Big news regarding the outfielder market: The Rays are shopping OF Randy Arozarena, and there’s a good chance that he is moved, sources tell @MLBNerds.
— Jack Azoulay-Haron (@AzoulayHaron) November 29, 2023
The Braves primary focus continues to be on their pitching staff. After bolstering their bullpen and deciding to retain Charlie Morton for the 2024 season, they’ve recently been deemed a finalist for White Sox ace Dylan Cease.
Cease would be a home run acquisition, and I’ve actually already come up with a trade hypothetical for him in this series. If you missed any of the previous parts, follow the links below.
- Braves trade hypothetical for Tyler Glasnow
- Braves trade hypothetical for Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta
- Braves trade hypothetical for Christian Yelich, Devin Williams, and Willy Adames
- Braves trade hypothetical for Dylan Cease
- Braves trade hypothetical for Shane Bieber
Braves trade hypothetical for Randy Arozarena
Braves Receive: Randy Arozarena
Rays Receive: Bryce Elder, Vaughn Grissom, and Owen Murphy
The Rays aren’t interested in a rebuild. They’re looking for MLB-ready talent under several years of control for pennies. That’s how they have to operate to continue to be successful under their financial restrictions. An All-Star caliber outfielder isn’t going to come cheap, but I do think the Braves could potentially pique the interest of the Rays without giving up one of their top pitching prospects.
Bryce Elder was named an NL All-Star a year ago. He had a rough second half and appeared to run out of gas at the end of the season, but he’s had success everywhere he’s been — in college, throughout the minors, and even at the major-league level. Elder’s going to be a high quality major-league pitcher for a long time, and nobody is better at getting the most out of their arms than the Rays.
Vaughn Grissom is another MLB ready prospect that can come in and contribute immediately in Tampa Bay. The Rays could use more offense, especially if they’re departing with Randy Arozarena, and that’s exactly what Grissom brings to the table. His bat has the potential to be special at the major-league level, starting next year with whoever he plays for.
The Braves don’t have a ton of other major-league ready prospects to give up if they want to hang onto AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep, and I doubt they would part ways with either of them for a left fielder. Owen Murphy, however, is a 2022 first-round pick. It will be a while before he contributes at the major-league level, but the Rays could bet on his upside and their developmental staff.
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Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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