5 Early Trade Targets for the Tampa Bay Rays

Target 1: Josh Bell

Tampa Bay has gotten off to a slow start offensively this season, even with considering offense being down across the league. The club currently ranks 18th in OPS and 16th in SLG, two numbers they will need to improve on to be legit contenders and go deep in October.

Getting better performances from key contributors like Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena will go a long way in helping this, but the club could use another consistent option in the middle of their order - and that is where Josh Bell comes in.

Bell is currently 10th in baseball with a .916 OPS playing for a struggling Nationals ballclub. He has been one of their few bright spots this year, and is certainly a name they will look to move for prospects this season. Bell has been a name that began to head up in 2021 and has carried that performance into 2022.

The Rays could really use more production against right handed pitching, and Bell currently has an OPS of 1.037 against them in 95 PA. He holds his own against left handed pitching as well, slashing .267/.365/.333 in 52 PA.

Ji Man Choi has cooled off a bit since his hot start to the year, and outfielders like Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, and Brett Phillips have not gotten the job done for the club. Bell can slot in at first base, corner outfield, or the DH spot, fitting right in with a club that values versatility and lineup flexibility.

Target #2 - David Price

Everyone loves a good homecoming story, and it may not seem like it on the surface, but a return to Tampa Bay is a match made in heaven for the club and left hander David Price.

Price has only thrown 4.2 innings so far this year but has an ERA of 1.93 and it appears that the Dodgers are willing to work with him to find a trade destination where he can start games again. Price, who has struggled since the 2018 season, would provide the Rays another veteran option for their pitching staff and would fit well within the low innings usage that manager Kevin Cash lives by.

For a club that has had countless injuries to their pitching staff, having another veteran arm would go a long way in providing depth for the roster. With so many young arms being relied on as well, Price's veteran presence could have a lasting impact on pitchers like Shane McClanahan and Shane Baz.

Price is owed $32 million this season, but half of that is already being paid by the Boston Red Sox. The Los Angeles Dodgers would surely eat up a major chunk of the $16 million owed to price by them, meaning he would not come at a huge price tag for the payroll. And how satisfying would it be for the Red Sox to be paying $16 million this season for a guy contributing to this Rays ballclub?

Target #3 - Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo has been a hot name on the trade market for a few years now, but 2022 looks like the year the Reds finally cash in on this asset.

Castillo has not pitched much in 2022 due to injury, but is coming off a bounce back two year stretch with the Cincinnati Reds. Castillo owns a career ERA of 3.74 as well as a strikeout per 9 of 9.8. When Castillo is on, he can match up with almost any pitcher in baseball.

Adding the high ceiling of Castillo to a rotation that features McClanahan, Ryan Yarbrough, Drew Rasmussen, Corey Kluber, and the eventual returns of Baz and Luis Patino could create a deadly playoff rotation.

There are two concerns with pursuing a guy like Castillo. First, the Reds have held onto him for a reason, they want good value. The Rays of all teams are one who can afford to dip into their prospect pool, as they are consistently pumping out guys and are running out of positions to put them.

The other issue comes with Castillo's health. Throughout his career, the right hander has struggled to stay healthy, and the Rays already have a lot of arms that have the same issue. If the right deal lines up though, this could pay off huge for the ballclub.

Target #4 - Andrew Benintendi

Since coming over to the Kansas City Royals in 2021, Andrew Benintendi has recovered hit plus hit tool and solid glove that made him an exciting prospect for the Red Sox in the mid-2010s.

Benintendi has started off 2022 slashing .314/.371/.415 in 132 PA with an OPS+ of 133. With the Rays outfield mostly underperforming outside of Manuel Margot, Benintendi would provide the club with a consistent on base machine in the lineup everyday.

Benintendi should not cost the club a ton in value either as he is an impending free agent. The club would probably be delaying the return of Josh Lowe to the roster or need to make some hard decisions on Kevin Kiermaier or Brett Phillips, but time is ticking and the need is clearly there.

Target #5 - David Peralta

Off to a slow start in 2022, Arizona's David Peralta would be a nice buy low candidate to see if he can catch fire for the Tampa Bay Rays outfield.

Peralta has been one of the league's most consistent bats since entering in 2014, with a career slash line of .283/.341/.461. While his best days at the plate seem to be behind him, his ability to get on base could be revitalized on a new, contending club. Peralta still shows a lot of fight in his came, evidence by his 2-run homer in the 9th against the Dodgers on May 17th.

Like Benintendi, Peralta is a free agent come seasons end, and with the Diamondbacks promoting top prospect Alek Thomas and others to the big leagues, they may be incentivized to clear more space for their young bats.