ST. PETERSBURG — We know what moves the Rays made Tuesday.
They shipped three minor leaguers to the Cardinals to get Tommy Pham to play outfield and hit mid-order. They dumped most of the remaining $3.3 million on catcher Wilson Ramos' salary in trading him to the Phillies for a minimal return to be named.
And they found a team willing to give them a king's, or, dare we say, an ace's, ransom to finally part ways with top starter Chris Archer, sending him to the Pirates for two promising young big-leaguers, smoke-throwing right-hander Tyler Glasnow and athletic outfielder Austin Meadows, plus a third significant piece to come.