4 pitching trade targets for the Rays, including 1 big stretch goal

The Tampa Bay Rays have a major opportunity this trade deadline to improve what might already be the best team in franchise history. While statistically, the Rays have a top team in terms of run prevention, injuries to starters such as Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen have created holes in the pitching staff. With many great talents being available to teams that need help getting over the hump, the Rays should be calling as many potential sellers as possible. 

Compiled here are four players who could find themselves pitching in home games at Tropicana Field come August 2.

Rays pitching trade target: Jack Flaherty (Cardinals)

With all the expectations surrounding them following a division-winning season, it is somewhat surprising the Cardinals have found themselves possibly in the sellers camp. With the Rays looking to add a starting arm that can give them some good innings, reports have surfaced of them extensively scouting Jack Flaherty and his teammate Jordan Montgomery. While Montgomery is a great pitcher in his own right, Flaherty seems much more like a buy-low Rays project.

Due to multiple injuries, Flaherty has struggled somewhat to find his groove in the past few seasons. His command in particular the last couple of campaigns has been off, as per Fangraphs, he had a 13.2% walk rate in his very limited 2022 season. This year it has crept down a little, but his free pass rate still sits at 11.1%. 

While some concerns can be had with Flaherty’s spotty location, the Rays have a history of trading for high walk rate arms, with the hopes their coaching staff can help these players locate their pitches better. One relatively recent example of this is ace Tyler Glasnow, whose walk rate dropped five percentage points since joining the Rays.

Jack Flaherty is a pitcher who might be looking to revitalize his career and become a top-line starter again, and the Rays may just be the team that could help him do that. 

Rays pitching trade target: Lance Lynn (White Sox)

Lance Lynn is probably one of the most well known pitchers presumably on the market, stemming from both his longevity and his relatively recent success. He was a Cy Young finalist in 2021, and despite mixed results this year, he has put up some elite performances including a 16 strikeout outing versus the Mariners.

Lynn is having a career best season in terms of strikeout rate, as he has struck out around 11 batters per nine. The challenge for the Rays if they were to acquire him is whether or not he can temper the long ball. His signature fastballs are generating whiffs at a great rate, but as per Baseball Savant, his barrel rate is in the fourteenth percentile. A high quantity of barrelled-up balls means a high quantity of extra-base hits, especially home runs.

It feels almost certain that Lynn will be dealt, as the White Sox look to be one of the most prolific sellers in the offseason. The Rays have actually been reported to be interested in him, and when the price comes down, they will call again.

Rays pitching trade target: Shohei Ohtani (Angels)

It may seem like a complete pipe dream, and for the most part it is, but there is a very small chance that baseball’s best player could end up as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

It is wild to think that one roster spot can be taken by a guy who is among the game’s top pitchers AND hitters. It is especially crazy to think that said player could be traded away. With the Angels’ recent slide, it appears that the team will likely be listening to calls about Shohei Ohtani’s services.

A package for Ohtani would require the buying team to give up multiple top-100 prospects. The Rays have four players on the most recent top 100, these being: infielder Junior Caminero (ranked #14), SS Carson Williams (#23), 3B Curtis Mead (#32) and 1B Kyle Manzardo (#38). These are high potential players, so the Rays will fight to retain them in any deal. 

Is it unrealistic that the Rays go all in for a player that is pretty much guaranteed to only be a rental? Maybe. But as per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, at the very least the Rays are willing to call about Ohtani, which is an exciting idea in itself.