The Tampa Bay Rays playoff chances are becoming dimmer and dimmer as their recent tailspin has dug a hole that keeps getting deeper and deeper. If the Rays don't start winning games, especially against teams like Philadelphia, their season could be at a premature end in no time flat. As for trades to upgrade, getting a healthy team on the field might do that just as fast. The Rays have been one of the most injury plagued teams this year.
They have had to do without several key players for long periods of time and are finally getting healthy. Matt Moore, Desmond Jennings, Drew Smyly and Steven Souza Jr. have all spent significant time on the disabled list and have not made any contribution to a team that hovers near .500 and is still very much in the race.
In an article on Rant Sports, Chad Troyan provides some interesting potential targets that Tampa Bay Rays could go after; notably Adam Lind. Troyan notes, "The Rays' first basemen have proven they can produce runs. The issue is that they also have shown they struggle getting hits and getting on base as they have collectively hit .227 and accumulated a .283 on-base percentage. The Brewers' eight-game winning streak was ended last night, and they now find themselves 19.5 games back in the NL Central. Lind would provide a spark immediately to a first base platoon that needs some help."
The other Troyan points to is Josh Reddick: "The Rays' right fielders have failed to be effective this season, hitting .213 with a .298 on-base percentage. The Athletics currently sit 11 games back of first place in the AL West. They have already started fielding calls for Ben Zobrist and may now consider entertaining offers for Reddick. Reddick would provide the Rays with a player who can play defense and be productive offensively as well, hitting .288 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs."
The likelihood of either trade happening is slim. Owner Stu Sternberg says so indirectly via MLB Trade Rumors, "People say, 'Buyer? Seller?' It will be no different than we've done in years past," said Sternberg. "I think we're in almost precisely the same spot we've been in every year since '08. Which is, we're close, we feel we have a really good team. We'd like to see our team on the field all at once. And we'll try to be opportunistic." Though the team has obviously scuffled of late and will be prepared to sell if it falls too far back, the Tampa Bay owner said he hopes to remain in contention and believes the current roster is good enough — especially with players returning from injury —to stay in the mix."
This philosophy has been successful for a long time for the Rays. Why stop now?
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