3 Rays players your team should trade for this offseason
By Scott Rogust
The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the World Series, and you can expect teams to be eying the talent on their roster.
Entering the 2020 season, the Tampa Bay Rays were touted by many as a top five team in all of MLB. However, no one really expected them to reach the World Series. Yet, they did the thin after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Houston Astros to represent the American League in the Fall Classic.
As is the case with any team that makes the World Series, their 29 colleagues will make phone calls to try and pry away some of their talent. The Rays have a relatively stacked roster and can afford to sacrifice some to make future pushes to the World Series. But if you’re a fan of one of the other teams in the league, these are three players that they should target via a trade.
Tampa Bay Rays. Mike Zunino. 3.. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. C. 21
The Rays are notorious for carrying a low payroll from season-to-season. When you look at Tampa Bay’s books, you see that catcher Mike Zunino takes up nearly six percent of the team’s payroll. Zunino made $4.5 million this season and is slated to earn the same amount on an option in 2021.
Zunino has played in 28 regular-season games this season, where he recorded a .147 batting average and .598 OPS, while hitting four home runs and 10 RBI. Those aren’t the greatest numbers, but Zunino is a guy you need for defensive purposes. In all of his appearances behind the plate, Zunino has only allowed five passed balls, which is the fewest among all catchers.
Add the fielding to his rather cheap salary amongst other catchers, and he’s sure to receive some attention from teams this upcoming offseason.