In a wide-open American League, the Tampa Bay Rays are prepared to make a serious push as the Aug. 3 trade deadline looms.
According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Rays plan to be aggressive buyers at the deadline. He added that they have their eyes on Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and San Francisco Giants All-Star Luis Arráez.
Skubal, 29, is by far the most coveted name floating on the trade market. The left-hander has made 12 starts this season, posting a 3.06 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 84 strikeouts in 70.2 innings. He returned from midseason bone chip surgery in record time and hit 99.9 mph on the radar gun, proving he is still the same guy who has won back-to-back Cy Young awards.
Whether Skubal gets moved likely depends on if the Tigers believe they can make a postseason run. They have climbed back into the race following a 22-38 start, entering Sunday just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and 5.5 games out of first place in the AL Central. But with Skubal’s camp unwilling to negotiate an extension in season, Detroit runs the risk of losing the impending free agent for nothing by holding onto him past the deadline.
This would not be the first time Tampa Bay has made a push to land a superstar right before free agency. Earlier this year, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Rays held serious discussions with the Los Angeles Angels involving Shohei Ohtani at the 2023 trade deadline. The Angels opted to hold onto the two-way phenom, and a few months later, he signed a $700 million deal with the crosstown rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Skubal’s contract demands will likely be out of Tampa Bay’s price range, making him a rental if acquired. But for a Rays team that currently has the best record in the AL, there is arguably no better time to add an ace of Skubal’s caliber, even if it is for just a few months.
Marte, 32, would also be a splashy addition for Tampa Bay if acquired. The three-time All-Star and former NLCS MVP has appeared in 91 games this season, batting .259/.314/.466 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. He also ranks in the 85th percentile for defensive range, according to Statcast.
One obstacle standing in the Rays’ way is Marte’s full no-trade protection via 10-and-5 rights. Nightengale reported that the second baseman is expected to veto any potential deal, and Arizona has relayed that message to teams. He is currently in the second year of a six-year, $116.5 million extension that includes an $11.5 million player option in 2031.
Arráez, 29, is considered the Rays’ backup plan if Marte remains unavailable. The three-time batting champion has bounced around the league during his eight-year career, largely because he has been labeled a defensive liability. However, he has flipped that narrative this season.
Under the tutelage of Giants infield coach Ron Washington, Arráez’s glovework has improved tremendously. He entered Sunday tied for second (+8) in Fielding Run Value among major league second basemen, trailing only St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt (+15).
Over the previous seven seasons, Arráez ranked toward the bottom of the league in defensive range with a combined -37 Outs Above Average at second. Now, the veteran ranks in the 99th percentile (+10).
Arráez remains one of baseball’s premier contact hitters, entering Sunday batting .332/.370/.464 with four home runs and 35 RBI through 90 games. Like Skubal, the left-handed hitter is set to become a free agent at season’s end. He settled for a one-year, $12 million deal last winter, but if he maintains this production, better offers will certainly be on the table this time around.
