Two Rays are in the Silver Slugger mix, and the names tell two very different stories.
Junior Caminero is the easy one to explain. He’s one of the two American League finalists at third base, and after what he just put together, it would be a shock if he doesn’t win.
The 22-year-old followed up his second straight 40-homer season with 100 runs scored, 101 RBI and a 148 wRC+. He also led the majors in bat speed at 79.4 MPH.
His competition is Miguel Vargas of the White Sox, who finished with 33 homers and a 134 wRC+, a strong season in its own right but one that looks like a clear step behind Caminero’s.
Chandler Simpson is the wild card. He’s trying to become just the third Silver Slugger ever to win the award without hitting a home run, joining Ozzie Smith in 1987 and Pete Rose in 1981. That puts him on a finalist list that also includes Wilyer Abreu of the Red Sox, Randy Arozarena of the Mariners, Cody Bellinger of the Yankees, Jac Caglianone of the Royals, Chase DeLauter of the Guardians, Riley Greene of the Tigers, Tristan Peters of the White Sox and Mike Trout of the Angels.
Per the announcement, Abreu, Arozarena, Caglianone, DeLauter, Peters and Simpson would all be first-time winners. Trout is chasing a different kind of milestone: he could become the third player ever to win 10 Silver Sluggers, behind Barry Bonds with 12 and Mike Piazza with 10.
The numbers make Simpson’s case look unusual, but they also explain why he’s in the conversation. Among qualified hitters, Arozarena leads the group with a 151 wRC+, followed by Greene at 136, the not nominated Dom Canzone at 134, DeLauter at 131 and Caglianone at 129.
Using that same lens, Trout sits sixth at 129 and Simpson is 20th at 93. Still, Simpson does own the league batting average lead at .306, with Caglianone next at .289.
In Other News...
Rays Trade Buzz Around Ketel Marte Comes With One Huge Complication
Trade chatter around Ketel Marte is back in the air, and for the Rays it is the kind of rumor that naturally draws attention. Tampa Bay has been linked to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the past, and Martes name fits the profile of a player who would make sense on a roster that always seems to be looking for ways to sharpen its lineup and stay flexible.
The complication is obvious enough to slow the conversation down before it gets too far. Marte now has 10-and-5 rights, which gives him the ability to block any deal, and there is still no confirmation that the teams are actually negotiating anything right now. Even so, the earlier framework between the clubs is part of why the speculation keeps circling back, with pitching names already having been mentioned in prior discussions. [Read more 🡒]
Chandler Simpson Is Getting Rare Silver Slugger Buzz For A Different Reason
Chandler Simpsons rookie season has already made him one of the more unusual names in the Rays orbit, and now it has pushed him into some rare Silver Slugger company. The Tampa Bay outfielder is among the American League finalists for the award, a list Louisville Slugger unveiled this week, putting him in position to be recognized for offense in a way that has almost no precedent.
What makes Simpsons candidacy stand out is the kind of season it represents, not the usual power numbers that tend to drive these awards. A win would place him alongside a tiny group of non-pitchers who have taken home a Silver Slugger without leaving the yard, a reminder that there is still room for a different kind of offensive profile to get noticed when the ballots are cast. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Just Added A Pitching Depth Arm Worth Watching Closely
The Rays have added another arm to the mix, agreeing to a minor league contract with Levi Stoudt and bringing him into major league spring training as a depth option worth keeping an eye on. Tampa Bay has long made a habit of turning these low-cost pitching bets into something more, and Stoudt fits the profile of a pitcher with some big-league experience and enough recent intrigue to merit a closer look.
Stoudt spent time in the Phillies organization before reaching free agency, and his work in the minors there came without allowing a run. He has also pitched in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds, though injuries have interrupted his recent seasons and made his path less straightforward than it once looked. For the Rays, the appeal is clear: a live arm with a track record, a fresh opportunity, and a spring invite that gives him a real chance to make his case. [Read more 🡒]