Rays & Braves
Submitted by: ShaquilleOatmeal
Rays
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Baldwin | 23 | Minors | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 14.4 | 18 | 21.5 | ||
| David McCabe | 24 | Minors | 3B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.6 | ||
| Drue Hackenberg | 22 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
Total Value:
23.4
Braves
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Pepiot | 26 | Majors | SP | LRP | Medium | 4.1 | 55.1 | 29.3 | 25.8 | 20.6 | 25.8 | 30.9 |
Total Value:
25.8
Comments
5
The Rays need to deal an MLB arm away, and collect as many near MLB ready arms and bats as possible. Hackenberg will be a fine addition to the Durham roster, and hopefully will soon be capable of getting MLB bats out. McCabe has very strong BB numbers, and great size for power potential. As a switch hitter, if he can carry over his high walk rates, there's a place for him in the show. The big get here is Baldwin. He's MLB ready and is blocked in the majors, so he should be available. The Rays could really use a catcher, as it wouldn't surprise me to see all 3 catchers on their roster jettisoned. I don't really have a preference as to which SP to trade from the Rays. Pepiot is solid, and will slot in behind Sale and Strider to form an excellent top of the rotation for the Braves.
I’m fully on board the Rays trading a starting pitcher this year but I think it will be Littell, not Pep. I also don’t think Baldwin is that far ahead or better than Keegan, and with 2025 looking like the final year of a mini-rebuild for the Rays, I don’t think there is any reason to overspend for a catcher in 2025. Rays are focused on the 2026 and on period.
With 7 SP that need to be in a MLB rotation, I think the Rays trade 2 SP. Agree, Littell for sure, but also another. Won't be McClan or Taj because of top tier potential. Probably won't be Rasmussen or Springs because of how little value they have compared to expected production. That leaves Pep and Baz. Pepiot is selling high, Baz is selling low, so I expect Pepiot to be dangled. You gotta have 2 C in today's game, so putting all our C future in Keegan seems short sighted to me. As far as hoping for average or better production, I expect all of C, SS, LF, and DH to come up well short (Morel looks fukcing atrocious at everywhere and everything). If I'm running the show, I'm moving 2 SP for some SP with options and trying to find an impact bat at a position of need. Baldwin walked as much as he struck out, had an ISO close to .200. He bats LH and after half a season in AAA, he would hopefully be ready for his MLB debut soon.
You could be right. My off-season plan is a bit different though. I have Littell being traded, Ras staying in the Pen (to be stretched out if/when needed), and the other 5 making up the rotation. Rays probably have another down year next year, and can evaluate trading Ras and/or Springs at the deadline. They should have recouped their value by then. I don’t disagree with you on catcher, but if we are looking to add a catcher, maybe we do so by trading Yandy, B.Lowe, Fairbanks or even some of the prospects (e.g., Mead). Rort will probably be here for the next 3 years though. I think he basically hit the rookie wall this year (having been injured so often in prior years) and will be better next year. I 100% agree that the Rays have multiple holes and that Morel is not the answer to any of those positions.
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I don’t think Baldwin at 23yrs old is blocked, even if the Braves keep the 35yr old Travis D'Arnaud around for 1 more year especially with Baldwin not needing to be added to the 40 man roster until Dec'25.