The Tampa Bay Rays are heading toward the trade deadline with a familiar problem and a familiar kind of fix in mind: they need more offense, and they may have to solve it up the middle.
Pitching help matters, sure. But the bigger issue is the lineup, where Tampa Bay could use at least one bat to give more support to a group led by Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda.
The Rays have gotten flashes from catcher, shortstop and second base, but not the steady production they want. And behind the plate, the search for an answer has been going on for years.
One name already on their radar is Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins. The catch is that he’s also attracting attention from other clubs, which could drive the price up fast. If that turns into a bidding war, Tampa Bay may need to move on quickly.
That’s where Jonah Heim comes in.
“No, not the catcher you were expecting here. Shea Langeliers could become the buzziest name at the deadline, but the A’s will resist the temptation to make the biggest big-leaguer-for-prospect splash for the second straight summer. Instead, they’ll send Heim to a team in need of some catching help, perhaps the Dodgers or Yankees or Rays, one of the teams that strikes out on acquiring Ryan Jeffers,” wrote Zack Meisel of The Athletic (subscription required).
Heim has been doing solid work for the Athletics, handling plenty of the catching duties while allowing Shea Langeliers to spend more time at designated hitter and stay fresh. With so many clubs looking for catching help this summer, the Athletics have reason to listen, especially after their pitching slipped and pushed them back out of the playoff picture.
The veteran’s path to Oakland has already been a little bumpy. He got off to a slow start in 2026 with the Atlanta Braves, but he has settled in with his new club and now owns a .240/.285/.445 slash line with eight home runs and six doubles in 158 plate appearances.
For Tampa Bay, that would represent a clear step up from Hunter Feduccia, who has hit .229/.306/.336 with an OPS+ of 79. Nick Fortes has been better, posting a .281/.321/.386 line with an OPS+ of 96, but Heim would still give the Rays another layer of offense.
There’s still the usual midseason concern with adding a catcher: the relationship with the pitching staff matters, and that kind of trust usually takes time. But Heim has already changed teams once this year, so he’s at least shown he can walk into a new situation and adjust. He’s a switch hitter with some pop, and for a Rays lineup looking for a lift, that kind of upgrade would matter.
In Other News...
As Suddenly Face Serious Concern With Shea Langeliers
Shea Langeliers breakout season has hit an abrupt snag, with the Athletics placing their All-Star catcher on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Saturday because of a torn meniscus in his right knee. The move comes after a year in which Langeliers established himself as one of the clubs most important everyday players, and Oakland answered by recalling Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas to handle the catching duties.
The injury leaves the As facing a much different outlook behind the plate in the short term, and it also clouds whatever remained of the clubs plans for the next few days. Langeliers was in the middle of a season that had put him squarely on the radar as one of the better catchers in the league, but now the focus shifts to how long hell be out and whether Oakland will have to navigate the rest of the year without him. [Read more 🡒]
A Major As Vegas Development Just Raised The Stakes For Fans
The Athletics push toward Las Vegas took another visible step this week, with fresh financing tied to the clubs relocation plans and a ballpark timeline that keeps the 2028 target in view. The new stadium is scheduled to be finished by Feb. 29, 2028, and the broader effort now has another layer of backing as the franchise continues to operate in the middle of a long transition.
On the field, the roster still looks like one that could change again before the deadline. Oakland already sent Aaron Civale to the Cubs, and the move fit the kind of sell-off that often comes when a club is balancing present needs with a bigger future plan. For fans, the uneasy part is that the baseball side and the relocation side are moving at the same time, with more decisions still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
A's Bullpen Help May Come From A Familiar Former Closer
The Athletics are looking at bullpen help before the trade deadline, and the search has plenty to do with need as much as opportunity. Oakland has leaned on a small group of relievers it trusts, while Jose Suarez has been effective enough to put himself on the radar as a possible trade piece if the club decides to cash in an impending free agent.
One veteran option under consideration is Liam Hendriks, whose experience would give the staff a different kind of presence in the late innings. For the As, the appeal is obvious: a familiar arm with a track record in Oakland and the kind of leadership that can steady a relief corps still trying to find more dependable depth. [Read more 🡒]