Astros Should Target Rays Relievers In A Trade

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Oct 4, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore (55) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Archer, who was their best pitcher this past season, is the one untouchable. Archer was outstanding last year and is signed to a long-term, team-friendly contract. The Rays will hang onto him.

Alex Cobb, right-hander, who is an absolute ace when healthy, one would think would be untouchable as well. I don’t think this necessarily true, however, given that the Rays in the past have dealt away the likes of David Price and James Shields. For the Rays, nobody is untouchable. Cobb has possibly the best splitter in the league when healthy.

However, with Cobb recovering from Tommy John surgery in May, it’s doubtful that the Rays would sell low on him at this point when they could easily get more once he returns. If he’s pitching well again near the trade deadline he’ll be a huge target.

But if I’m the Astros and the Rays are willing to deal Cobb, I’m all ears and I’ll roll with what I have for now and know that he’ll be coming back later this season to give them one of the best 1-2 punches at the top of the rotation in Major League Baseball.

Sep 20, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (23) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Odorizzi might be the most attractive to the Astros in terms of contract. Odorizzi, a right hander, has struggled with some minor injuries in 2014 but was rock solid in 2015 posting a 3.35 era. Odorizzi is only 25 and like Boxberger is headed into his first year of arbitration.

Ororizzi is a multi-pitch guy with a four seam and two seam fastball, a cutter, splitter, curve and slider. His most used pitches are the fastballs (90 mph), one rises, one dips down and the splitter, that he learned from Alex Cobb, which has vaulted his ceiling quite a bit.

Matt Moore is also a possibility. Moore, who is a lefty, was an ace in waiting as well before his Tommy John surgery in 2014. Moore made it back the second half of 2015 and pitched well down the stretch. Moore has an interesting contract that has three team-option years remaining on it of $7, $9 and $10 million. If he pitches like the #1 or #2 pitcher that he is, those a very reasonable dollars. If he doesn’t then the contract carries very little risk and could be jettisoned at any time.

Moore had outstanding stuff when he first came up with a 95 mph fastball a change and a plus caliber knuckle-curve. He’s lost some velocity but it will be interesting if he gets it back the more removed from Tommy john that he gets.

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Drew Smyly doesn’t have overpowering stuff, a 90-91 fastball which he works down in the zone. He also throws a cutter and a curve. He’s increased the use of the curve as his change-of-speed pitch and he gets hitters out with, much the way Boxberger does. a good 10-12 mph speed differential. He simply gets guys out and has been successful nearly every step of the way in the majors with the Tigers and Rays

Any of these pitchers would fit in very nicely with Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers Jr. at the top of the Astros rotation. Cobb, once back, is easily the best pitcher and would be #1B to Keuchel’s #1.

Moore and Odorizzi, if pitching to their potential, should slide in ahead of McHugh or McCullers as the #2, unless those two guys continue to show improvement which of course is possible.

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