The Rays are in a spot plenty of teams would love to occupy this time of year: 4.0 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East, with the rest of the American League trailing well behind. That kind of cushion has Tampa Bay looking not just at a postseason berth, but at the possibility of a first-round bye.
That’s part of why the MLB trade deadline is shaping up as a real opportunity for the Rays. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Tampa Bay is preparing to be “aggressive” this summer because the American League is so open.
"'The Rays, who suddenly are seeing that the AL is wide open for the taking, plan to be aggressive buyers at the deadline," Nightengale reports.
For Tampa Bay, that approach fits the moment. The club has obvious needs, with starting pitching and another slugger sitting near the top of the wish list. And if the Rays decide to go after help, they have a track record of making bold swings - including their Junior Caminero trade offer to the Los Angeles Angels for Shohei Ohtani.
There are already some intriguing names in the mix. Tarik Skubal has been connected to the Rays and would be a major fit.
Joe Ryan is another arm who could make sense. On the position-player side, Ketel Marte and Luis Arraez are among the infield options mentioned.
Catcher could also be an area Tampa Bay addresses. Liam Hicks of the Miami Marlins, Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies, and Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins are all names that could be on the radar.
With the AL field looking wide open, the Rays appear ready to act like a team that believes it can make a real run. The deadline arrives on August 3, and Tampa Bay could be one of the most active buyers on the board.
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