The Tampa Bay Rays were both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline, and GM Erik Neander feels that with the trades made on Thursday, the Rays are in a good spot to be competitive again in 2026.
The Rays traded starter Zack Littell to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rays pick up left-handed pitcher Adam Serwinowski and right-hander Brian Van Belle in return from the Reds. The Rays then flipped Serwinowski to the Dodgers, along with Paul Gervase and catcher Ben Rortvedt, in return for catcher Hunter Feduccia.
According to the scouting reports, Feduccia is big-league ready. However, his path to the big leagues has been blocked by All-Star catcher Will Smith in Los Angeles. The 28-year-old is hitting .287 at Oklahoma City with nine homers and 51 RBI’s in 78 games. Fedduccia has had just two at-bats for the Dodgers this season.
In somewhat of a surprise move, the Rays said goodbye to starting pitcher Taj Bradley. Bradley was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for reliever Griffin Jax. Bradley had been wildly inconsistent this season, but we didn’t think the Rays were ready to pull the plug on his career in Tampa. He finishes his season as a Ray with a 6-6 record with 95 strikeouts and a 4.61 ERA.
Griffin Jax comes to the Rays with a reputation as a hard-throwing, late-inning bullpen guy who could move to the closer’s role if needed. Jax was 1-5 this season with the Twins with a 4.50 ERA. Jax has 72 strikeouts in 46 innings this season. Despite the high ERA, Jax has a 5.5 strikeout-walk ratio this season. The Rays are hoping that Jax can help bring some stability to the bullpen, as the bullpen has not been able to hold any lead over the last month of the season. Jax is expected to pitch in high-leverage situations during the seventh and eighth innings and leave the closing duties to Pete Fairbanks.
During their game in the Bronx Thursday afternoon, the Rays sent the AL stolen base leader, Jose Caballero, to the New York Yankees. In return, the Rays acquire doutfielder Everson Pereira and a player to be named later. Pereira, 24, has a .864 OPS across 70 games for Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.
After trading Littell and Bradley, the Rays needed starting pitching and acquired starting pitcher Adrian Houser from the Chicago White Sox. In return, the Rays sent infielder Curtis Meadows and prospects Benjamin Peoples and Duncan Davitt to the White Sox. Houser is 6-2 on the season, with a 2.10 ERA. He also has 47 strikeouts on the season.
After a busy day of activity, the Rays’ president of baseball operations, Erik Neander, talked about the transactions. “Obviously, we had to make some difficult decisions, but I would like to think today’s moves down at the end are an action that supports that. The big impact moves, obviously, players that we could keep going with beyond this year, but still give this group a chance.”
Kevin Cash echoed Neander’s sentiments. “We appreciate our players. Erik really appreciates our players. There are tough decisions to be made at every deadline, no matter what the situation. But I feel like this team’s good, and we know the guys that can help us win, and we want to get them going the right way so we can have a strong two months.”
So with all the moving parts on Thursday, what is the status of the Rays’ starting rotation? Shane Baz, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Joe Boyle, and Adrian Houser will start the rest of the season for the Rays, barring an injury. The Rays are also expecting lefty Shane McClanahan back before the season ends.
Other Notes
—The Rays suffered their first significant injury of the season as first baseman Jonathan Aranda sustained a fractured wrist and will miss at least the next month.
—Chandler Simpson sustained a left index finger sprain during Thursday’s game against the Yankees and is considered day-to-day. Yandy Diaz also left Thursday’s game after being hit by a pitch, but was back in the lineup at first base against the Dodgers on Friday Night.
—The Rays enter the final two months with a 54-56 record and are four games out of a playoff spot.
—The Rays finished July 7-18, the worst month of baseball under manager Kevin Cash since he became the Rays manager.