Offseason Trade Partner - Tampa Bay Rays

[JohnBriggs12]

Despite a last place finish, the Rays are not going to tear down their roster and rebuild. They are likely to move Brad Miller from SS to 1B permanently as they will lose Logan Morrison to FA. That would leave switch hitting 1B prospect Casey Gillaspie blocked in AAA.

 

Gillaspie would be a nice fit for the Brewers.

[logan82]

I don't think that trade would be a good idea. We can't give up young guys to try and compete now. The goal is to build a winning team long term and not ransom the franchise for short term gains like we have done in the past.

[mrn1ceguy]

I don't think that trade would be a good idea. We can't give up young guys to try and compete now. The goal is to build a winning team long term and not ransom the franchise for short term gains like we have done in the past.

 

I don't see getting Casey Gillaspie as a win now move. Considering he is 23 and has no major league experience, he's a prospect on the cusp of beginning his major league career. I don't know much about him as a prospect/player, but if he is someone Stearn likes, he's a perfect candidate to get (i.e. Villar last year). Become a solid contributor at 1B for the next ~6 years, possibly break out and be a star, or settle in as a cheap solid contributor until we are ready to move him or replace him. We could also stick him in the minors for another year as he has only been in AAA for half a season and bring him up mid-season or next year with our first big wave of prospects.

 

Now what would it take to get him? No idea but if all we have to give up is a Cy Sneed equivalent (Yamamoto), fallen prospect (Coulter/Taylor) or a redundant major league piece (Torres/Anderson), I'm all for that.

[reillymcshane]

Since John Briggs posted about Gillaspie, I thought I'd throw this info out about him:

 

Casey Gillaspie is a switch hitting 1B selected in the 1st round (20th overall) in 2014. He played college ball at Wichita State. He is a big guy - 6'4" and 240 lbs. He will be 24 in January. He is the brother of Giant's 3B Conor Gillaspie.

 

Gillespie's calling card is his power. His hit tool is considered average - at best. His lifetime batting average in the minors is .270. He is a patient batter, taking a lot of walks. His strikeout rate is generally around 20% - not too crazy for a player of his skill set. He appears to hit better as a left handed hitter.

 

Gillaspie is about as slow as they come. Couple that with a below average arm, and that means he's a DH or 1B.

 

Gillespie improved his hitting last year as he moved between AA and AAA. His average was a solid .284, but his power slipped a bit at the higher levels (18 HR in 472 ABs compared to 17 HR in 281 ABs in 2014 at A ball).

 

MLB Pipeline placed Gillespie as the minor's 9th best 1B. He's not a Top 100 guy, but he's probably in your next 100 guys.

 

I'm sure some other people have a better feel for Gillespie, but I've always thought of him as a good, not great hitter, limited by his poor speed and defensive limitations (I honestly don't know anything about his defense other than scouts generally have rated him as average). I see a guy who hits .250-260 with 25 HR. It's not great, but there's nothing wrong with that.

 

I'm not sure the Rays are blocking Gillespie at this point in that he could DH for the club as well as play some 1B. The Rays DH position hit an awful .223 last year - so there's an opening.

 

The Rays do have a decent 1B prospect in Jake Bauers, but he's probably a year away.

 

Gillespie is the kind of guy that you certainly don't break the bank to get - but if you do get him, so be it. He showed a lot of improvement in AAA (although it was just 47 games). His limitations are pretty clear - he's a 1B.

 

I'd love to hear what people who have seen him think about his bat. My knowledge is mostly scouting reports, stats, and a few videos.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=gillas000cas

 

PS - my autocorrect keeps changing the spelling of Gillaspie's name. It has an 'a' - not an 'e' in the middle. Sorry about the changing name.

[reillymcshane]

I don't think that trade would be a good idea. We can't give up young guys to try and compete now. The goal is to build a winning team long term and not ransom the franchise for short term gains like we have done in the past.

