirable talent,” Neander said. “Feel like we have a lot of blue-chip talent that remains in our system.”
The acquisitions addressed Tampa Bay’s three clearest needs: a starting pitcher with a strong track record in Peralta, a left-handed-hitting catcher who fits the lineup in Hicks, and a high-leverage right-handed reliever in Wells. Suwinski adds Triple-A outfield depth. “To be able to add to [the roster] the way we did, yeah, really satisfied with it,” Neander said. “They don’t have to be the most famous players going to be good. I actually have no idea how the moves have been received. I know they’ve been popular internally, because they know how good these players are — and they know how good a team we have and what we might be able to accomplish this year.”
Neander said the front office weighed clubhouse chemistry heavily throughout the process. The only Major League player immediately removed from the roster was catcher Hunter Feduccia, who said his goodbyes in the clubhouse Monday afternoon. “You’re always looking for talent, right? You’ve got to keep that there,” Neander said. “But [we] have been disciplined, especially with this group, to make sure that what you’re bringing in fits into what’s going on. This group is as connected, top to bottom, as any that I’ve experienced, and we’ve been fortunate to have some really good ones. It was never lost on us.”
Peralta, Wells and Hicks are expected to join the Rays as the club opens a series this week, with Tampa Bay holding the top record in the American League heading into the final stretch of the regular season.