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MLB Rumors: Tampa Bay Rays Willing To Trade Starting Pitchers Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi And Matt Moore For Right Price

By Daniel Benjamin
Published on: 14:16 PST, Jul 23, 2016

The Tampa Bay Rays have some good relatively young arms and are reportedly making them available as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches.

Tampa Bay is all-but-eliminated from playoff contention as the Rays currently possess the second-worst record in the American League, at 38-58, and are 15 games out of the last wild card spot. Tampa had their three-game win streak snapped in its 1-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Friday night in 13 innings, despite the fact that right-hander Jake Odorizzi pitched exceptionally well.

Odorizzi, who may be one of the starters traded, threw eight shutout innings against the A’s as he allowed just five hits and struck out five while walking none. It was Odorizzi’s second consecutive strong outing, as he permitted two runs and seven hits in six innings against the Baltimore Orioles on July 17.

Overall, Odorizzi is 4-5 on the season with a 4.10 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He has recorded 110 strikeouts this season and is permitting opposing batters to hit.248 against him. Odorizzi has a league-high 12 no-decisions this season, though he has allowed one run or less in six of those games. Since the start of the 2015 campaign, Odorizzi has compiled a 13-14 record, as he has received just 24 runs of support in his 14 losses.

Odorizzi and left-hander Matt Moore are drawing the most interest of the Rays’ starters, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin listed the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, and Boston Red Sox among the teams showing interest.

Moore has posted five consecutive starts, though he is just 3-2 during that span. The 27-year-old is 6-7 overall on the season, with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP as he is permitting opponents to hit.254 against him. Moore has recorded 104 strikeouts this season, but has also surrendered 20 home runs.

While Odorizzi and Moore are reportedly receiving the most attention of the Rays’ starters, ace Chris Archer is the prize target. Archer is believed to be starter least likely to be traded, unless Tampa is blown away by an offer.

Archer, who is under contract for the next five years, is 5-13 on the season with a 4.60 ERA. The 27-year-old recorded his fifth double-digit performance in his last start against Colorado on July 20. He currently leads the AL with 147 strikeouts.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the Rays believe eight teams have a deep enough farm system to put together a package good enough to pry Archer away. Rosenthal said one of those teams are the Pirates, but they would have to give up two of their top prospects in right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows in order to acquire Archer.

Glasnow, per the Kansas City Star, was removed from his second major league start in the fourth inning Saturday with shoulder discomfort in his throwing arm. Prior to being lifted, the 21-year-old right-hander struggled with his control as he walked three and permitted four hits along with two runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in three innings of work.

Glasnow (0-1) has given up seven hits and walked five batters in 8 and one-third innings of work. He has a 5.40 ERA along with a 1.44 WHIP, though opponents are only hitting.226 against him.

Meadows has yet to make his Major League debut. The 21-year-old is currently in Triple-A Indianapolis after being recently promoted from Double-A Altoona. Meadows is hitting.296 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases in 57 games overall this season.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News is writing that after the Rangers dabbled with prying away Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox, they have returned their attention to the Rays’ three starters. According to Grant, Tampa Bay wants third basemen Joey Gallo in any deal for Moore or Odorizzo. However, Texas is reportedly only willing to trade Gallo for Archer.

Texas currently leads the AL West, but is only 1-6 since the All-Star break. The Rangers have been outscored 37-21 over the seven game stretch.

Gallo is currently at Triple-A Round Rock, hitting.254 with 18 home runs and 44 runs batted in. He has also struck out 86 times and drawn 52 walks. In addition, 32 of Gallo’s 59 hits this season have been for extra bases.

Archer, Ordorizzo and Moore are not the only Rays’ pitchers drawing interest from other teams. As starter Drew Smyly along with relievers Erasamo Ramirez and Xavier Cedano are rumored to possibly be on the move.

Smyly sports an unsightly 2-11 record and 5.64 ERA that ranks as the highest among all pitchers who’ve thrown at least 90 innings this season. The 27-year-old southpaw has surrendered at least five runs in four consecutive starts.

Ramirez is 7-7 on the season with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in 39 appearances, including one start. The 26-year-old has been credited with 10 holds and four blown saves. For his career, Ramirez is 25-25 with a 4.18 ERA and has made 63 starts of his 120 appearances.

Cedano has not allowed a base runner in his last three appearances, covering 1 and two-third’s innings. The 29-year-old is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 14 holds though he also has four blown saves.

[Photo by David Zalubowski/AP Images]

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