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

The Tampa Bay Rays have started the 2022 season as one of the better teams in the American League, thanks mainly to their elite pitching. The offense as a whole has been underwhelming this season and will need to improve in order for this team to be more than just a Wild Card team.

The Rays currently rank 22nd in baseball in OPS, and rank middle of the pack to bottom third in almost every major category outside of stolen bases offensively. While injuries to guys like Brandon Lowe and Wander Franco have not helped the team, sluggish starts from key contributors like Mike Zunino, Brett Phillips, Kevin Kiermaier, Vidal Brujan, and others have shown that the team desperately needs a jolt of energy offensively.

Typically, contenders will look to trade for players who are hitting well with their current teams, but sometimes a change of scenery for a hitter can do the trick as well. Here are 3 sluggers off to slow starts for their current teams who could turn their seasons around with a trade to Tampa Bay.

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.