RBLR Rays Roundtable #25 – A Mixed-Bag Trade Deadline
This week, our writers reflected on the decisions the Rays made at the deadline. From disappointed about losing Bradley and Mead to excited for Feduccia to intrigued about the team’s approach overall, our writers had a lot to say about the front office’s decision to make a postseason push during the next two months.
Jacob Macauley (@raysfarmreport) : A Disappointing Deadline
The Rays are sitting in an unfamiliar spot. After they lost to the Dodgers on August 1st, their playoff odds fell to 6.8%. They are 10 games out of the division and four games out of the wild card. After seeing how they approached the deadline, you wouldn’t think they’d be this far out of it.
Catching improvement – One productive thing to come from this deadline was the reformation of this catching group. Moving off Danny Jansen, who was a 5th percentile framer, to add Nick Fortes, who lands closer to the 75th percentile, is a huge improvement. Hunter Feduccia also adds a bit of a longer-term answer at the position and has some nice skills as he is a plus receiver, showed plus bat-to-ball in AAA (85.8% Z-Contact%), and some consistent impact, sporting a 43.1 hard hit%. Overall, making this shuffle should pay huge dividends for the Rays moving forward, as they’ve given themselves plenty of opportunities to hit on one of these catching evaluations moving forward.
Adding an innings eater – Adrian Houser seems fine but you’re buying him at peak value, he is bound to regress to some extent, and you trade Curtis Mead? He has gotten better under the hood (reduced his chase% while maintaining plus contact rates), just to be dealt away for a rental starter? Mead was also producing at the ML level – posting a 119 wRC+ since May. The Rays also have plenty of in-house guys they could’ve given looks to: Logan Workman, Ian Seymour, and even Duncan Davitt, who was included in this deal, and all of those guys were free. This deal surprised me, especially for a team who I think has little hope of reaching the postseason.
Buying high on the bullpen – Griffin Jax’s 29.8% K-BB% ranks 5th among qualified relievers, so getting him is great on the surface. The price? Not so great selling low on Taj Bradley to buy on a reliever who is set to receive a raise in arbitration. This process is just not very sound here from Tampa Bay. Jax should do great, but selling low on a 24-year-old pitcher with 4.5 years of control for 2.5 years of relief pitching could be a poor decision. Bradley is talented and has a clean arm history, so this is surprising to me.
I am disappointed with this deadline. I thought this was going to be a mini bullpen reset (which the Rays could desperately use) and a way to get off the Brandon Lowe contract. Now, you are approaching an offseason with big options on Lowe (11.5M) and Fairbanks (~10M) that could be difficult to move. I also believe in two of the young players they traded for immediate help that this team doesn’t need or deserve right now.
Jake Shutters (@JakeShutters) : The Feduccia Acquisition
The Rays acquired some big major league names this deadline in Griffin Jax and Adrian Houser, but the move that intrigued me the most was the 3-team deal for Hunter Feduccia, a LH-hitting catcher from the Dodgers. This move also didn’t cost the Rays young talent that either hadn’t gotten a fair shot yet (Mead), or a 24 year old starter that had shown flashes but lost some feel early in the season and still has the talent to be a quality rotation piece (Bradley). Feduccia typically isn’t the player that inspires the most confidence when you see him in a deal; he’s a 28-year-old in AAA who only has 14 plate appearances in the major leagues, but he has some intriguing offensive tools.
2025 has been a great year for Feduccia at the plate process-wise. He’s done nothing but hit in the minors – especially this year with his 124 wRC+ in AAA in the hitter-friendly PCL. However, it’s the bat to ball skills and swing decisions that set him apart. In AAA this year, Feduccia has posted a .399 on-base percentage with a 19.2% chase rate (92nd percentile) and a 22.1% whiff rate (75th percentile). He struck out at a slightly above league average 21.3% but walked at a 15.8% rate (91st percentile). Feduccia can also impact the ball without sacrificing his plus plate skills; he has a 43.1% hardhit rate (76th percentile) and an above average 105.3 90th percentile EV. Feduccia is a talented hitter and capable defender who has been blocked by names like Smith, Barnes, and Rushing over the years, and the Rays view him as a guy who can produce if given opportunity.
This was the most “Rays” trade of the deadline, and for that reason, my favorite. Littell was likely gone after this season, so you get good value at a position of need for him along with Paul Gervase, a talented reliever, but one who’s been in AAA most of the year. These are the trades the Rays have made over the years to acquire major league talent. These fringe trades that don’t cause too much noise, but usually result in a major impact on the franchise and everyday lineup. As good as Griffin Jax is and as good as Houser has been this year, the Rays gave up a lot, almost an uncomfortable amount of value to get them. But with the Feduccia move, they had a guy who was gone after this season and flipped him for a quality catcher with six years of club control. An efficient roster move that has potential for plenty of surplus value in the future.
Sandy (@SandyAndTheRays) : An intriguing approach
Well, folks we’ve made it through another trade deadline with the Rays staying active on the market. And this time (shockingly), a few fan favorites are still here. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one surprised to see Brandon Lowe, Yandy Díaz, and Pete Fairbanks remain in Tampa Bay – all of whom have seemingly lived in the trade rumor mill for as long as they’ve worn a Rays uniform.
What’s curious is that the front office chose to hold onto them during a rather unspectacular season – and on the brink of losing a series to the Yankees that saw even more Rays fall to the injury bug. Coming into deadline day, the team sat at 54–54, 9.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East, capping off a rough July. A rain-soaked game in New York also saw the Rays lose Díaz, Chandler Simpson, and Jonathan Aranda – all key contributors despite the team’s underwhelming performance.
At the deadline, the Rays acted as both buyers and sellers, looking to strengthen their run prevention by adding Griffin Jax, Adrian Houser, and Nick Fortes, while parting with Danny Jansen and Zack Littell. The moves suggest that while the team is underperforming and still technically in the playoff mix – though just barely – they’re not ready to blow things up yet.
It’s practically a meme at this point that the Rays “win” their trades – and that other teams should think twice before picking up the phone. So there’s a degree of trust from fans when it comes to their roster moves. Personally, I find their approach intriguing. Maybe they’re trying to stay competitive this year while quietly setting up the next couple seasons. Whether it’s enough to make a real push this year? That still feels like a big question mark.
The RBLR Rays Roundtable is a weekly collection of analysis, insight, and perspectives from a cast of writers assembled because of their unique backgrounds and experience. Check this space weekly for new updates and features covering the Tampa Bay Rays, the Rays’ minor league prospects, and more!
