The Tampa Bay Rays are staring at a deadline swing that could reshape their lineup, but it won’t come cheap. If Tampa Bay wants Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, the asking price is expected to start with multiple top prospects - including, potentially, the best player in the Rays’ farm system.
That’s the reality Eric Neander and the front office are weighing as August 3 approaches. The Rays are 63-44 entering Thursday and hold a 2.5-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East, but once the deadline passes, the market shuts down. If Tampa Bay wants to make a real push for a deep postseason run, this is the window.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Rockies have no pressure to move Goodman, who remains under club control for three more seasons. Instead, Colorado is said to be seeking multi-player packages built around a team’s top prospects. With just four days left before the deadline, the leverage sits squarely with the Rockies.
And the competition is real. The Boston Red Sox and Yankees are also among the clubs showing interest in Goodman before August 3.
For Tampa Bay, the appeal is obvious. Goodman would bring serious pop to a lineup that could use it. He is tied for third in Major League Baseball with 31 home runs, and 18 of those have come on the road, away from Coors Field.
The Rays have gotten strong work from Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia behind the plate, and that has helped support one of the best rotations in baseball. But the need for more power in the batting order is hard to ignore, and Goodman would address that in a big way.
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