Tampa Bay Rays Finally Get Their Man Brad Miller in Trade With Seattle Mariners

The Tampa Bay Rays have long sought Seattle Mariners' shortstop Brad Miller and, on Thursday, finally got their man. Tampa Bay and Seattle got together to consecrate a trade that saw the Rays send starting pitcher Nate Karns, reliever CJ Riefenhauser and minor league prospect Boog Powell to the Mariners for SS Brad Miller, 1st baseman/DH Logan Morrison and relief pitcher Danny Fraquhar.

The trade raises immediate eyebrows for Rays fans with the inclusion of Logan Morrison. Not young or cheap, Morrison has disappointed his whole career. His age 23 year, when he hit 23 home runs and drove in 72 RBIs, was by far his best season. Last year was somewhat of a coming out year for Morrison. He appeared in a career high 146 games and slugged 17 home runs and drove in 54. If Morrison could play everyday, one might begin to understand his inclusion in the deal but those days are long since gone, even at age 28.

Draysbay had this about Morrison, "Morrison was lauded for his bat in early quotes this evening from Rays President Matt Silverman, which spells out early intentions for DH use, but also provides important depth should the Rays want to move the expensive contract of James Loney this off-season. Morrison is entering his final year of arbitration (projected to make ~$4M), and is coming off a respectable 112 wRC+ vs right handed pitching in 2015."

Miller gives the Rays more depth, having learned to play the outfield as well. A target of the Rays for the past several years, Tampa managed to pry him out of Seattle by dangling Karns, who was rumored tradebait once the season ended.

Though Rays fans on social media weren't too fond of the trade, from the same article Draysbay had this assessment, " the Rays significantly improve one of their weakest aspects last season with two productive left handed bats, while provided depth at 1B and SS should no better solution materialize through the rest of the off-season."