Trade, Keep, Build Around: 3 Tampa Bay Rays with 3 Different Outcomes

Trade: Kevin Kiermaier

This trade may be a bit overdue for the Rays, and will not net the same kind of value as some of their other high profile deals have, but center fielder Kevin Kiermaier should be sent to another contender in the league before the trade deadline.

Over the course of his 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Kiermaier has slashed .247/.307.408 while being arguably the best defensive centerfielder in baseball during that stretch, achieving 3 Gold Gloves along the way. After being a stable for this club for sometime, playing time needs to be cleared for some of the Rays up and comers.

After a hot stretch earlier this season, Kiermaier still sits at a lowly .618 OPS for the club, but still provides that elite defense that makes him so valuable. Contenders like the Astros, White Sox, Guardians, Mets, Phillies, and Braves may be interested in adding some outfield depth with an acquisition of Kiermaier, and the Rays should explore and execute on a trade soon.

Keep: Tyler Glasnow

If the Rays are looking to pull off another heist like the Chris Archer trade from years ago, Tyler Glasnow would be prime candidate for the "trade" section. But if Tampa Bay is serious about being a World Series contender, keeping Glasnow could make their pitching staff one of the best we've seen in a long time.

Before his season ending elbow surgery in 2021, Glasnow broke out as one of the best pitchers in baseball and cruised to a 2.66 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 123 Ks in just 88 innings of work. Glasnow looked every bit like the Cy Young candidate the team had thought he could be, but is still working his way back from his Tommy John procedure.

Perhaps the injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Tampa Bay ballclub. Had Glasnow continued his breakout season, he'd likely be a candidate for one of the biggest contracts to a pitcher in baseball, something the Rays simply cannot afford. But with the uncertainty of his market following that injury, the Rays may be able to extend the stud right hander to a more team friendly deal that gives Glasnow security for the next 3-5 seasons.

Although it would be a risky extension for the club, if Glasnow is willing to sign something, they have to offer it to him. The idea of teaming up Glasnow with the likes of Shane McClanahan, Shane Baz, Luis Patino, Taj Bradley, and countless other pitchers in the organization gives the Rays depth to withstand injuries to any of their key pitchers, and perhaps one of the most loaded rotations we have seen.

Build Around: Shane McClanahan

Speaking of an elite rotation, Shane McClanahan has had himself a breakout 2022 season, proving to already be one of the best pitchers in baseball and perhaps the lead ace among aces on this projected Rays rotation.

McClanahan is only 25 years old, and yet has an ERA of 2.10 with a K/9 sitting at 12.45 across 64.1 innings of work. His performance so far in his career is not just impressive amongst current pitchers, but all timers as well.

The Rays lefty is one of the leading candidates for the Cy Young award this season, and has done so on a consistent basis. McClanahan has already shown he is not afraid of the big stages either, pitching in the post season last year as a rookie and dominating the deadly Angels lineup in a pitchers dual against Shohei Ohtani.

The Rays need to build around McClanahan. If at all possible, they should sign up to a long term deal like they did for Wander Franco. It is no pipe dream to say that McClanahan, Baz, and Glasnow could be this generation's Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz if they all remain healthy, and the Rays cannot afford to breakup that trio any time soon.

McClanahan out of the bunch has proved to be not only the best, but the healthiest, and has what it takes to lead the Tampa Bay rotation for years to come. This Ray is one that needs built around, let's hope the Rays do everything in their power to do so.