I don't think anyone is ransoming the franchise to get a guy like Gillespie. He's not even a top 100 ranked player. But he is a guy who may be blocked (he may not be either, but that's a different story), so it behooves the Brewers to take a look at a guy like him. They did well with blocked players last year - Villar and Broxton, specifically.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't think that trade would be a good idea. We can't give up young guys to try and compete now. The goal is to build a winning team long term and not ransom the franchise for short term gains like we have done in the past.

 

Where did I suggest who to trade to get Gillaspie or that a 23 year old 1B with under 300 AAA at bats is competing now? Rays have announced they aren't rebuilding. They have areas of need on the major league team that they will address. Tampa Bay might have interest in Carter as a DH if they can even out the money somewhat with another player. One way might be to package Carter and Gennett for Gillaspie and Forsythe who's scheduled for a big raise next year. Rays have bullpen needs as well. Torres is a guy that might interest them along with a mid level prospect at a position the Brewers are deeper in than 1B.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't think that trade would be a good idea. We can't give up young guys to try and compete now. The goal is to build a winning team long term and not ransom the franchise for short term gains like we have done in the past.

I don't think anyone is ransoming the franchise to get a guy like Gillespie. He's not even a top 100 ranked player. But he is a guy who may be blocked (he may not be either, but that's a different story), so it behooves the Brewers to take a look at a guy like him. They did well with blocked players last year - Villar and Broxton, specifically.

 

Gillaspie was the 20th overall pick just 2 seasons ago. His ceiling might not be through the roof but he possess the kind of bat the Brewers could use and he's not likely the type who'd be a bust either. He doesn't project as a 30+ HR guy but he'll likely hit 20-25, not strike out a ton, and get on at a decent clip. I'm guessing after his AAA success in 2016, he'll crack some top 100 lists even though many guys on those lists are boom or bust types.

 

An even higher ceiling 1B in the Rays system might be Jake Bauers who posted an impressive .789 OPS in AA as a 20 year old. He was acquired by the Rays in the deal that sent Wil Myers to the Padres.

 

Point is that Rays have pieces that would seem attractive to the Brewers.

[jerichoholicninja]

Miller is going to be a super utility guy ala Zobrist so he's blocking no one in particular.

[pacopete4]

It's all about what we'd have to give up to get him. It's too bad we didn't have Khris Davis around to trade for him.

[logan82]

I don't think that trade would be a good idea. We can't give up young guys to try and compete now. The goal is to build a winning team long term and not ransom the franchise for short term gains like we have done in the past.

 

I don't see getting Casey Gillaspie as a win now move. Considering he is 23 and has no major league experience, he's a prospect on the cusp of beginning his major league career. I don't know much about him as a prospect/player, but if he is someone Stearn likes, he's a perfect candidate to get (i.e. Villar last year). Become a solid contributor at 1B for the next ~6 years, possibly break out and be a star, or settle in as a cheap solid contributor until we are ready to move him or replace him. We could also stick him in the minors for another year as he has only been in AAA for half a season and bring him up mid-season or next year with our first big wave of prospects.

 

Now what would it take to get him? No idea but if all we have to give up is a Cy Sneed equivalent (Yamamoto), fallen prospect (Coulter/Taylor) or a redundant major league piece (Torres/Anderson), I'm all for that.

Honestly I posted without even bothering to read the post. I took a chance and figured anything Briggs posted would be trading high upside guys to win now.

 

If we could get him for free I would be ok with it but I would think we might have to give up something of value.

[MadThinker88]

Might be a worthwhile target IF it's a matter of trading a Rule 5 eligible player the Crew cannot otherwise find room for on its 40 man before the December draft..

[JosephC]

I don't see the Rays having any interest in Carter (assuming Miller is moving to 1B) or Gennett. I really don't see the pieces between the Rays and Brewers matching up. The Rays could use a starter and reliever, so maybe if Stearns decided it was time for Peralta to go he could send him to the Rays for Gillaspie. Hard to judge how the Rays would view Peralta considering how mediocre he's been the last two seasons. Personally I think Gillaspie may have more value at this time although Peralta still has the much bigger upside despite his age (Gillaspie probably is a one-tool player). The Brewers might have to throw in Torres and the Rays include another prospect to even it up. I hate the idea of selling low on Peralta, but Stearns might feel it's time to move on and Peralta's talent level might actually bring back a solid prospect like Gillaspie. I don't see Matt Garza bringing back that type of return this off-season.

