The Tampa Bay Rays have been knocked out of the postseason by the Texas Rangers. With their season now officially over, it's time to look ahead to the winter. Tampa Bay doesn't have many intriguing free agents, but considering their payroll is so affordable, there's a chance some big trade chips could become available.
The Rays front office is one of the best in the sport. They know when to get rid of a top talent, and which prospects tend to pan out. Making a deal with Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander is a scary thought, especially given Tampa Bay tends to make the most out of its resources. The Rays have one of the best scouting departments in the sport, and fans should expect nothing different than the head-scratching moves we've seen in offseasons past.
As we all know, those trades tend to work out in the Rays favor.
Rays who won't be back: Chris Devenski
Devinski is a middle-relief pitcher for the Rays, but had an ERA close to five by the end of the season. If the Rays cannot reinvent Davinski, then perhaps he needs a minor-league stint of prove-it deal to truly unlock his potential.
Devinski is a free agent after the season, meaning he'll be free to sign with any team he wants. Trying to guess that match is nearly impossible, as dozens of organizations need bullpen help every offseason.
Nonetheless, Devinski had the majority of his success early in his career with the Houston Astros. Frankly, he hasn't looked right since, and a reunion in the Lone Star state makes a lot of sense if they are interested. They know him best.
Rays who won't be back: Tyler Stephenson
Stephenson is the best of the bunch in a lackluster Rays free-agent crop. As FanSided's Kevin Henry wrote earlier this week, he could leave Tampa in the dust for a higher price tag.
"Since his arrival in St. Petersburg, Stephenson has pitched well, logging a 2.41 ERA/2.48 FIP/0.696 WHIP in 41 games covering 37.1 frames...The 30-year-old right-hander has played for four different teams during his eight-year MLB career, and is under a $1.75 million deal for this season. The price tag is right and the performance has been there this season, so Stephenson may be under-the-radar find for some team in 2024."
Stephenson is a capable late-inning relief pitcher for any interested suitor this offseason. He's due to make far more than his sub-$2 million price tag, and it seems unlikely that Tampa Bay will pay up given their ability to churn out relief pitcher prospects thanks to an elite player development staff.
The former Reds first-round pick could serve as a setup man for Alexis Diaz next season, if Cincinnati is interested.
Rays who won't be back: Tyler Glasnow
Tyler Glasnow is set to hit free agency after next season, and will surely command a price tag the Rays are not comfortable with. The Cillian Murphy lookalike is one of the best pitchers in the American League when healthy, but avoiding injury has been a problem for him in the past.
Trading Glasnow with a season left on his deal feels like something the Rays would do, especially if they can acquire some decent prospect capital in return. The alternative is either negotiating an extension with Glasnow now, or dealing him at the trade deadline for half the return.
Tampa Bay extended Glasnow through 2024 last season, knowing fully well that they couldn't afford him on a long-term contract. While Glasnow lost Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series against the Rangers, it wasn't fully on him, as Tampa Bay's defensive committed a litany of errors in the field of play.
Glasnow could fetch a really good return, and the St. Louis Cardinals make a lot of sense as a trade partner. The Cards should be aggressive this offseason to replace Adam Wainwright and more atop their starting rotation. While it might be a risk to trade for Glasnow -- a pitcher who struggles to stay healthy -- and rely too heavily upon him, John Mozeliak has his back up against the wall.
St. Louis has a decent farm system the Rays can pluck from. On paper, a trade makes sense.