MLB trade deadline sleeping giant now has perfect opportunity to play spoiler

One team in need of a pitcher at the trade deadline has a perfect opportunity to make a big splash.

Notably, the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and New York Mets are getting tons of attention at this year’s MLB trade deadline, with fans desperately wondering what each team will do (or not do) to upgrade its roster.

But one team can be likened to a sleeping giant, in that despite the lack of overall attention they’re getting so far, if they make the right moves, they could easily wind up swinging themselves over the hump to get to a World Series.

That team would be the Tampa Bay Rays.

At one point, the Rays looked like the most dominant team in MLB. Now, though they still hold a top-three record in the sport, they have fallen a few games behind the Baltimore Orioles in their own division. Both trail the Braves for the claim of best record.

With the trade deadline coming up quickly, there’s a solid move available for them to play spoiler on for other big teams in the running while simultaneously setting themselves up for heaps of success on the second half of the deadline: Justin Verlander.

Prior target looks to be off the board for Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa, at one point, was thought to be engaged on Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. Stroman has played like a Cy Young candidate for most of this season. Though he has been expressive of his desire to stay in Chicago on a new contract, the Cubs can’t justify spending on him right now due to his age and other poor contracts they have locked in.

Due to those circumstances, for a while, it looked as though Stroman was a sure thing to be traded this year since he will almost certainly enter free agency this winter. Now, though, the Cubs are winning (9-1 in their last 10 and 4.5 games back in the NL Central) and rumors suggest players like Stroman and Cody Bellinger aren’t even remotely available anymore.

So, that leaves Tampa looking for other options at starting pitcher.

Rays should go all-in on Justin Verlander

On Justin Verlander, the Rays shouldn’t think twice. If they’re serious about winning and filling the starting pitcher hole on their roster, they need to act fast and move quickly in regards to trying to acquire the pitcher.

Verlander has been thought to be available. The Mets have now traded their closer as well as another key starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, which sends an even stronger signal: Verlander is almost certainly next.

While the Dodgers and Astros come to mind first as the logical best fits, the Tampa Bay Rays would be good for Verlander, too.

The big hang-up would be Verlander’s no-trade clause. The Rays facilities and general lack of a baseball town feel could be prohibitive to convincing Verlander that’s where he wants to play next.

The clause might give the Astros a slight leg-up. At this stage, it’s possible he may go somewhere that he views as the best opportunity to win. Tampa might just fit that bill (even if their home park is an absolute dump).