The Rays and Mariners have agreed to a trade.
Tampa sends:
Daniel Murphy, 1B,2B,3B
Jason Hammel, SP
Josh Sale, OF
Luke Bailey, C
to Seattle for:
Michael Pineda
Sean Rodriguez
Tampa's reasons for doing this deal is to bolster our starting pitching long-term. Next season, Shields, Jimenez, and Sanchez will all have their contracts expire and we will be left to rebuild around Matt Moore and Matt Harrison. We like the situation much better with Pineda in the fold. By most accounts, his injury will not be a major issue going forward and we're willing to take the chance for his upside.
Daniel Murphy was truly one of my favorite parts on my team. His positional flexibility and high batting average upside made him a great luxury. But he is a luxury and not a necessity. Hammel looked masterful today, but I believe the AL East will be a difficult place for him to keep up that pace. The two prospects are both good long-term guys and Sale's power is prodigious. However, I was willing to part with them for the immediacy of Pineda's upside. Sean Rodriguez will occupy his old spot on my roster as a utility player that will hopefully not strikeout enough to offset a meager boost in putout points.
Overall, I am happy to have Pineda joining the squad and the Rays are hoping his rehab continues to go well so that we can put him into the rotation and continue the path toward the playoffs.