3 Slumping Hitters Who Could Turn Things Around with a Trade to the Tampa Bay Rays

Target 1: Salvador Perez

Coming into 2022, Mike Zunino was slotted to be a major bat in the Rays lineup and is being paid one of the highest salaries on the team to do so. Thus far, he has slashed just .152/.200/.313, which is unacceptable play for what was expected of him. Trading for a guy like Salvador Perez could transform the Rays lineup.

Although backup catcher Francisco Mejia has been a fine option to start the year, acquiring Perez would be wise to pair with Mejia at catcher and rotate at the DH spot. Perez is slashing just .199/.240/.404 for a struggling Royals ballclub, and although he signed an extension with the club before the 2021 season, Kansas City would be wise to shop one of the centerpieces of their 2015 World Series team. Unfortunately for Perez, he has been battling a thumb injury, which is clearly impacting his performance.

Last season, Perez had an OPS of .850 with 48 HR and 121 RBI on a club with very little talent around him. Inserting that level of talent into the middle of the lineup on a contending team could rejuvenate Perez's production. Even if he is only able to regain 70% of the player he was last season, that would still be a huge boost to the Rays lineup.

For the Royals, the club is still far from being a contender in the American League and has an up-and-coming catcher in MJ Melendez who has produced thus far at the big league level and needs to get consistent reps for his development. As difficult as it can be to part with club icons, we just saw the Chicago Cubs sell off their key players from their 2016 run, and the Royals would be wise to do the same with their beloved catcher

Target #2: Tyler O'Neill

The Rays have a thing for former Cardinal outfielders (see Randy Arozarena and Jose Martinez), and would be wise to buy low on the five-tool outfielder Tyler O'Neill of the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2021, O'Neill's first full big league season, the Cardinals slugger was an absolute menace, finishing with a .912 OPS that was shown off by his power and speed combo that resulted in 26 doubles and 34 including 11 bombs during the Cardinals' historic stretch during the month of September.

Need life in your lineup? O'Neill was your guy last season, finishing 8th in MVP while collecting his second career Gold Glove. Unfortunately, O'Neill has looked lost so far in 2022.

In the 32 games played before landing on the IL with a shoulder injury, O'Neill's OPS dropped off to .552, and struck out 42 times in 133 PA. O'Neill is set to make his return to the Cardinals lineup in the first game of their series with the Rays, but it remains to be seen if he'll stick in their lineup.

The Cardinals and O'Neill have gone through a lengthy arbitration process since the offseason, and the newcomers Juan Yepez and Brendan Donovan have been producing in his absence. If O'Neill does not bounce back quickly, the Cardinals may be willing to part ways for the right price, meaning the Rays could snag one of the most exciting players in baseball for their lineup

Target #3 - Luke Voit

Tampa Bay Rays fans will be familiar with this 1B/DH slugger, as Luke Voit dawned the Yankee pinstripes from 2018-2021, hitting 68 HRs and leading the majors with 22 HR during the shortened 2020 season.

Voit was traded to the Padres during the 2021 offseason and has not regained that success he had early on with the Yankees, slashing just .233/.333/.380 thus far. With a resurgence from Eric Hosmer and other bats fighting for time in the Padres lineup, San Diego may be willing to part ways with the slugger for the right price. With the Padres offense struggling as a whole though, it may be difficult to convince them either way.

Pairing a powerful right-handed bat like Voit in a platoon at first base with Choi as well as cycling through at DH would give the club another option in the middle of their order, something that would help them desperately as they look to support their great pitching

Time will tell if any of these three options, among many others in the league, could help aid the Rays in their push for the AL East crown or a deep run in October.