[brewcrewdue80]

No chance Tampa would take any of our starters. Davies I'd be weary on if I'm them. NL vs AL. Can you imagine Peralta or Nelson lasting more than 5 innings?

There's only a need to push for a 1b, if we traded Carter this offseason. I think they will sign him for another year.

 

Really right now the only true trade partner are the Dodgers and what they give back in return on Braun. Once that trade happens and we see the prospect return we can figure out the other positions to fill needs. Meaning, Cody Bellinger makes any suggestion on Gillapsie mute. Different if we get Urias or De Leon and not the hitting prospects. And there's still that what about Braun moving to 1st base if he remains on the team thought. (this thinking trade Carter by trade deadline/Braun to 1st/& callup Brinson or Phillips.

[monty57]

Gillaspie was the 20th overall pick just 2 seasons ago.

 

That he was selected two seasons ago might be why he'd be more expensive than we may be willing to pay. He won't need to be protected, so the Rays don't have a need to trade him. He's still young, so even if they don't need him on the MLB roster to start the season, he's good insurance if they are indeed trying to make a playoff run in 2017, and they're in the AL, so they have an extra spot where they could use his bat.

 

That said, I think he (or someone like him) is a good guy to take a look at to see his price tag. We could use a good 1B prospect in the high minors. The Rays under Friedman would probably never give him up, but he's not there any more, so maybe the current regime puts more value on getting MLB guys for prospects.

 

Note: when I went to the Rays' MLB site to look at their roster, there's an article on Gillaspie being named their MiLB Player of the Year.

[pacopete4]

Rays Get: Wily Peralta ($4M), Scooter Gennett ($3M), bullpen arm

 

Brewers Get: Casey Gillaspie, Drew Smyly ($7M)

 

Ray's buyout: Logan Forsythe @ $1M (will cost them $8.5M otherwise)

[nate82]

Rays Get: Wily Peralta ($4M), Scooter Gennett ($3M), bullpen arm

 

Brewers Get: Casey Gillaspie, Drew Smyly ($7M)

 

Ray's buyout: Logan Forsythe @ $1M (will cost them $8.5M otherwise)

 

Why would the Rays do this it doesn't make any sense for them to make this trade.

[reillymcshane]

Rays Get: Wily Peralta ($4M), Scooter Gennett ($3M), bullpen arm

 

Brewers Get: Casey Gillaspie, Drew Smyly ($7M)

 

Ray's buyout: Logan Forsythe @ $1M (will cost them $8.5M otherwise)

Logan Forsythe had a 3.4 bWAR in 2016, and a 5.0 bWAR in 2015. Why are they looking to buy him out?

[pacopete4]

Rays Get: Wily Peralta ($4M), Scooter Gennett ($3M), bullpen arm

 

Brewers Get: Casey Gillaspie, Drew Smyly ($7M)

 

Ray's buyout: Logan Forsythe @ $1M (will cost them $8.5M otherwise)

Logan Forsythe had a 3.4 bWAR in 2016, and a 5.0 bWAR in 2015. Why are they looking to buy him out?

 

 

Didn't look at WAR. Just looked at offensive stats and Scooter is somewhat comparable to him for a lot less money owed and younger.

 

Same thing with Peralta vs. Smyly. Cheaper, younger, comparable numbers.

[trwi7]

Smyly is much better than Peralta.

[CheeseheadInQC]

If there's a trade done with the Rays, it seems like a prospect-for-prospect type deal is most likely. AAA outfielder for AAA infielder? Cordell might be at about the same level prospect-wise, but given how much of an emphasis the Brewers seem to be placing on acquiring guys with above-average athleticism, I'm not sure Milwaukee does that deal.