Rays open door for Wander Franco in trade with Brewers
By John Buhler
The Tampa Bay Rays have traded Willy Adames to the Milwaukee Brewers, which means it will be Wander Franco time in St. Petersburg.
We have a trade between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers involving shortstop Willy Adames and pitcher Trevor Richards.
Adames is heading to the Brew Crew for a pair of right-handers in Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen. This move may not seem like a big deal, but it is a huge deal for the Rays. By doing so, this, in theory, has freed up a roster spot for Tampa Bay’s top prospect Wander Franco. According to MLB.com, Franco is the top prospect in all of baseball. Soon it will be Franco’s time to shine in.
Rays fans should be excited about seeing Franco in Tampa Bay uniform sooner rather than later.
The Milwaukee Brewers are acquiring Willy Adames from the Tampa Bay Rays for Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen, according to a source familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 21, 2021
Shortstop Willy Adames has been traded from Tampa Bay to Milwaukee, source tells ESPN. Rays will be getting pitching back.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 21, 2021
Door is open for Wander Franco. Or Taylor Walls. Or Vidal Brujan. Rays are loaded at shortstop at the Triple-A level.
Tampa Bay Rays trading away Willy Adames means it is Wander Franco time
By potentially bringing Franco into the fold sooner rather than later, this may catapult the Rays to another AL pennant for all we know. However, ESPN’s Jeff Passan urged caution to Rays fans ready to see Franco in the lineup on Saturday. His time will be coming, just maybe not right now for the Rays.
For everyone with Wander Franco fever: take some acetaminophen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 21, 2021
It's unlikely the Rays call him up right now, even after trading Willy Adames. Taylor Walls, who is 25, also raking at AAA and seen as a better shortstop, is likelier candidate to fill role near-term for Tampa Bay.
Not long after the trade with the Brewers was announced, Adam Berry of MLB.com reported it will be Taylor Walls who will be getting called up in Saturday, and not Franco. For a minute there, Rays fans believe Franco was about to be heading to the big leagues. Instead, it will be Walls at shortstop for them this weekend. Good for him, I suppose.
The Rays will recall Taylor Walls tomorrow.
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) May 21, 2021
While Franco is not heading to the Rays just yet, you better believe he will be on his way soon.
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