While the Tampa Bay Rays have fallen out of first place in the American League East after dominating the division all season, the team is expected to make a major splash before the trade deadline to improve their hopes of winning their first World Series title in 2023.
For much of this season, the Tampa Bay Rays were the creme of the MLB crop. They were the hottest team on the planet to start the season and maintained that impressive level of play for the first three months of the season. However, they have fallen back to Earth in a major way in July.
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This month they have won just four of their 18 games, as their OPS has plummeted over 200 points from April and they are leaning too heavily on home runs to put points on the scoreboard. All the while the impressive young gun Baltimore Orioles have kept pace. Eventually catching up to and passing the Tampa Bay Rays to take over first place this month.
Despite the fall from grace, the Rays are sure to make the postseason and remain a talented team. On Monday, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale wrote about the confidence the front office still has in the team and how that will shape their strategy heading into the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
“They’ve got the prospects, and they certainly have the urgency, believing this is the best team they ever assembled,” he wrote. “Keep an awfully close eye on them. They are poised to strike big.”
Assuming the Tampa Bay Rays make big and bold moves at the deadline, here are five All-Star-level players they could land in the next week.
5 impact players Tampa Bay Rays could target at MLB trade deadline
Marcus Stroman
Two-time All-Star Marcus Stroman is seen as one of the very best starters available in this year’s market. While he is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract and serve as a rental this fall, he is motivated to continue his career year in the postseason and increase his value for free agency. He has pitched in the division before and would be a huge addition for the final two months of the season.
Cody Bellinger
While the Rays are not in need of hitting, more balance to the lineup would be helpful in the postseason. Cody Bellinger has recaptured his MVP form for the Chicago Cubs this season and is the impact lefty bat Tampa could really use.
Josh Hader
You can never have enough pitching, especially in the bullpen, during the playoffs. While he won’t come cheap, Josh Hader has become the best closer in the game and would seriously increase the Rays’ chance of success down the stretch and in the postseason. The production from the closer spot can make or break a playoff run and improving that area wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Blake Snell
Speaking of the San Diego Padres, Hader’s teammate Blake Snell could be up for grabs, and like Stroman is a proven veteran having a career year. He has post-season experience and would slot well in the Tampa Bay Rays rotation alongside Shane McClanahan and Zach Eflin.
Jose Quintana
The Tampa Bay Rays could look to land a couple of starters. One with front-of-the-rotation talent and one for the back end. New York Mets starter Jose Quintana would be a worthwhile option to bolster the overall depth of the rotation and would be a major upgrade at the four or five spots if he can prove he is healthy after missing most of the season with a rib injury.