When the Rays shipped Tommy Pham off to the San Diego Padres in a five player deal that netted them Hunter Renfroe and prospect Xavier Edwards, the rationale was clear: Swap Pham, an aging outfielder with limited control and increasing price tag for Renfroe, a younger, cheaper, and more controllable outfielder with pop while also acquiring Xavier Edwards, a promising shortstop prospect. It was a perfect example of the “Rays’ Way”, a mantra that has become synonymous with the way the business practices of this front office.
From the outset, it seemed this could be both a win-now move (with Renfroe slotting into Pham’s place in the lineup) and a move for the future given Edwards’ high ceiling.