ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays headed into the offseason intent on improving the offense against right-handed pitching, and president of baseball operations Matt Silverman felt he made a big step toward that end Thursday during a six-player swap with the Mariners that brought first baseman Logan Morrison and infielder Brad Miller to Tampa Bay.
The Rays also received right-handed reliever Danny Farquhar in exchange for starting pitcher Nathan Karns, the team’s 2015 rookie of the year, lefty reliever C.J. Riefenhauser and outfield prospect Boog Powell.
With Asdrubal Cabrera now a free agent and expected to sign elsewhere, the Rays added another versatile middle infielder who can play shortstop to the roster that already includes Nick Franklin and Tim Beckham.