Pirates, Rays could be good match for trade
The Pirates had two scouts watching the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend and it is safe to assume they were not there to enjoy the ambience of an empty domed stadium in the middle of a typically scorching summer in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Instead, they were surely there to see right-handers Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi start during a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles along with left-hander Mike Moore.
All three are exactly what the Pirates are looking for as they attempt to not only qualify for the postseason for a fourth consecutive season but remain a contender through at least the end of the decade.
The Pirates entered Monday’s off day in third place in the National League Central, eight games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs. However, the Pirates were just 2陆 games out of the second NL wild card as they get set to return to action tonight when they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park.
Archer is 27 and under contract through 2019 with club options for 2020 and 2021. Also 27, Moore has club options in his contract for 2017, 2018 and 2019. The 26-year-old Odorizzi is 26 and under contractual control through 2019, though he will be eligible for salary arbitration each of the next three offseasons.
Archer has struggled this season, going 4-13 with a 4.68 ERA in 20 starts, but scouts consider him the most talented of the bunch. Despite his poor numbers, he would certainly be an attractive No. 2 starter behind Gerrit Cole, who is under the Pirates’ control through 2019.
Moore is 5-7 with a 4.33 ERA in 19 starts in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery in 2014 while Odorizzi is 4-5 with a 4.39 ERA in 20 starts.
They, too, possess talent that outweighs their so-so performance this season. It is easy to envision either fitting nicely into a rotation for many years to come that would include some combination of youngsters such as right-handers Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl and left-hander Steven Brault.
No one from that foursome would become eligible for free agency until following the 2022 season, at the earliest.
The acquisition cost would be high for any of the three Rays’ pitchers, which would cause Pirates general manager Neal Huntington to step outside his comfort zone by trading a highly regarded prospect for the first time in his nearly nine years on the job.
A Rays’ source indicated Monday that they would want one of the Pirates’ top two hitting prospects at Class AAA Indianapolis, center fielder Austin Meadows or first baseman/outfielder Josh Bell, in any deal along with Indianapolis catcher Elias Diaz and a third player.
Baseball America ranked Meadows as the 10th-best prospect in baseball earlier this month and had Bell at No. 38 on its list. Thus, it would be difficult to trade either player.
However, the Pirates possess the depth to deal Meadows or Bell.
Left fielder Starling Marte is signed through 2019 with club options for 2020 and 2021 while right fielder Gregory Polanco is under contract through 2021 with club options for 2012 and 2013. Furthermore, Class AA Altoona’s Harold Ramirez is a well-regarded outfield prospect.
Will Craig, the Pirates’ first-round pick in this year’s amateur draft from Wake Forest, is an advanced hitter. He could be ready to be the starting first baseman after John Jaso’s contract expires at the end of next season.
Diaz is also expendable with catcher Francisco Cervelli’s contract carrying through 2019.
The Pirates and Rays match up so well that is seems almost impossible that they couldn’t make a blockbuster trade.