ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays hold the best record in the American League with the trade deadline 10 days away, but assistant general manager Kevin Ibach said the club is still in due-diligence mode as an unusually crowded playoff race keeps most of the league on the fence about buying or selling.
“It’s very unique in terms of where the standings are right now, and I think in these initial round of phone calls, you have a lot of teams that are riding the fence, so to speak, saying that the next seven to 10 days could dictate a lot,” Ibach said earlier this week in Toronto. “We may see more action closer to the actual Deadline this year than in a typical year.”
The logjam is historic: 23 of MLB’s 30 teams sit within six games of a playoff spot, compressing the market for buyers and sellers alike. Tampa Bay’s deep Minor League system gives the front office currency to move aggressively once sellers emerge, and Ibach made clear the Rays intend to be ready. “Just kind of doing our due diligence right now,” Ibach said. “As every day passes and we get closer to that Deadline, just trying to put us in a position where, if we have to move quickly on something, we’re able to.”
The most obvious target is Giants second baseman Luis Arraez, a rental whose contact-heavy approach would slot behind Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero in a lineup built to avoid strikeouts. Arraez has also improved defensively, though the Rays are already getting quality glovework at second from Ben Williamson and Richie Palacios. Shortstop and catcher are also in play — Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, A’s catcher Shea Langeliers and Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman would each add power — while outfield has dropped on the priority list after Chandler Simpson’s return to form, Victor Mesa Jr.’s emergence and the development of No. 6 prospect Jacob Melton.
Pitching may be where the Rays can separate themselves for October. Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan are producing top-of-the-rotation numbers, and Griffin Jax has earned a potential postseason rotation spot. But adding a front-line arm — Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is the dream scenario, with Joe Ryan another option — would turn a strong rotation into a dominant one. A proven innings-eater in the mold of Kevin Gausman or Robbie Ray would also ease workload pressure down the stretch.
The bullpen presents a quieter need. Setup man Kevin Kelly and All-Star closer Bryan Baker anchor the late innings, with lefty Cam Booser, right-hander Casey Legumina and Garrett Cleavinger providing depth. But Rays relievers carry a 21.8% strikeout rate, ranking 19th in the majors and the franchise’s lowest mark in 10 years. A healthy return from Manuel Rodríguez and the potential promotion of No. 10 prospect Ty Johnson — who owns a 33% strikeout rate as a Triple-A starter — could help, but manager Kevin Cash could use another high-leverage, swing-and-miss arm.
The trade deadline arrives Aug. 3, and the pace of deals is expected to accelerate sharply over the final week as teams settle on whether to buy or sell.