2024 MLB Trade Deadline Winners: The Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are undoubtedly winners in this year’s trade deadline.

As with most years, there were many teams entering this July on the edge of success or failure. As the season comes into its final stretch, baseball teams have to chart a course. Are they going to go all in? Or are they going to retool, restructure, and try again next year? The Tampa Bay Rays decided to choose the latter, and put on a masterclass in doing so. They’re winners this year.

The Rays are demonstrating the calculated decision-making required to run a ball club in the notoriously competitive AL East. Tampa has struggled to break away from a .500 record this season, watching as the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox duke it out for division and/or wild card positioning. They decided to sell, and they sold hard. They traded away stars Isaac Paredes and Randy Arozarena, as well as a handful of other players including Zach Eflin and veteran Phil Maton. In all, the Rays made seven total trades before the deadline hit.

• RHP Aaron Civale to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league infielder Gregory Barrios
• RHP Zach Eflin to the Baltimore Orioles for three prospects to be named later
• OF Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners for OF Aidan Smith, RHP Brody Hopkins, and a player to be named later
• IF Amed Rosario to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league reliever Michael Flynn
• 3B Isaac Paredes to the Chicago Cubs for Christopher Morel
• RHP Phil Maton to the New York Mets for a player to be named later
• RHP Jason Adam to the San Diego Padres for minor league prospects RHP Dylan Lesko, OF Homer Bush Jr. and C J.D. Gonzalez
  

The overall result is an absolute win for Tampa. As a result of their commitment to sell, the Rays have shed millions in payroll. Per Ken Rosenthal , they will save $12 million this year, and millions in future arbitration. The Mets will be taking on 100% of Phil Maton’s salary, a result of a relatively expensive deal he signed with Tampa before the start of the 2024 season. Much of the incoming talent to the Rays will be significantly cheaper for years to come.

The success doesn’t only equate to dollars, though. The Rays have now reloaded their system with prospects. The trade of Zach Eflin to the Orioles is particularly significant. As the Orioles are division rivals, the expected return will be hefty. Dylan Lesko, picked up in the trade of Jason Adam to the Padres, was drafted 15th overall in 2022. All in all, the Rays added 14 players to an organization notorious for developing talent. It’s a trade deadline win, no doubt about it.

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