It's not like Wade Davis is even the weakest link in the Rays' rotation. Jeff Niemann ain't all that. With Matt Moore Major League ready now, either Davis or Niemann is going to be the odd man out. I would say that Niemann would go to the pen as their mop-up guy, but they have Badenhop now

davis would be an upgrade over volstad in the 5 slot. but he's not the answer if we're looking for a top of the rotation guy

The only reason why the Marlins would take Davis over Niemann is contract, I would imagine.

 

Niemann is a better pitcher, at this point.

 

Gotta be rather careful with these Rays pitchers. A lot of their success has to do with their amazing team defense, which is pretty consistent every year. They've built their team in athletic fashion, and their pitchers (some of them) are a product of that defense.

 

Davis and Niemann for example have career .BABIP's against of ~.280.

 

Our defense is nowhere near as good as the Rays.

 

If you put Nolasco/Volstad on the Rays, they'd probably look a lot better, too. I actually expect Badenhop to be really solid for them, especially with the way Joe Maddon uses his bullpens. Badenhop will be like their new Dan Wheeler. He's going to love that Rays infield playing behind him.

Instead of trading for a mediocre pitcher, why not just sign someone on the FA market? I'm not for trades, at the moment; there are still plenty of solid pitchers in free agency who can fill the need, and we wouldn't have to give up any assets to acquire them.

 

 

Let's go JOE! Saunders, that is...

 

Not a big fan.

The only reason why the Marlins would take Davis over Niemann is contract, I would imagine.

 

Niemann is a better pitcher, at this point.

 

Gotta be rather careful with these Rays pitchers. A lot of their success has to do with their amazing team defense, which is pretty consistent every year. They've built their team in athletic fashion, and their pitchers (some of them) are a product of that defense.

 

Davis and Niemann for example have career .BABIP's against of ~.280.

 

Our defense is nowhere near as good as the Rays.

 

If you put Nolasco/Volstad on the Rays, they'd probably look a lot better, too. I actually expect Badenhop to be really solid for them, especially with the way Joe Maddon uses his bullpens. Badenhop will be like their new Dan Wheeler. He's going to love that Rays infield playing behind him.

 

 

I think Davis has more potential than Niemann.

 

I'm not an expert, but I think Wade Davis's struggles have come from the fact that his K/9 hasn't translated from the Minors to the Majors. In the minor leagues, his K/9 was 8.7. In the Majors it's 5.9.

The only reason why the Marlins would take Davis over Niemann is contract, I would imagine.

 

Niemann is a better pitcher, at this point.

 

Gotta be rather careful with these Rays pitchers. A lot of their success has to do with their amazing team defense, which is pretty consistent every year. They've built their team in athletic fashion, and their pitchers (some of them) are a product of that defense.

 

Davis and Niemann for example have career .BABIP's against of ~.280.

 

Our defense is nowhere near as good as the Rays.

 

If you put Nolasco/Volstad on the Rays, they'd probably look a lot better, too. I actually expect Badenhop to be really solid for them, especially with the way Joe Maddon uses his bullpens. Badenhop will be like their new Dan Wheeler. He's going to love that Rays infield playing behind him.

 

 

I think Davis has more potential than Niemann.

 

I'm not an expert, but I think Wade Davis's struggles have come from the fact that his K/9 hasn't translated from the Minors to the Majors. In the minor leagues, his K/9 was 8.7. In the Majors it's 5.9.

 

Maybe he can re-gain that, but it's not really bad luck or anything.

 

He's not missing any bats.

 

His swinging strike % has been declining at a steady pace. Last year, his Swstr% was under 6. Difficult to get K's or be optimistic about a potential K rate when not many hitters are missing, swinging at his stuff.

 

Also, his LD% last year was over 20, which goes to show that his .BABIP was very much a product of the Rays' defense.

I don't know why everyone here

It's not like Wade Davis is even the weakest link in the Rays' rotation. Jeff Niemann ain't all that. With Matt Moore Major League ready now, either Davis or Niemann is going to be the odd man out. I would say that Niemann would go to the pen as their mop-up guy, but they have Badenhop now

 

 

Just because these guys are the worst in the rotation doesn't mean they are the only starters the Rays have considered trading. They were very willing to part with Shields for a high return, although I think the Reds swinging for Latos instead may of nixed that possibility, as they were the most likely suitors.

 

I don't know why people on here always assume that you have to trade lesser valued players instead of the highest value player. The Rays wouldn't suffer much (if at all) without Shields because his value will more than likely decrease than increase next year, and while there will be a performance dropoff going from him to a Davis or Niemann, that dropoff could be entirely offset by picking up much higher value in return.

I don't know why everyone here

 

It's not like Wade Davis is even the weakest link in the Rays' rotation. Jeff Niemann ain't all that. With Matt Moore Major League ready now, either Davis or Niemann is going to be the odd man out. I would say that Niemann would go to the pen as their mop-up guy, but they have Badenhop now

 

 

Just because these guys are the worst in the rotation doesn't mean they are the only starters the Rays have considered trading. They were very willing to part with Shields for a high return, although I think the Reds swinging for Latos instead may of nixed that possibility, as they were the most likely suitors.

 

I don't know why people on here always assume that you have to trade lesser valued players instead of the highest value player. The Rays wouldn't suffer much (if at all) without Shields because his value will more than likely decrease than increase next year, and while there will be a performance dropoff going from him to a Davis or Niemann, that dropoff could be entirely offset by picking up much higher value in return.

 

We don't have a surplus of anything in our organization.

 

Only a surplus of 1B. The higher valued 1B would be Morrison and I think plenty of people have said they'd trade Morrison if it meant getting a very good SP in return.

