Diamondbacks acquire Steven Souza in three-way trade with Rays and Yankees
Outfielder Steven Souza is reportedly heading to the Diamondbacks after a three-team trade involving the Yankees and Rays.
According to Nick Piecoro of AZ Central Sports, the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have completed a three-way trade. Right fielder Steven Souza will be going from they Rays to the Diamondbacks, who are sending second baseman Brandon Drury to the Yankees and pitcher Anthony Banda to the Rays.
Source: Dbacks have acquired Steven Souza from Rays in three-team deal. Brandon Drury is headed to the Yankees.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) February 20, 2018
After losing J.D. Martinez to the Boston Red Sox, Arizona signed speedster Jarrod Dyson. And now acquiring Souza gives them even more depth and another solid defensive outfielder. Souza isn’t on the same level as Martinez at the plate, but he still has some pop in his bat. Last season, he slashed .239/.351/.459 with 30 home runs and 78 RBI for the Rays. He also stole 16 bases on the year.
The Diamondbacks are also acquiring pitching prospect Taylor Widener from the Yankees, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Widener was ranked as the Yankees’ No. 22 prospect.
For the Yankees, infielder Brandon Drury looks to be their new second baseman, having previously sent Starlin Castro to the Marlins.
Coming from the Diamondbacks, Drury, 25, put up a .267/.317/.447 slash line to go with 13 home runs and 63 RBI. He’ll likely be the Yankees’ starting second baseman until they think star prospect Gleyber Torres is ready.
The Rays, meanwhile, will be receiving pitcher Anthony Banda from the Diamondbacks and infielder Nick Solak from the Yankees. After trading Souza and starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi this offseason, Tampa Bay appears to be in rebuilding mode.
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This will likely bring more attention to Rays pitcher Chris Archer, who has frequently come up in trade discussions over the past few seasons.
Now that the team has parted with some of its starting players, teams might be more aggressive in inquiring on Archer’s availability, as the Rays would surely be able to fetch an impressive haul for him.