The Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs have quite a history together. There was the Matt Garza trade a few years back, where the Cubs added Garza and sent soon to be Rays ace Chris Archer, among others, to Tampa. Then, there was that whole Joe Maddon thing. Joe Maddon had an opt out clause in his contract and decided to use it at the end of the 2014 season. Cubs' free agent signing Ben Zobrist became a star in Tampa Bay. Now, the Rays and Cubs have been talking trade and Javier Baez's name has, apparently, been smack dab in the middle.
The Rays have been on a quest this offseason to put a little more pop in their line up from last year when only one player hit 20 home runs, that, of course, being Evan Longoria. Having already acquired Logan Morrison to DH and play first, the Rays also picked up the offensively capable Hanki Conger. Now, Rays GM Matt Silverman seems to have his focus squarely on the Cub's Javier Baez to play shortstop.
According to Marc Topkin of Tampa Bay Times, "Baez, 23, would provide the kind of young impact bat the Rays seek. He has played parts of the last two seasons with the Cubs after starring in the minors." The Rays feel they have excess of what the Cubs want more than anything - pitching. Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore, Drew Smyly, along with the injured starter Alex Cobb. Throw in relieverJake McGee and clearly the Rays are looking for a big haul, maybe Jaez Baez, Jorge Solar and Kyle Hendricks for Matt Moore and Jake McGee, a thought.
With Johnny Cueto off the market things should start intensifying. Says Bleacherreport, :"The only pitcher that won't be touched is Chris Archer, for obvious reasons. But if Tampa Bay is waiting until Cueto and Leake come off the board, then there may not be a deal involving the Rays until early January or maybe February."
For now, we just have to wait and guess what Rays GM Matt Silverman might do.
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