 

I'm not sure what or who you're talking about, really.

The only reason why the Marlins would take Davis over Niemann is contract, I would imagine.

 

Niemann is a better pitcher, at this point.

 

Gotta be rather careful with these Rays pitchers. A lot of their success has to do with their amazing team defense, which is pretty consistent every year. They've built their team in athletic fashion, and their pitchers (some of them) are a product of that defense.

 

Davis and Niemann for example have career .BABIP's against of ~.280.

 

Our defense is nowhere near as good as the Rays.

 

If you put Nolasco/Volstad on the Rays, they'd probably look a lot better, too. I actually expect Badenhop to be really solid for them, especially with the way Joe Maddon uses his bullpens. Badenhop will be like their new Dan Wheeler. He's going to love that Rays infield playing behind him.

 

 

I think Davis has more potential than Niemann.

 

I'm not an expert, but I think Wade Davis's struggles have come from the fact that his K/9 hasn't translated from the Minors to the Majors. In the minor leagues, his K/9 was 8.7. In the Majors it's 5.9.

 

Maybe he can re-gain that, but it's not really bad luck or anything.

 

He's not missing any bats.

 

His swinging strike % has been declining at a steady pace. Last year, his Swstr% was under 6. Difficult to get K's or be optimistic about a potential K rate when not many hitters are missing, swinging at his stuff.

 

Also, his LD% last year was over 20, which goes to show that his .BABIP was very much a product of the Rays' defense.

 

That's what I noticed, too. It's just off that his K rate dropped so much. I don't know if his issue is mechanical or if his stuff isn't good or what. I think if he does improve his K/9, he will improve. Big IF though.

I don't know why everyone here

 

It's not like Wade Davis is even the weakest link in the Rays' rotation. Jeff Niemann ain't all that. With Matt Moore Major League ready now, either Davis or Niemann is going to be the odd man out. I would say that Niemann would go to the pen as their mop-up guy, but they have Badenhop now

 

 

Just because these guys are the worst in the rotation doesn't mean they are the only starters the Rays have considered trading. They were very willing to part with Shields for a high return, although I think the Reds swinging for Latos instead may of nixed that possibility, as they were the most likely suitors.

 

I don't know why people on here always assume that you have to trade lesser valued players instead of the highest value player. The Rays wouldn't suffer much (if at all) without Shields because his value will more than likely decrease than increase next year, and while there will be a performance dropoff going from him to a Davis or Niemann, that dropoff could be entirely offset by picking up much higher value in return.

 

We don't have a surplus of anything in our organization.

 

Only a surplus of 1B. The higher valued 1B would be Morrison and I think plenty of people have said they'd trade Morrison if it meant getting a very good SP in return.

 

I'm not sure what or who you're talking about, really.

 

Why do you assume that I was equating this to the Marlins at present? We're talking about the Rays and their trading philosophy, which even if it makes me a Ray fanboy for bringing it up, it's very hard to fault the decisions the Rays have made, given the success they've had on the field year after year.

 

I wouldn't say we have a surplus at 1B either. Lomo is by trade a first basemen but he's our left fielder and we don't have any other real options for that position.

I don't know why everyone here

 

It's not like Wade Davis is even the weakest link in the Rays' rotation. Jeff Niemann ain't all that. With Matt Moore Major League ready now, either Davis or Niemann is going to be the odd man out. I would say that Niemann would go to the pen as their mop-up guy, but they have Badenhop now

 

 

Just because these guys are the worst in the rotation doesn't mean they are the only starters the Rays have considered trading. They were very willing to part with Shields for a high return, although I think the Reds swinging for Latos instead may of nixed that possibility, as they were the most likely suitors.

 

I don't know why people on here always assume that you have to trade lesser valued players instead of the highest value player. The Rays wouldn't suffer much (if at all) without Shields because his value will more than likely decrease than increase next year, and while there will be a performance dropoff going from him to a Davis or Niemann, that dropoff could be entirely offset by picking up much higher value in return.

 

We don't have a surplus of anything in our organization.

 

Only a surplus of 1B. The higher valued 1B would be Morrison and I think plenty of people have said they'd trade Morrison if it meant getting a very good SP in return.

 

I'm not sure what or who you're talking about, really.

 

Why do you assume that I was equating this to the Marlins at present? We're talking about the Rays and their trading philosophy, which even if it makes me a Ray fanboy for bringing it up, it's very hard to fault the decisions the Rays have made, given the success they've had on the field year after year.

 

I wouldn't say we have a surplus at 1B either. Lomo is by trade a first basemen but he's our left fielder and we don't have any other real options for that position.

 

Are you talking about the time we had Mike Jacobs or something? When was the last time we had a surplus of something (according to you)?

 

I know you always thought Mike Jacobs was worth more than what we got for him; clearly, he wasn't.

Clearly, he was.

 

He was worth an OK closer and a plane ticket.

living here in Tampa, I get to see a lot of Rays games and if i had to choose Davis or Nieman I'd definitely take Davis over the two of them after watching quite a few of each of their games.

 

I'd LOVE to have Shields on the Marlins though...

 

If Lomo is moved to first and Gaby is dealt the Rays would likely be creaming in their pants as Gaby is exactly the type of ballplayer they covet and fits a position of need for them. The only way I'd see this scenario happening though is if the Marlins sign Cespedes and I don't know if they can afford to bank so much on a relative unknown (unknown=MLB level performance).

I don't think we really have what it takes prospect-wise to get Davis. I guess we could convince them Skipworth is still a relevant prospect, since they are in need of some MiLB catching depth though...