Advertisement

Rays deal prospects Shaffer, Motter to create room on 40-man roster

 
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Richie Shaffer (36) reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning of the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016.
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Richie Shaffer (36) reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning of the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016.
Published Nov. 19, 2016

In making space to add eight up-and-coming players to their roster Friday, the Rays gave up on two previously promising prospects, trading 2012 first-round pick Richie Shaffer and Taylor Motter to Seattle for three thus far unheralded minor-leaguers.

To make further room, the Rays designated for assignment reliever Steve Geltz, who pitched his way back to the minors in a rough 2016 season, and released rehabbing lefty John Lamb, acquired recently from the Reds.

The eight players added to the roster, and thus protected from selection in the upcoming Rule 5 draft, included two top position prospects in Willy Adames and Daniel Robertson and six pitchers: Jose Alvarado, Chih-Wei Hu, Austin Pruitt, Jaime Schultz, Ryne Stanek and Hunter Wood.

"This is a big crew for us," senior VP Chaim Bloom said. "We felt it was important to make sure these guys were in the organization and we did not expose them to the Rule 5 because we think there is some real upside with all of them and some real chances to contribute."

Though Shaffer, 25, was in the majors during the past two seasons (hitting .213 with a .720 OPS), Bloom said the Rays had enough other talent ahead of and behind him at first, such as prospects Jake Bauers and Casey Gillaspie, that he didn't fit in for 2017.

"It just seemed like an area where we weren't going to have the opportunity for him given who else we have and the depth in those areas," he said.

Similarly, Bloom said with Adames and Robertson playing at Triple A, they wouldn't have had room for Motter, who had a disappointing 2016 debut on (hitting .188) and off the field.

Geltz had issues as well, allowing 11 homers in 262/3 innings.

Of the players acquired, pitcher Andrew Kittredge is most advanced, having reached Triple A in 2016, while pitcher Dylan Thompson was ranked Seattle's No. 22 prospect and first baseman Dalton Kelly has potential.

Also:

• The Rays are "right in the thick of things" for free agent catcher Jason Castro after making an initial offer, but agent Fred Wray said there is no timetable for a decision as they are "working through multiple offers and weighing options/opportunity." The Braves, Twins and White Sox are reported among teams interested in the former Astros All-Star, who hit .215 with a .660 OPS in 2014-16.