Eight days ahead of MLB’s trade deadline, the reigning American League champions have made a big move to return to the Fall Classic.
The Rays pulled off the first blockbuster trade of the season, acquiring designated hitter Nelson Cruz in a four-player deal with the Twins. The deal bolsters a middle-of-the-pack Rays lineup into one of the league’s best, while officially signaling a sell-off by Minnesota, which has been among baseball’s most disappointing clubs.
With Boomstick heading to Florida, it’s time to issue some trade grades.
Rays acquire: DH Nelson Cruz and RHP Calvin Faucher
Twins acquire: RHP Joe Ryan and RHP Drew Strotman
Grading Tampa Bay’s side of the deal
The Rays are in the midst of a tight division battle in which four teams are in contention, so they did well to get out in front of a potential arms race and land perhaps the best available bat on the trade market.