1 player the Rays should trade before Spring Training

The Winter Meetings buzz is starting to wear off as the holidays are approaching, but there are plenty of clubs that still need to make moves in order to solidify their 2025 roster. The Rays are in desperate need of offensive help outside of the current depth chart, but there is another part of their active roster that is currently in surplus.

The Rays hold eight potential starting pitchers on their roster, with a few others as possible "opener" options. Tampa Bay may not even need to utilize the opener this season, as there will be a multitude of talented starters. Therefore, the Rays front office may consider trading another starting pitcher to add more valuable pieces, and hopefully a solid offensive contributor.

Zack Littell could be that potential trade candidate due to multiple factors. First of all, the North Carolina native is estimated to earn about $6 million through arbitration this coming season. His salary would be one of the highest in the Rays payroll and if we're honest, he's probably not worth that amount due to how replaceable he is within the pitching staff. This is said with all due respect, as Littell has been a very consistent pitcher for the Rays the past few seasons.

However, the former relief pitcher had an inconsistent 2024 season, going 8-10 with a 3.63 ERA. Nonetheless, the Rays pulled off another impressive feat of transitioning this struggling reliever into a solid rotation option. For that reason, multiple clubs will likely pursue Littell for his new role and abilities. Tampa Bay may be able to acquire a few high level prospects for this back-end starter.

The Rays executed a similar plan when they dealt left-handed starter, Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics recently. Springs joined the Rays as an average-at-best relief pitcher from the Red Sox. Tampa Bay saw a ton of potential in the 28-year old at the time. Now, three years removed from becoming a starter, Springs has grabbed the attention of the rest of the league which allowed the Rays to obtain a hefty package for him via trade.

If the Rays front office is able to create similar results in a deal involving Zack Littell, then it could put the roster in a great position moving into the new year.