Predicting the Rays' plan when 2024 MLB trade deadline rolls around

The 2024 MLB trade deadline is slated for 6 p.m. E.T. on July 30. That gives teams a little under a week to make moves needed to either give them an edge late in the season or prepare for the future. The Tampa Bay Rays find themselves in a tough spot with their own deadline discussions. Are they buyers or are they sellers? This is a big question could take even more time to figure out.

People all around the MLB world have already pointed out contenders in the league that could knock on the Rays' door for certain players. These include the big-name bats in the lineup like Isaac Paredes, Randy Arozarena, and Yandy Diaz. Arozarena in particular has gained a ton of trade buzz due to his recent play improving, as he is batting .279 and .291 in the months of July and June.

Tampa Bay can also save some money, as Arozarena's 2024 arbitration agreement was settled at $8.1 million, which is sure to escalate next season.

Rays could continue to sell off pitching at MLB trade deadline after Aaron Civale deal

The pitching staff in Tampa Bay is also being addressed in trade rumors, as Zach Eflin and Zack Littell have been listed as likely candidates to be shipped out. Eflin is going to be an expensive pitching option for the Tampa Bay Rays in the future, as he is set to be paid around $18 million in 2025.

The Rays also just plan to clean house a little bit within the pitching room, with arms like Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen set to return in the second half of the season and get reintroduced into the starting rotation. It seems that, regardless of the way the team is playing, the Rays will ship one of their current main starters out.

A major amount of moves can be made by Tampa Bay at the trade deadline that sits less than a week away. However, a big question lingers as the team currently plays a series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. If Tampa Bay still sits around 5 games back from a Wild Card spot and is above .500, do they really sell all of their big time playmakers?

They do not necessarily seem like a World Series contender by any stretch, but they can maintain their historic postseason streak if they keep the current lineup intact while adding big-time prospects with a pitcher trade (sending Eflin or Littell away). In other words, it will take time all the way until the trade deadline to determine what exactly Tampa Bay does to make themselves better this season, or how far they'll go to prepare for the future and sell core pieces of the team to contenders around MLB.