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There are some bitter truths that a majority of #Rays bloggers, baseball analysts and podcasters are swinging and missing out on when it comes to the team and what they seem to be doing going forward towards the upcoming season and ahead.
First things first, the #Rays starting pitching situation. Morton was a misstep, but Snell was not. The #Rays probably did indeed intend on bringing Morton back at a lesser price, but it didn't happen as planned.
Michael Wacha was brought in, as a arm in the rotation and he still has bullets in the gun. He was a buy-low starter, but he's shown the ability to be a good one when he's at his best. CFM, heading into the season is a good SP, but not a 15 MIL arm at his age.
The Snell trade is something that I felt needed to be done. Partly due to Snell as a pitcher, partly because of his antics & attitude off-the-field. Unclear about how much the #Rays were trying to protect Blake & how much was from him being inefficient, he wasn't getting 180 IP.
He's got the stuff to win a CY, that's why he got the award and that's why he was asked by the team to get an extension done early in his career. However with the million dollar stuff, he's got a 10 cent mentality to go with it. His inefficient nature was due how he chased Ks.
Chasing Ks is nothing surprising, especially from pitchers who have high quality stuff. However, that's concerning when paired with the #Rays program of rarely having pitchers face the same lineup 3 times through.
Blake also has been hindered by himself and his body.
Blake also has been hindered by himself and his body.
He's gotten injured before, due to on-field injuries and also 
off-field injuries. While it's just my opinion, watching his demeanor while pitching, he's got a look sometimes that his arm and elbow are not well and he's a bad pitch away from completely tearing his ucl.
off-field injuries. While it's just my opinion, watching his demeanor while pitching, he's got a look sometimes that his arm and elbow are not well and he's a bad pitch away from completely tearing his ucl.
So, after a somewhat unspectacular '19 and a shortened '20 season paired with the fact that Snell has had 1 season in which he's had thrown more than 170 innings pitched, paired with his jump in salary. He was quite unlikely to return to his '18 anytime soon.
So he was dealt
So he was dealt
Now that's the sticking point for people, some people feeling as if the #Rays dealt Snell due to the $ amount heading into '21 or more the #Rays thinking that he's not going to get the innings that they need to cover the season ahead. U
Unlike most of the other trades of quality starters this offseason, the #Rays weren't completely duped by the #Padres in the package received for Snell. Patino, Wilcox, Hunt and Mejia was a fairly fitting return.
Mejia didn't have a great '20, but how many hitters did?
Mejia didn't have a great '20, but how many hitters did?
Thing is, the #Rays needed a C and they get 2 in the trade. While Mejia isn't a good C defensively, they're looking for his bat to return. Simple as that. Hunt is the other C and he could be something in the future.
Wilcox was a 1st rd arm last yr that dropped yet got 3 MIL.w
Wilcox was a 1st rd arm last yr that dropped yet got 3 MIL.w
Wilcox dropped, not because of health or stuff, but to signability. With the 3 Million tag, the concerns were dealt with.
Patino was the gem of the trade, one of the best RHP prospects in the MLB, there's a good amount that said after the trade that he could pass Snell in 2 yrs
Patino was the gem of the trade, one of the best RHP prospects in the MLB, there's a good amount that said after the trade that he could pass Snell in 2 yrs
Now, while it's currently unclear as to whom the #Rays decide on the guy that they will be filling out Snell's spot in the rotation, it's clear that they are looking for guys via trade or FA that will provide innings going into '21 and beyond.
